How to kill Thrustships and Battle Dragons?

[RallyToMe]

I've been playing this mod a lot in the last couple months and enjoying it immensely, but a few problems have been bothering me:
Yevethan Thrustships and Hapan Battle Dragons (and Novas, too, to a lesser extent) are quite difficult to counter. The AI sends a swarm of these ships at my fleet, then has them retreat after giving my ships a pounding. I can usually survive the initial attack, but then I am left with a somewhat battered fleet to hunt down the enemy fleet. Any of my ships that can hurt the Battle Dragons without being destroyed in return are too slow to effectively catch them, and since Battle Dragons can't lost their shield generators, they're going to be back to about full strength by the time I catch them. The same goes for Nova cruisers too, but they're weak enough to usually be destroyed or severely weakened in the initial engagement.

Thrustships are a bit different, as they are as fast as Corvettes, but don't have too much firepower. They are almost impossible to pin down with any considerable firepower, and have enough shielding to shrug off anything my Corvettes can throw at them.

So I ask- what do other people use to hunt down these ships? I know the answer of starfighters seems simple enough, but by this point in the battle I don't usually have many left, as my Carriers are depleted, and I don't have enough pop cap to bring in more.


Also, the game description seems to say that Hapan and Yevethan units can be used in Skirmish. Is that true? If so, which maps?

And is there any way to modify the speed of ships?

Thanks.

[Slornie]

Also, the game description seems to say that Hapan and Yevethan units can be used in Skirmish. Is that true? If so, which maps?

Not sure exactly which maps, but they ought (!) to be buildable from the capturable Merchant Dock.

[kucsidave]

So I ask- what do other people use to hunt down these ships? I know the answer of starfighters seems simple enough, but by this point in the battle I don't usually have many left, as my Carriers are depleted, and I don't have enough pop cap to bring in more.

If you are playing as the remnants, your best choice is a massive fleet including Vindicators, ISD IIs AND Escort Carriers/Modular Taskforce Cruisers/Venators depending on Era. Oh, and make sure to have at least one interdictor at your fleet to stop their retreat. position your fleet with the following order: ISD IIs outside so your fleet won't be crippled. then the Vindicators while the carrier ships and the interdictor in the back to keep them safe. Make sure you have backup ships in case you lose some. The ISD IIs will take the initial strike's damage, the Vindicators are good to surround and hunt them down one by one with the support of the fighters the whole time. Don't forget to focus your fire on one ship at a time. The fewer the ships, the less the firepower they have
If you are playing as the Mighty Pentastar Alignment, your job is easy. Two Preators in front to take the damage, and tons of Venators back. same advices as before.
With the EotH I recommend you the use of Syndic/Phalanx, Chaf, Au'riette, Massias combo with the same align as the IR's stuff.
About the rebel scum, well... You shouldn't really have much problem. For the front place any capital with the power to shields ability, Assault frigates/Bothan Assault Cruisers behind them, keep some Quasar fire back and use some of your mighty fighters. Sadly you have no interdictor unit if we don't count Uwlla Iillor, but she can't be everywhere at the same time, soo...

Good luck with the hunting

Also, the game description seems to say that Hapan and Yevethan units can be used in Skirmish. Is that true? If so, which maps?

You can build them where Slornie said but as I experienced it, only with the PA

And is there any way to modify the speed of ships?

Yes, there is. You have to modify the XML filess however. Find the data of the ship you want to modify, and then search for a line like this:
<Max_Speed>3.00</Max_Speed>
this is the DL's Thrustship's max speed by the way. That can be found in the Yevetha.XML
the Battle Dragon and the Nova Cruiser should be in the Hapes.XML

Good luck with the modifications.
A good program for XML modifications is Notepad++ if you ask me, but it's your choice.

[RallyToMe]

Thanks, I'll keep those configurations in mind.


Thanks. I'm actually going to bump the speeds of ISDs, MC80s, Venators and stuff up a bit. EAW took ISD's from "fast" in canon to "move... please... you're killing me (well, actually, they're killing you).

[Lord Xizer]

VSD IIs are my go to. Tgey are fast, hardhitters and you can mass spam em.