my ships are s**t! i am a military joke.

from GalCiv3 Forums

Please help me. i am an old player of GC3 pre crusade , but crusade i am having a real hard time with. Dont get me wrong i like a lot about it but i cannot become a decent military power. My economy is strong my science is good but it just seems that miniaturisation is essential non existent and all my weapon are so large for the hulls. am i missing something? i start off well but get heavily invaded by other powers quite early on because my ships are so bad. i am even playing on easy. am i missing soothing really stupid or am i just stupid? 

16,519 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Well firstly, maybe describe how you are equipping your ships. Crusade has really taught me that I can no longer always put two engines on every ship design, my military for at least half the game, only uses one engine, and then has an admiral attached to double their speed. 

Currently, I design three categories of warships.

1) Offense, set to Capital, 1 engine, 1 range, all else is weapons.

2) Defense, set to Escort, 1 engine, 1 range, 1 weapon, all else is jamming/HP/Repair and one of each defense if I can fit them. 

3) Support, set to Support or Capital, 1 engine, 1 range, Carrier module, support utilities such as group healing and such.

 

Seems to work out pretty well so far... and eventually with enough tech (warp engines) I can start refitting a few fleets to have two engines. Overall I like the component balance they've achieved now, I feel its much better than before Crusade...

...but it appears nothing has changed with the ship roles, so its easily abused and you only need Capital/Escort and a little support. 

 

Good luck, hope this helps maybe!

 

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thank you, there are a few things I have overlooked. It would seem the ai favors lots of tiny ships where as I normaly start with medium size but never match their numbers. I am suprised that miniaturisation is so limited, I'm sure pre crusades u could heavily arm a medium ship that no longer seems possible. For example because I lack resources I have to use lasers and can only fit 3 if I want any defences and a warp engine. 

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Stinger missiles make a handy resource free weapon.

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I don't even put engines on my warships most of the time. If you wanna build a defense force I recommend you do the same. There are plenty of techs that will give you +movement without adding engines on the ships.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Yea reality is, the AI only respects ship count, and not a ship's true value or abilities. So the AI constantly think you are weak even though your lesser elite forces can trounce them. 

And yes, for localized defenders, no engines is a idea... Personally though I'm not really trying to defend, I'll retake planets easily enough, it's more important to take their planets, and render them uninhabitable if need be. 

 

Create a desert and call it peace, as the Romans might say...

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

To the OP, get yourself some resources, especially for your favorite weapon.  Claim them early and let them build up.  When you get the techs, use those weapons!  That is what changed things for me.  A further tip:  Be sure to get Durantium.  It lets you upgrade your mines and increase the yield rate of all types of Mining bases.  Makes a big difference, especially in th mid to later game.  This game insists that you think ahead.  Yikes!

To the conversation:

I have melded AI reaction into my strategy.  I basically ignore military and build as much infrastructure as I feel I can get away with.  If I can, I get the Pragmatic perk that gives me 50 turns extra of this.  Before that can get too risky, a subjective decision, I use my developing infrastructure to research military techs and get some halfway decent ships designed, and maybe even in the ship cues.

Then somebody attacks, or multiple somebodies.  After all, I have nearly zero military by their calculations.  It's an engraved invitation.  Whichever one arrives first may do some damage for a while, but they will soon face an initial fleet that can wander around and start taking their forward forces out.  Note, if they are all too close or other situations arise or Murphy's Law strikes, this can fail magnificently with a nasty gang up,  You have been warned!

If that works, then a second fleet gets formed.  If it is early game, my production may be low and that takes some time.  Generally, it will have later model ships.  It becomes the attack fleet.  It goes to the closest enemy and plays havoc with all defenders and starbases it can find.  

After that, I am ready to send Transports and Legions.  And I can claim that it is all their fault!

This does depend a lot on galaxies with space between empires.  If you play crowded maps, you are on your own.  :)