Posted: 07 February 2010 at 7:25pm | IP Logged

as a sort of prep for trying to do ships for new-ish empires I've begun looking at the way the exxisting ones are balanced.  It's baffling to say the least.

Argonian ships for comparison purposes.

S2
Argonian Escort
1s(upply), 1e(nergy)
4 shields
"escort"
1 ef(energy flux)
2 p(hasers)

s3
Argonian Frigate
1s, 1e
2 shields
1ef, 3p

s3
science vessel
1s, 1e
3 shields
+2 research
3p

s4
assault carrier
1s, 1e
2 shields
"carrier"
1ef, 2p

s4
destroyer
1s, 1e
2 shields
2ef, 3p

s4
minesweeper
1s, 1e
4 shields
"minesweeper"
1ef, 3p

s4
scout cruiser
1s, 1e
3 shields
+1 research or look at a card
4p
------------------
s5
light cruiser
2s, 1e
3 shields
2ef, 4p

s6
heavy cruiser
2s, 1e
3 shields
2ef, 4p

s6
command cruiser
2s, 1e
4 shields
+1 command
2ef, 5p

s7
battlecruiser
2s, 1e
4 shields
3ef, 4p
------------------
s7
heavy carrier
3s, 1e
4 shields
"carrier"
2ef, 3p

s8
dreadnought
2s, 2e
6 shields
+1 command
3ef, 6p
------------------
s9
battleship
3s, 2e
8 shields
+1 command
4ef, 7p
------------------
S10
Argonian Flagship
4s, 2e
10 shields
+2 command points
5 ef, 8 p

these can be neaty categorized by engagement cost.  Also I've come up with a way of quantifying the power of the ships. (strength + shields + weapons damage)

2 point cost has a range of power values:

escort-9, frigate-9, sciencevessel-9, assaultcarrier-9, destroyer-11, minesweeper-12, scoutcruiser-11

most of these vessels have a special effect.  while you'd think that would give them lower total values it doesn't do that as much as you'd think.  at least not for certain types.  Combat-only vessels get more heavy weapons, but are otherwise unremarkable.  Their total firepower isn't really all that great compared to some of the others.

3 points:

lightcruiser-14, heavycrusier-15, commandcruiser-17, battlecruiser-18

and these are much the same, but more so. the only one with a special ability is better than everything except the battlecruiser.  My best guess to explain why is that it has ssomething to do with rarity.  IE, rarer ships have a higher powerlevel.  research generating and carrier ships are the only ones that have a significant power reduction compared to other similar ships.

weird huh?  I'm really not sure this is a good way of balancing, but from a marketing standpoint I can see how it'd be great.

Posted: 09 February 2010 at 10:51am | IP Logged

actually my point was demonstrating that they weren't balanced. :p  I guess I didn't state that directly.

*sends PM*