Balance & Flavor submod for Imperial Civil War 2.1

[Vulcanus]

I rarely use SSDs as the Alignment for any offensive strategic maneuvers or build Hypervelocity cannons. Makes the game too easy for me. Instead I just stash Kaine and Jerec at any border planet and keep them there, only using them to counter any marauding enemy SSDs or sending them to rampage all over the map if one of the AI factions is getting too powerful.

For Pentastar fleet compositions: Combat Escort Carriers/IPVs/Neb-Bs and your starting Munificents are a very effective assault fleet combo early in the game, and they are still good later on to use as inexpensive counter-attacking fleets.
Micromanaging Howlrunners and TIE Hunters to clear way for Skiprays. Pentastar ships have very few bombers, so maximising effectiveness for Skiprays is a must and Howlrunners and Hunters are great at stalling superior enemy fighters.
Acclamators as long as you can build them at any defensive fleets where their armor makes them very survivable and you'll have enough time to launch all of its fighter complement (even if its not worth much).
Munificent Missile Frigates to counter EotH fighter spam.
Venators everywhere, but you are just wasting pop cap points if you have more than two in a fleet. They are very good by themselves, but ISD-heavy Imp fleets annihilate them.
Getting Michael Unther from Carida isn't easy, but he is worth the effort. His special ability combined with the advanced Skiprays you get from Coruscant brings death to Golans.

[Pali]

I must say I was a bit surprised by the Neb-B choice - I rarely use them even as the NR.  Though now that I think about it, they are the only PA ship I can think of that gets power to shields, and another fighter squadron never hurts.  The NR has better alternatives for whatever role you'd use a Neb-B for, so maybe I'm just bringing a bias against them.

And yes, Hunters and Skiprays are sexy. Strang from Dathomir is another good addition to anti-structure squads, with 3 (4?) squads of Hunters and lots of torps.

[kucsidave]

Well, I have to admit if you look that way everyone is right, but I build up my forces very differently.
I mostly use the Preators combined with some Escort Carriers, and tartans at late game. This should bring everything to it's knees.
I only use the SSDs in early game. In mid and late game, I only use them to hunt down Pally and Daala, but not always. Sometimes I manage it with only the Preators and the small escort fleets...
My way of thinking: DO NOT LOOSE ANY SHIP. That's why i don't like the NR. Their ships are easy to kill...
If I lose a ship, i consider the whole battle as a defeat, no matter the outcome.
I don't want my men to die...

[Pali]

One thing I will always credit the Total War series of games for is teaching me to accept losses.  I still hate them, but...

And my Mon Cals can take quite a bit of a pounding.

[Lord Xizer]

My way of thinking: DO NOT LOOSE ANY SHIP. That's why i don't like the NR. Their ships are easy to kill...
If I lose a ship, i consider the whole battle as a defeat, no matter the outcome.
I don't want my men to die...

That's because most of the NR ships are carrier and frigate based til late game. They are not meant to come to grips with the Battlecruisers, but to send in swarms of fighters and bombers while using their speed to stay away from the big guns while the fighters/bombers take them apart. That said they do have the power to crack open anti starfighter ships.

[Pali]

Yep, it's pretty much all about the fighters as the NR until era 4.  An MC80b vs an ISD1 is actually a pretty close match in my experience, but only when fighters are considered.

[kucsidave]

How are you doing with the stuff? I just wanna know, don't feel yourself rushed.
If you don't complete it in 24 hours, I'll find you and... Now you can feel rushed...
Just kidding

[Vulcanus]

How are you doing with the stuff? I just wanna know, don't feel yourself rushed.
If you don't complete it in 24 hours, I'll find you and... Now you can feel rushed...
Just kidding

You want updates, so here goes: I'm still busy with a lot of things that have nothing to do with modding. I'm also contributing to another FoC modding project that takes much of my modding-dedicated free time.

However: Progress has been made since Christmas. Eriadu Authority is halfway implemented to the game, and the Kaine-Zsinj-Teradoc GC is only missing multimedia scripts. I'm not in much of a hurry here so the plan is to finish these and the southern part of the Post-Endor GC to be released after ICW 2.2.
In the meantime I could put together the playable-Zsinj Art of War campaign, at least in its basic version, with new IR tech progression to fit Zsinj, possibly also for Thrawn's EotH/Imp hybrid, but no events for reborn Palpatine or more advanced EotH unit system I've planned but never bothered to implement.

