wierd - incentrator better than WMG???

Taera · #1 December 26th, 2002, 02:52 AM

I've noticed something interesting during my Last game.
I'm playing a SP game and i one of the AI races are the Drueshocka. I have a scout with scanners running through their systems and i've found designs of some of their dreadnoughts. One of these is armed with WMG3 and another with Incentrator3. The WMG one has more shields.
I've run a test - it appears that Incentrator ship beats the WMG ship with only the shields down, and this is given WMG has more (by 500) shields. Hows that? i thought that its a given fact that incentrators suck, especially compared to their 'bigger brother'.

Phoenix-D · #2 December 26th, 2002, 03:21 AM

Incinerator beams do greater damage per kiloton than WMG. Heck, at close range I think they do more damage per kiloton than the APB! 50 damage per turn for 20kt is nothing to sneeze at.

The WMG's advantage is it's long range and big to-hit bonus. If it's not set to Maximum Weapons Range you're using it badly IMO.

Phoenix-D

Taera · #3 December 26th, 2002, 03:40 AM

you're right.
WMG damage/size/rate = 2/3 = 20/30
Incentrator damage/size/rate = 9/10 = 27/30

Not too much but enough to win, as i see.
and besides, the range is only different by 2. Thats not too much.

Phoenix-D · #4 December 26th, 2002, 05:05 AM

"and besides, the range is only different by 2."

Oops, you said incinerator. For some reason I was thinking of the *Ripper* beam.

EDIT: the range may be only two different, but the Incinerator gets a 10% bonus, where the WMG gets a 30%. Why this isn't indicated in-game I don't know.

Phoenix-D

[ December 26, 2002, 03:05: Message edited by: Phoenix-D ]

Taera · #5 December 26th, 2002, 08:27 AM

30% for range 8 is basicly the same as 10% at range 6.

Phoenix-D · #6 December 26th, 2002, 08:40 AM

"30% for range 8 is basicly the same as 10% at range 6."

Uh-uh. Check this out:

You loose 10% per square. So at range 1, the WMG has a 99% chance to hit. Same with the incinerator.
2? 99%/90% respetively
3? 99%/80% respectively
4? 90%/70%
5? 80%/60%
6? 70%/50%
7? 60%/NA
8? 50%/NA

So at all ranges except point-blank, the WMG will hit more often.

PHoenix-D

PvK · #7 December 26th, 2002, 08:56 AM

Yes, but also all other to-hit mods get added in before the max 99% is applied, so the WMG to-hit advantage can be useful even at point-blank range. WMG definitely have their main strength as a stand-off weapon. Incinerator Beams are more of a mid-range heavy weapon.

If you change the WMG design to max range / don't get hurt strategy, does it still lose? Probably depends on the electronic warfare and other factors.

PvK