Anti-Matter Torpedo

[Pooka]

Okay. So the Anti Matter torpedo is a short-to-mid range weapon that does about the same damage per tech level as the DUC.

The problem is that the DUC has basically the same range, only slightly less damage, weighs 10kt less, uses 1/5th the supplies, and fires twice as often.

But the Anti-Matter Torp has an accuracy bonus!

Does it really? How much of one? I still miss with the darn things more often than I hit, with a +15 Space Combat race no less!

Is it worth the supply-hogging, slow ROF, higher research cost to go to Quantum Torps? What is the appeal of the green tubes o' death?

[Fyron]

Torpedos do not have an accuracy bonus in unmodded SE4, actually. Torpedos are completely useless weapons in SE4. In SE3, their high damage per shot balanced them against the low damage beam weapons. But, now beam weapons do as much damage as they do, and can get high damage per shot to pierce emmissive and crystalline armor via mounts.

[ April 16, 2003, 19:18: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

[Pooka]

So there's no reason at all to waste RP on the torpedo path at all? Makes one wonder if it's inclusion in SEIV was an oversight...

[Phoenix-D]

"Okay. So the Anti Matter torpedo is a short-to-mid range weapon that does about the same damage per tech level as the DUC.

The problem is that the DUC has basically the same range, only slightly less damage, weighs 10kt less, uses 1/5th the supplies, and fires twice as often."

Slightly less damage? You're not done with the torps when you hit AM5, you know. Next level up you get Quantums.

Anyway, yours is accuate for the AM5- mostly. The AM does have one square more range and 10 more damage, and costs less.

The Quantum 5, on the other hand..does twice as much damage. So it works just a little better.

Damage per KT:
DUC 5: 1.33
APB, range 1: 2.16 range 8: 1.5
MesonB 5: 1.75
Torp: 2.5 (1.25/turn)
ripper beam IV 2.5

For "first strike" damage, the only weapon better than the torp is massed Ripper Beams. Unfortunately you pay for it in lower damage over time and a fairly high total research cost.

Phoenix-D

[Taera]

QR are one of the most understimated weapons in the game. The point is they do full damage at max range. Those babies, put on a base or a well-rounded ship can slaughter anything. Tested! (not in PBW - in short games their high research cost kills all the usefulness)

If you have the time and dont have any racial techs i think Torpedoes are a worthy research project to undertake.

[Aloofi]

Meson BLasters and Shield Depleters are the winning combination. Cheap to research and cheap to build. Forget about the Phased Polaron Beams and the Torpedos........in Proportions.
If you are playing unmodded go straight for the Phased Polaron Beams........