An idea on how to handle LRM frigate spam

from Sins Forums
So... Why not just make all LRM-style units deal crap damage to structures? That way, in order to actually deal damage to enemy planets, you would need to make a sizable portion of your fleet -something else- so that you could effectively engage and destroy planets. It would also help after that first engagement, when you find out you're fighting a lame LRM-spammer, and inevitably suffer heavy losses... The retaliatory strike might strangle your fleet, but planet defenses could slow them down enough for you to rebuild and counter with some flak frigates or w/e.

To those of you who think LRM-spamming is not a problem:
I do not consider LRM's overpowered, or the practice of LRM-spamming to be an unbeatable uber strategy. I simply feel that fighting against an entire fleet of one unit type detracts from what is otherwise a beautifully complex and rich playing experience. The designers of this game obviously went through a lot of trouble to desgin specific strengths and weaknesses to each unit-type, and building craploads of LRMs sort of marginalizes the whole rest of the game. I know it's your pet strat and all, but fess up. You didn't buy this game because you thought it would be like every other RTS out there. We aren't playing this game to rush each others bases asap and get uber wins. We play this game instead of other RTSes because it's a slow paced, thoughtful, deep, complex game. LRM-spamming makes the game less complex, faster, and less strategic. So it's got to go.
strategy
6,638 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Having just LRMs and nothing else is a pretty poor strategy considering you can supplement them with other frigates for much better effect.

You probably mean a fleet made up of a lot of LRMs, in which case, what's really so bad about it? Light frigates can't make up the bulk of your fleet because they suck (I'm sure you've played vs. AI's light frigate spam, and it never even wins one battle), heavy frigates are too expensive, supply-consuming and late-game, flaks are niche units, same with utility cruisers, and having a large number of carriers is very risky since flaks can make mince meat out of them. So, uh, what do you have left? LRMs.

Only option is to wait for an expansion pack so that Stardock make more units that are actually useful and can be used as the bulk of your fleet. Currently you don't really have much choice. And if your opponent is spamming nothing but 100% LRMs, be thankful that he's bad enough to not be mixing them with a handful of other useful units.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
After having read several threads concerning LRM fleets, I decided to try it out for myself. I must say, I've never seen a cap ship drop in a single volley before... Oh but look his explosive nanites made my entire fleet chain explode. Good game.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
I do not consider LRM's overpowered, or the practice of LRM-spamming to be an unbeatable uber strategy. I simply feel that fighting against an entire fleet of one unit type detracts from what is otherwise a beautifully complex and rich playing experience.


If it is not a balance issue, then please don't try to force changes based on how you "simply feel" onto others. You say they are not overpowered then you propose a nerf.

LRM-spamming makes the game less complex, faster, and less strategic. So it's got to go.


Yeah, Lrm spamming makes the game faster because when you crush his one-ship-wonder fleet most of the spammers quit the game. Taking away strategic options is what makes games less complex, faster, and less strategic.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
What you really ought to be worried about is heavy crusier spam. That's mostly what gets me.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Heavy cruiser spam is:

1. Late or mid-game, since heavy cruisers are Tier 5 research.

2. Easily countered by bombers. They are most effective against heavies, in fact.

3. If flak comes along, then it is still easily countered by your own heavy cruisers + support cruisers + bombers. Just get your own heavies to blast the flaks and then launch the bombers while your heavies + support cruisers hold the line.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
I posted this in another thread, but I feel like it's a workable solution to "spamming" units. Why not make each unit of the same type purchased past the first bought at a 1% markup in cost? By the time you've got 101 of a ship type, the last one is being purchased at double the base cost. At some point in there it becomes resource inefficient to continue spamming the same kind of ship, but there's no "hard" barrier that stops you from getting as many as you'd like.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
LRMs are easily countered :) I laugh when i scout LRM spammer, for he shall learn a lesson in humility.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
I played TEC in a test using virtually nothing but lrms with mixed caps and all i could do was stare at the swath of destruction that was left behind...

though i was normal difficulty the amount of damage created by 80+ lrms with two or three caps supporting them is sick. they managed to wipe out heavily fortified planets in less than a few minutes. things that increase their range make them even more deadly.

add the fact that they are far cheaper than the regular frigate, makes it that much easier to spam them fast. since they have considerable range against almost everything else, they usually have the upper hand in a battle before other types of vessels are in firing range.

i can see why people hate them, but i think that a solid defensive fleet could dispatch them easily. two motherships, a battlecruiser and a mixed fleet could wipe them out quickly. shield regeneration and debuffs to their fleet would render them helpless. if youre on the defensive in a homeworld, you could also seek refuge in sheld regens to make sure they arent just piercing through you like a you know what. id say that itd be hard to fight them off in general but if you strategize properly, a rushing fleet of lrm's is toast.
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Why not make each unit of the same type purchased past the first bought at a 1% markup in cost?


Because it is totally unnecessary. If you want a massive and unneeded mechanic change, just make a mod.


Astax: Do you have a partner for 2v2? We should get a game going sometime.