Master Computers

Urendi Maleldil · #1 June 12th, 2001, 06:10 PM

I thing Master Computers are either too big or use too much resources. I'd like to put them on smaller ships like escorts, frigates, destroyers, and light cruisers, but their size and resource cost make putting on the normal control components a wiser choice. Right now Master Computers only have any real benefit when put on much larger ships.

Will · #2 June 12th, 2001, 06:23 PM

I think that's the point...

You could always go into Components.txt and fiddle with the numbers a bit.

Nitram Draw · #3 June 12th, 2001, 06:28 PM

Or if you face a Psychic race. They are not suppose to be able to use the Alligence Converter on a Master Computer. I think they can right now but this is to be fixed in the next patch.

CW · #4 June 12th, 2001, 07:24 PM

"Or if you face a Psychic race. They are not suppose to be able to use the Alligence Converter on a Master Computer. I think they can right now but this is to be fixed in the next patch."

Yea that's cool. In my very first game in the demo one of my master-computer-controlled destoryers somehow defected! That ship was an experimental electronic warfare ship armed with a lot of computer virus packs (what ever they are called), and it wrecked havoc on MY OWN fleet! Oh well, at least I know it worked... :-(

CW

[This message has been edited by CW (edited 12 June 2001).]

PvK · #5 June 12th, 2001, 09:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Nitram Draw:
Or if you face a Psychic race. They are not suppose to be able to use the Alligence Converter on a Master Computer. I think they can right now but this is to be fixed in the next patch.

Can someone confirm if this is a problem in 1.35 and report to Malfador if it is, please?

I thought this was fixed a while ago, but maybe I just got lucky when I tried it.

PvK

Nitram Draw · #6 June 12th, 2001, 09:37 PM

It's listed as a fix in the upcoming patch. Scroll down a bit to find it.
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/For...ML/002791.html

Beck · #7 June 13th, 2001, 02:03 AM

I can see the cost being a deterrent; 4000 in minerals is pretty hefty, but the size shouldn't be. A master computer III is smaller than the bridge, crew and life support components it replaces and MC II is identical in size, its only MC I that is bigger. I make use of them in some smaller ship designs in the mid-later game when I really need that extra 10 Ktons more than the 4000 minerals.

Gimboid · #8 June 13th, 2001, 02:24 AM

I dont think its the cost so much as the extra time it will take to produce the ship thats the deterrent.

if you know the enemy fleet is coming and you cant afford to wait the extra 1-2 turns to produce the ship, then a master computer is not for you, despite the extra 10kt that you could use.

Beck · #9 June 13th, 2001, 03:14 AM

True, but if time is that critical and the fleet is of decent size and ability, you're not building small ships either. You're probably pumping out fighters given the number you can produce in a short period of time verses very small ships the time would allow. The claim was that the size as well as cost was a problem in small ships and I find it is only the cost that the size is equal or less than that you would have in bridge, life support and crew components once you get past the MC I. The actual cost different is less than one turn with the higher tech SYs. With wastage due to being only to build one ship in a turn, at times and depending on the ship design, there is no different in the construction time at all. I usually factor that in the decision process as to whether to build small ships at all and what to include.

Str8_Gain · #10 June 14th, 2001, 10:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Nitram Draw:
Or if you face a Psychic race. They are not suppose to be able to use the Alligence Converter on a Master Computer. I think they can right now but this is to be fixed in the next patch.

I personally have never seen this happen, but I wouldn't be surprised. I switch to Master Computers when I encounter Psychic races like the Cue Cappa. Of course, I typically go Psychic myself, so it's a lot of fun in Tactical Combat to do "chain conVersions", especially when they bunch a lot of ships up in a small area, and they can't do the same to your ships.

I emailed MM once about adding a new type of race to the game. It'd be basically a machine (AI) society, and one of the special race-specific techs I suggested was a conVersion component that'd convert only Master Computers. They'd also have other stuff like Counter-Virus components (since the race itself is machine-based). Dunno if it'll ever be implemented, but I thought the possibility is interesting.