What does "optimum range" mean?

[capnq]

From the Gold manual:

quote:

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Optimal weapons Range: Ship moves to a range that enables it to inflict the maximum damage on the enemy while suffering the minimum damage in return.

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The exact formula isn't known, but it should involve both To Hit chances and damage at range.

Multiplex Tracking will allow a ship to launch missiles at different targets in the same turn; I'm not sure whether the AI is capable of using this to advantage, but a human in Tactical can judge how to divide fire.

[ 12 March 2002: Message edited by: capnq ]

[dumbluck]

So, in other words, multiplex tracking is useless in strategic combat (as I've always suspected).

[TerranC]

still a good thing to have.

Kinda works like extra sensors, and saves all them lost firepower just because it couldnt track.

[Mephisto]

Huh? Not at all. The AI will use it, no problem there.

quote:

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Originally posted by dumbluck:
So, in other words, multiplex tracking is useless in strategic combat (as I've always suspected).

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[Suicide Junkie]

I suspect that level 2 or 3 multiplexing is all you need, and the AI won't effectively use anything higher:

MX 1 (no component): The AI bLasts a ship apart, and can't fire unused weapons (due to range or target being destroyed)

MX 2: The AI kills one ship, and starts on the next in one turn,
-or-
fires long range weapons at a primary target, and short range at a target of opportunity.

MX 3: Same as above, put can also shoot unused PD cannons at sats.

[PvK]

So if a starbase has MX 5, it won't vaporize 5 targets per turn?

[Suicide Junkie]

If you've got a base with enough weaponry on it to completely vaporize four targets, then yes, multiplex 5 would be useful.

By the time you get big bases, your opponents will likely have really big ships as well, so you might find it difficult to kill four in one turn.