So if you have any ideas for how Imps should tech up under Zsinj's leadership, I'm open to suggestions.

[Lord Xizer]

You want updates, so here goes: I'm still busy with a lot of things that have nothing to do with modding. I'm also contributing to another FoC modding project that takes much of my modding-dedicated free time.

However: Progress has been made since Christmas. Eriadu Authority is halfway implemented to the game, and the Kaine-Zsinj-Teradoc GC is only missing multimedia scripts. I'm not in much of a hurry here so the plan is to finish these and the southern part of the Post-Endor GC to be released after ICW 2.2.
In the meantime I could put together the playable-Zsinj Art of War campaign, at least in its basic version, with new IR tech progression to fit Zsinj, possibly also for Thrawn's EotH/Imp hybrid, but no events for reborn Palpatine or more advanced EotH unit system I've planned but never bothered to implement.

So if you have any ideas for how Imps should tech up under Zsinj's leadership, I'm open to suggestions.

No rush my friend. The longer the wait, the more satisfying the finished product is I often find. I look forward to getting my hands on the Eriadu Authority and the various Warlords in general I always enjoy.

As to Zsinj progression....hmm since he started off with a lot of older Vics and border units while still having a much smaller core of ISDs I'd say something like this.
Tech 1: ISDI, VSDI, Nebulon B,Carrack, Corellian Corvette, Dreadnaught cruiser, ATPT, TIE Mauler, Juggernaught, Stormies, Biker scouts and PLX troopers, smugglers
Tech2:(Only listing new units)ISDII, VSDII, NebulonB2,Assassin Corvette, TIE Raptors, Raptor Troopers, Raptor Speeder Bikes, IDT, ATST, pirates
Tech3:ATAT, Mobile Artillery, SPMAT,Century Tank, sabatoge Raptor units similar to the Defilers but not as OP.
tech 4 and up, liitle change add buildable ssd executors, no superlaser ssds though
Heroes could be somewhat flexible too like the PA perhaps but some set heroes per era
Era 1, Zsinj, Melvar, Banjeer and Terrinald Screed
Era2 Apwar Trigit,Tetran Cowell(fake 181st), Cpt. Netbers(ground hero commando) and Cpt. Darillion(Nightcaller) (But lose Screed and Banjeer)
Era 3 Gethzerion and Nightsisters(Silri type with drain life and force repel or crush) (In addition to the same heores from Era 2 if they didn't die)
Era 4 and 5(Seeing as how this would be in the infinities catagory...your guess is as good as mine)

[Lord Xizer]

However: Progress has been made since Christmas. Eriadu Authority is halfway implemented to the game,

Will Delvardus be getting the Night Hammer or the Thalassa(Or perhaps both similar to how Daala is in Reunification?

[kucsidave]

I was just joking with the rushing...
About the Zsinj's era advance, I agree with Xizer, but want to add a few things:
Vulcanus knows I have this small database(Table) about every single fractions's land and space units with the production facilities.
Ah, it's so hard to explain...
And when I looked closely, i found out that in Era 1, there is nothing buildable from Heavy Factory in era 1, but there is the Juggernaut from Advanced Factory, so I recommend putting in 2-M Repulsor Tanks to Era 1(or if you don't want it to be so OP, then the TX-130 Saber Tanks instead)...
Maybe Specialists too with the Stormtroopers in Era 1.
Maybe you should also add AT-AA in Era2 to counter the NR's Speeders and V-Wings.

In space, there were no Fighter carrier, so I recommend putting in the Escort Carrier to Era 1.
Also want to highlight that the Interdictors missing too, so Immobilizer 418 in era 2 and Interdictor SD in Era 4.

Oh, and before I forget: RANCOR BASE AS SHIPYARD COMPANY FOR ZSINJ!!!!!

[Lord Xizer]

In space, there were no Fighter carrier, so I recommend putting in the Escort Carrier to Era 1.
Also want to highlight that the Interdictors missing too, so Immobilizer 418 in era 2 and Interdictor SD in Era 4.

Oh, and before I forget: RANCOR BASE AS SHIPYARD COMPANY FOR ZSINJ!!!!!

The first two I agree with but Rancor Base was not a company, it was just a shipyard Zsinj built. Granted it was the main(possibly only) major one in his territory but it wouldn't serve for cost cutting or such, could just have a bonus in lessened construction time for certain units.

