Understanding the weapons and balance

[RonGianti]

Could someone verify how the code works for weapons?

Meson Blaster:

(15 + (([%Level%] - 1) * 5)) - (([%Range%] / 10) * 0.00) - iif([%Range%] > Min(90, (([%Level%] - 1) * 10) + 30), 10000, 0)

So, 15 damage plus 5 damage per level after 1st.

Range is.. what? 90? But the manual says the Meson Blaster is supposed to be a range of 30. Is this a bug? I hope so.

Also, what is the % to hit chance for Direct Fire weapons?

Overall, I'm trying to understand weapons balance in the game as a whole. So far it appears to be:

Use the Meson Blaster.

I'm working on a spreadsheet that lists all the weapons by damage, range, cost (research and m/r/o). How do I attach it here?

Has anyone had success going with all Missle weapons?

[Suicide Junkie]

Aaron's formula templates are indeed horribly complicated.

To-hit modifier is on the next field in the component.
You have to add the 100% base to-hit, and add/subtract ECM, Sensors, hull bonuses, racial bonuses and the kitchen sink.

[RonGianti]

Weapon Space To Hit Modifier Formula := 0 - [%Range%]

Ahhh. But what does it mean? - %Range% ? So, 10 % per LS?

[Phoenix-D]

No, 1% per LS.

[Captain Kwok]

No. It's actually equivalent to 1% per km or ls, because the range increases in increments of 10. So at range 10, the modifier is 0 - 10 = -10 and so on.

The last part of the Meson Blaster can be seen as adding 10 range to 30 for each tech level until a maximum range of 90.

[RonGianti]

Captain Kwok said:
The last part of the Meson Blaster can be seen as adding 10 range to 30 for each tech level until a maximum range of 90.

Whoa. So, why use anything but the Meson Blaster?

Even the Wave Motion gun. The WAVE MOTION GUN can't hold a candle to the Meson Blaster!??!

That aint right

Is there any hope of weapons balance, even a modicum of weapons balance, coming to Stock?

[Suicide Junkie]

KwokStock is what you want.

Aaron's files are a bad translation of SE4's files, which were a bad translation of SE3's.

[Raapys]

Personally I find myself just using the Anti-Proton Beam. Instant impact counts for alot too, and it's got nice damage, range and accuracy. Suppose Kwok might have tweaked the weapons a little in Balance 0.93, can't remember how they were in stock.

[tmcc]

RonGianti said:

Has anyone had success going with all Missle weapons?

I have had quite a bit of success with all missiles, however you will still need PDC for missile and fighter defense as well as killing satellites + Small DUCs so that fighters will have a ground capable weapon.