Icbm

[Darsnan]

Here's a PB that I dubbed ICMB for the PBEM game "Last Sentient Standing":

ICBM, Missile, Planet Buster,Scout, 0, 0, 0, HAL9000, -1, 01000000000000000010000010000

Essentially its got Drop Pods (Low Orbit capability), Fuel Nanocells (2nd stage rocket), and Antigrav Struts (3rd stage rocket), and the unit has a range of 30 tiles, give or take. Of course, if you detonate the ICBM on the same turn you used the Drop Pod capability, why you will only have half your attack capability (i.e. 49 instead of 99). Also, you can't "drop" the unit onto a sea tile - its a hardcoded feature of the game. FYI.


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[d=me]

I will definitely accept this as a game play reason.

[Alinestra Covelia]

So what happens with the strength of 49? Does the Planet Bust still happen as normal?

[Adalbertus]

So, jam said it. An ICBM has an infinite range IF you agree to give your sentience to a computer. In other words: AI PB's have an infinite range, your own have a range of 16 tiles (IIRC).
OTOH, I think for gameplay reasons it is ok. You can cause enough havoc with drop units of an infinite range which are possible for a human player.
Anyway, I think it is impossible to match the movement speed of any strategy game to the city development or the speed of research without breaking the game into three. You can walk around earth in five years if you have decently paved ways. This would give you just a few city/base improvements and just one single important scientific breakthrough (if any). Its best just to live with it as a game.

[Frankychan]

I would rather NOT have a Planet Buster that can fly across the whole map the same turn it is created....

Although if I'M the one building it, then it's a different story.

[The Mad Monk]

Since planet busters become available with "orbital spaceflight", I have no problem with them being trully orbital. Of course, I don't use them, the AI already has them, and I only play solo, so it's a moot issue for me.

OTOH, I may enter that design into the lists for the tectonic missles.

BTW -- does the AI ever use those?

[Frankychan]

'Busters or Tectonic missiles?

I can say first hand that Miriam likes to use her planet busters.

Suffice it to say that I lost a smackload of special projects in THAT game.

[The Mad Monk]

Oh, I've read all about buster-happy players -- human and AI alike.

When have you seen tectonics used, and in what way?

[Enigma_Nova]

They're great for instant land bridges.
With a few infantry transports and rover formers, you're 4 squares forward in any direction through the sea in one turn.

Late game, it's nice to see a magtube spring from nowhere using these missles.

[Lazerus]

i just like to cover morgan in fungus for a laugh and let the worms eat him

[The Mad Monk]

Yes, but has the AI ever used them?

[Hercules]

Darsnan:

Here's a PB that I dubbed ICMB for the PBEM game "Last Sentient Standing":

ICBM, Missile, Planet Buster,Scout, 0, 0, 0, HAL9000, -1, 01000000000000000010000010000

Essentially its got Drop Pods (Low Orbit capability), Fuel Nanocells (2nd stage rocket), and Antigrav Struts
(3rd stage rocket), and the unit has a range of 30 tiles, give or take. Of course, if you detonate the ICBM
on the same turn you used the Drop Pod capability, why you will only have half your attack capability (i.e.
49 instead of 99). Also, you can't "drop" the unit onto a sea tile - its a hardcoded feature of the game. FYI.

.

Holy s**t I am in that game.

[Hercules]

Iirc, Pbs can move along the magtube network without loss of a movement point. In SP games this could come in quite handy if your PB was stationed at the other side of your empire.

[Enigma_Nova]

If not, my carrier infantry transport should take care of it!

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by Hercules
Darsnan:
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Holy s**t I am in that game.

Could you, by chance, open an interdimension portal and transfer one to my Peace Keepers in AXT056? I could really use one right about now...

Anyways, yes, you are right: I did include this design in the "Last Sentient Standing" PBEM. Should be interesting to see if it ever comes into play or not. It may be humanities last hope for survival in this one....



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