Jump Capable Missile Pods

from Sins Forums
A while ago I had read a book where there were these things that were similar to the Phase Lanes. I had read a post somewhere on here that was saying something about how you can block someone from attacking you by building enough defenses near the exit of the Phase Lanes. In the book that I had read they faced a similar problem, so they came up with these pods that had small jump drives that would allow them to go through their version of the Phase Lanes and then they would fire all their missiles at the same time. Given the fact of point defense systems, these pods were only useful in large swarms though, but they were used to great effect in either destroying or softening most of the defensive systems around the exit point, or were simply used to cause the enemy to have to use large amounts of resources fixing up the defenses ever time a comparatively cheaper jump pod swarm would shoot through the phase lanes. The missiles also were able to either be programmed to attack a specific target before going through the phase lanes, or they could just be set to launch and let the missiles seek out whatever they can find.

Any thoughts or ideas on the subject?
20,617 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Unbalanced.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
There is always a way to balance something. All you have to do probably would make it so they couldnt launch too many missiles and were semi expensive to build. The pods themselves in the book were one shot things and needed a few seconds after the jump to launch because the jumps would mess with the comps since there was little to no hardening on the computers. You could probably put a delay into the pods so that after they jump they sit there and do nothing for 10-20 seconds which means any defender can start shooting them down because the pods have no shields or armor.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Again Paradoxnt beat me to comment.

Yeah it would be to unbalanced and unreasonable. This is so because they are automated systems (as far as I can tell). They are not in the same vein as fighters & bombers (unless we consider them to be robotic but that would go against the lore I believe). Moreover why would you want a jump capable platform that has no shields or armor? If it is not worthy of such things then surely it would not warrant such technology. It would seem like a waste of resources.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
The whole purpose of the system is basically to allow a person to throw out a wave of missiles before his actual fleet comes through the lane. This way any defenses or ships that are near the lane can have taken some damage or have been destroyed. The reason for there being no shields or armor is because the pods are expendable. In the book any pods that happened to have survived after the battle would have been picked up and refitted, but generally that was just so they could have a few extra for later. Also, the pods were usefull as semi-static defenses on your side of the lane. You set the pods up around your own lane and then if your ships or defenses are not ready for an incomming assault wave you have some cheap defenses in place to distract or damage some of the incomming ships. They were even usefull near planets as orbiting defenses, and though I dont know the status of how stealth works in Sins if at all (dont have beta yet, but will get when next one comes out). In the book a large amount of pods could be hidden in an asteroid belt and could be used as a sort of a fence post to try and prevent the enemy ships from going to their target on a straight line from the lanes through the asteroid belt.

If you go by the numbers it probably is a waste of resources, but the fact that you can gain intel on what is on the other side of the lane and also fire some opening shots to disable some of the defenses is a very useful thing and so in a military sense would probably make up for the waste of resources.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
I like the idea of static missle defenses, and I wouldn't be surpised if those are one of the new structures we get to try out in the next beta, however, I agree, this isn't a question of if it works or not, it's a question of game balance. I have heard nothing of missile defenses being introduced, and if there is no way to counter the missile pods, it is very unbalanced.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
I think the game in general needs more missiles!
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
It would be a good idea for a higher level research. With some limitations of course... the pods should not be able to jump through phase space on their own, but be attached to ships. These pods should not fire for some time after jump, and be extremely susceptible to weapons fire until then. This also leads to stationary pods to be layed down in systems, and maybe point defense or electronic warfare pods or addons.
Pretty much anything from the series would be nice in the game, though.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Another static defense that was used was essentially a stationary platform with a very large laser or particle cannon on it, these things had the ability to recharge, but given the size of the cannon on it, they usually were destroyed before they could get out more then 2 or 3 salvos.