[kucsidave]

The first two I agree with but Rancor Base was not a company, it was just a shipyard Zsinj built. Granted it was the main(possibly only) major one in his territory but it wouldn't serve for cost cutting or such, could just have a bonus in lessened construction time for certain units.

I know about that, but that is the only special shipyard what could be given to Zsinj. If not Rancor base, then what? KDY is already the IR's and Sienar is the PA's. If you know anything better, I'm listening...

[Lord Xizer]

I know about that, but that is the only special shipyard what could be given to Zsinj. If not Rancor base, then what? KDY is already the IR's and Sienar is the PA's. If you know anything better, I'm listening...

Well I'm not opposed to the idea of Rancor Base giving a bonus of some sort, just not a credit bonus. It should be something vital to the Zsinj Empire's efforts. Like being the only area to get Raptor Space units like the TIE Raptor,or Escort Carriers that launch only TIE Raptors, maybe even a few cloak units as Zsinj was working on Nightcloaks there. It's also the only shipyard to build ISDs and has a much faster production time for VSDs. The planet itself is the only place you should be able to recruit Nightsisters(Which we could also use the base game ones on Rancors in addition to the Silri type models, just no lightwhip.

[Vulcanus]

The Zsinj - Art of War GC is now playable and era advancement events are implemented as are most of the heroes. Unless there are some unforeseen difficulties, the Imperial leader tech level change is still in place, though they may not be in the camp they used to be. Isard starts independent, Thrawn will be EotH, Palpatine either Eoth or IR depending on the human player (Phalanxes escorting the Eclipse  ), Daala IR, Pellaeon EotH.

Next on the schedule. Zsinj IR tech tree. No buildable SSDs, though Zsinj will respawn with the Night Hammer in Era 4. TIE Raptors gradually replacing other TIEs. TIE Defenders partially replacing Raptors in late tech levels. Scimitars appear for EotH instead of IR. No Venators or Acclamators, instead replaced by Coronas in Era 4-5. MTC taking over the carrier duties, though not with TIE Droids. Beef up Raptor ground troops just a bit and make them buildable on Dathomir only. Zsinj will get some of the late era Imp heroes, but Banjeer and Teubbo will fill the gap in Eras 1-3. Fake 181st and Netbers maybe. Same for Nightsisters and sabotage units. Add late-era Ewok TIE Defender hero. Perhaps replace Vic I and II with upgraded Vic Is in late eras. Bonus-providing Rancor Base not likely, unless someone sends me a building icon that's too good not to use.

[Lord Xizer]

The Zsinj - Art of War GC is now playable and era advancement events are implemented as are most of the heroes. Unless there are some unforeseen difficulties, the Imperial leader tech level change is still in place, though they may not be in the camp they used to be. Isard starts independent, Thrawn will be EotH, Palpatine either Eoth or IR depending on the human player (Phalanxes escorting the Eclipse  ), Daala IR, Pellaeon EotH.

Next on the schedule. Zsinj IR tech tree. No buildable SSDs, though Zsinj will respawn with the Night Hammer in Era 4. TIE Raptors gradually replacing other TIEs. TIE Defenders partially replacing Raptors in late tech levels. Scimitars appear for EotH instead of IR. No Venators or Acclamators, instead replaced by Coronas in Era 4-5. MTC taking over the carrier duties, though not with TIE Droids. Beef up Raptor ground troops just a bit and make them buildable on Dathomir only. Zsinj will get some of the late era Imp heroes, but Banjeer and Teubbo will fill the gap in Eras 1-3. Fake 181st and Netbers maybe. Same for Nightsisters and sabotage units. Add late-era Ewok TIE Defender hero. Perhaps replace Vic I and II with upgraded Vic Is in late eras. Bonus-providing Rancor Base not likely, unless someone sends me a building icon that's too good not to use.

Interesting, one extra thought. If Zsinj kills Teradoc off there could be an event that gives Zsinj the Crimson Command as he was the one originally assigned the ships.

[kucsidave]

Bonus-providing Rancor Base not likely, unless someone sends me a building icon that's too good not to use.

AAAAAND, I sent you on in Email
I hope it will be too good not to use...

[Vulcanus]

AAAAAND, I sent you on in Email
I hope it will be too good not to use...

If this is your own work, nice job! Adding Rancor Base to Zsinj.

[kucsidave]

Yep.
I just took the Imperial Insignia, and draw the face of a rancor into it

[Lord Xizer]

Creative: solution. I should like to see this insignia