Nominations for new Bonus Ships for the "Vengeance of the Machine" expansion

[Histidine]

TWO THOUSAND ZOMBARDS!

(please don't make it worse - though I'd actually like a starship or spirecraft with similar properties)

[MaxAstro]

This might be too radical, but here's a crazy idea I had:

http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=11083

[keith.lamothe]

This might be too radical, but here's a crazy idea I had:

http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=11083

Basically any unit that you have to say "Needless to say, either way the AI should not get many of them." is probably not a good idea for a bonus ship type.  The AI does pay for them appropriately, but it gets a lot more than you do

[Kahuna]

http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=11090
Modular Assault Drone (MAD)
Designed to kill humans. Is deadly and adaptable thanks to the modules.

Stats
Cap: 196
Hull type: Swarmer
Health: 53500
Cap health: 10486000
Engine Health: 500
Armor: 0
Speed: 84
Ammo type: Laser
Range: 3700
Damage: 3x1238
Reaload: 3
Cap DPS: 242648
Damage Multipliers: 1,8 Turret, 1,8 Heavy, 1,8 Light, 1,8 Artillery
Abilities: Absorbs EMPs, Engine Damage 1, Armor Piercing 300
Immunities: EMP, Minefields
Cost: 140/140
Energy cost: 58
Build time: 3s

Modules
Has 2 module slots.
Titanite armor: Increases health by 20% and changes Hull Type to Medium.
Stealth Generator: Gives the Stealth ability and Cloaking Booster x1 (300 Range).
Disruptor Armor: Gives immunity to Force Fields.
Tractor Beam Turret: 1xTractor Beam.
Gravitational Turret: Gives each MAD same effect as Mark I Gravitational Turret.
Robotic Repair Arm: 1xRepair Beam with 1 repair rate.

When this ship is used by the AI the modules are chosen randomly.
(Is about the size of 50% of a rally post or 4xMissile Frigate so the 2 modules cover most of the ship.)

[pheonix89]

Another idea I put out earlier.

Nienzul Combat Carrier - http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=9573 - starship that doubles as a regen chamber and factory for Neinzul younglings. It comes with its own type if you haven't roled any others - shrikes, basically fighters as a youngling. Perfect for an AI that already has youngling ships to use to screw with the player, send one with each wave of younglings, and the waves don't attrition themselves to death.

[Winge]

Spire Illuminator.  Works similar to the Zenith Siege Engine in that it has to be stationary to fire.  However, instead of a Plasma Siege engine shot, it fires the traditional Spire Weapon.

Flame Fighter.  A cross between Fighters and Beam Frigates.  Fast, light ship whose attack damages units in a cone.

X-Wing.  Think something like 4 Laser Gattlings tied together on an X-shaped ship.  Totally original, right?

Mine Layer.  Moderately strong combat vessel that also drops weak area mines behind wherever it travels.  It does not drop mines when stationary.  The mines last for a short duration and deal decent area damage when ships without Mine Immunity run over them.  Sort of like if Singed was a ship...might not want to give this one auto-kite 

Rocket Cruiser.  Starship-sized vessel that is similar to a weak Missile Frigate.  However, in addition to its normal attack, it also gradually stores rockets.  These rockets are deployed in the same manner as the Hive Golem, are similar to weak, AIP-free lightning warheads, and fire at the closest target in range (uncontrollable).  It takes the Cruiser 5-10? minutes to build up a full salvo.

[Coppermantis]

An idea, not sure if it is balanced or feasable, but:

Spire Lightning Rod:

Originally this was intended to be a full-on Spirecraft but it could work as a bonus/experimental starship as well. It has pretty good health and armor, but a weak attack. The special thing about this ship, though, is that it attracts all minor electric and laser ammo to itself. After enough shots are absorbed (taking some damage, however), it releases a swarm of small, timed ships. My concern with this one is that laser and minor electric ammo types are somewhat scarce with the AI unless it rolls certain bonus types, so the ammo types that are attracted could be expanded to include others that still somewhat make sense.

[Kahuna]

Every nominated idea should have a mantis record

I forgot to add the mantis thing. Added it now.

[onyhow]

@pheonix89: Mobile regenerator idea looks cool, but ability to produce any mk1-3 youngling? I think that will make the youngling unlocks useless...

Also, some random idea, not sure if it's feasible:
Heavy Beam Frigate: Heavy combat fleetship utilizing miniaturized HBC...'cause I really want to see dedicated HBC in fleet/starship...

Electronic Warfare Starship: multi-shot, very slow firing starship (around 20-30 second firing cycle)  that can cause debuff in ships hit...effect can be (one at a time only): disable gun fire for 2 cycle, reduce firing range for 2 cycle, reduce movement speed by 25% for 2 firing cycle...or something to that effect, this is rough idea...

[Aquohn]

Quick, somewhat off-topic question: somewhere in the wiki, it says that a future expansion will reveal what the AI is up to outside the galaxy. Is this it?

[Kahuna]

Quick, somewhat off-topic question: somewhere in the wiki, it says that a future expansion will reveal what the AI is up to outside the galaxy. Is this it?

Oooh snap! I certainly hope so!.. maybe we will be able to enter the purple exo wormhole after destroying the ai home command stations and go destroy rest of the AIs..

[Aquohn]

Quick, somewhat off-topic question: somewhere in the wiki, it says that a future expansion will reveal what the AI is up to outside the galaxy. Is this it?

Oooh snap! I certainly hope so!.. maybe we will be able to enter the purple exo wormhole after destroying the ai home command stations and go destroy rest of the AIs..

New game plus?

...

HELL YEAH!

Actually, the game says the wormholes are supposed to close up after the two Home Command Stations are dead, though why or how has never been clear, and I don't recall them ever doing that.

But it'll also be interesting to conquer, say, another galaxy, except with a galaxy-ful of tech supporting you.

[RCIX]

Hardened Gunboat:

Health: Above Average
Speed: Slightly beats triangle ships
Cap: Bomber size
Hull: Composite
Range: Between Cruiser and Bomber (lean cruiser)
Bonuses: Polycrystal, Command-Grade, Medium, Close-Combat, Light
Reload: 4 seconds
Cap base DPS: Slightly above average
Ammo: Minor electric? Maybe Dark Matter or something exotic
Immunities: Reclamation, Instakill, Gravity effects, Mines, Area Damage

It's so damn hard to think of new ideas for AI war that I went with "stat stick for your fleetm, including some good immunities and bonuses" =p

Also, a semi related note: now that you'll be going into full expansion mode, I don't suppose you could spare some time to look at making the Chameleon a little less lame?

[Drjones013]

Controller Frigate - Low damage, average hit points, fast speed
The AI takes control of any ship that gets within x distance, loses control when the ship takes damage for y seconds. In human hands it'd do the same. Triangle ships and 'capital' ships are immune to the effect.

[Coppermantis]

Added a Mantis Report for my idea as well. Since it's a bonus starship I didn't know whether to file it as a bonus ship or a starship suggestion, so I went with starship.