| Re: Engine choice for minelaying frigate |
Sun, 20 January 2008 21:31   |
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Just a note
FF+Radram+1pod can do 101ly at warp 9 with IFE, 86ly without.
FF+FM+1pod can do 184ly at warp 9.
FF+FM+2pods can do 110ly at warp 9.
FF+FM+3pods can only do 78ly at warp 9. (note: 236ly range @ w6 - that's 6.5 jumps)
So... If you like 1 pod per ship, FF and radram is fine if you only need the ability to do an unassisted warp 9 jump occaisionally. If you like having more pods, then you have to use the FM *if* you want to be able to make bigger jumps (but then have the added MM of refuelling them periodically.) Personally I'd cut the MM and take the radram unless germ is very tight.
While I'm thinking about max speed / range...
If you like using scout hull for minelayers (cheaper in the early game)
SS+Radram+1pod (IFE) = 65ly@w8, 145ly@w7
SS+Radram+1pod (-IFE) = 55ly@w8, 123ly@w7
Both taking two years to refuel from empty @ warp 6
SS+FM+1pod = 111ly@w8, 153@w7
Three years to refuel from empty @ crappy warp 4
If I were using the scout, I'd use the radram because it'd get stuck at w4 way too often (and 16ly isn't enough to move to a new minefield to create/top up, unlike the 36ly you get to travel while refueling a radram)
I just finished my first big game where I've had ramscoops available... And I gotta say, I *loved* not having to even think about the fuel on my 140 minelayer scouts. Whenever I built any I just boosted them at warp 9 to roughly where they needed to be (didn't cost me anything, they just tagged along with ships heading the right way) then was able to just forget about them. Think about that - 140 minelayers. Managing their fuel would've been a major hassle.
Of course, if you are NRSE, the decision becomes very, very easy 
[Updated on: Sun, 20 January 2008 21:38] Report message to a moderator
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