Planetarion Forums

MotoX · 24 Nov 2005, 18:52

Why do planets build loads of Distorters when every major alliance always got scanners that easily can get thru anyway?

To build some from start I get, but after the build up phase there is no reason to continue?

Some got loads and still can’t prevent some heavy scanner to scan him
Aren’t they missing a load of other important construction capabilities?

Please educate me if I got this all wrong?

Paisley · 24 Nov 2005, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoX

Why do planets build loads of Distorters when every major alliance always got scanners that easily can get thru anyway?

To build some from start I get, but after the build up phase there is no reason to continue?

Some got loads and still can’t prevent some heavy scanner to scan him
Aren’t they missing a load of other important construction capabilities?

Please educate me if I got this all wrong?

it is not a question of being wrong, but them uber scanners aren't on 24/7.
It is to do with the chance of being scanned, It is amazing how your hostile bottle goes when they cant get a jpg.

or if a DC is taking a call against you...if they cant get a scanner on to scan you then you might have a better chance of landing

Banned · 24 Nov 2005, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddies

it is not a question of being wrong, but them uber scanners aren't on 24/7.
It is to do with the chance of being scanned, It is amazing how your hostile bottle goes when they cant get a jpg.

or if a DC is taking a call against you...if they cant get a scanner on to scan you then you might have a better chance of landing

This + fleet analysis.

Tearz · 24 Nov 2005, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banned

This + fleet analysis.

Indeed.

Personally I love the extra faking possilities that distorters can provide.

MotoX · 24 Nov 2005, 21:14

Well, agreed on that as well then,

But all those mines, finance centre… you didn’t build – don’t they count?

Tearz · 24 Nov 2005, 21:40

I agree it's a big trade off.

All worthwhile when landing on a bucketload of wrong defence!

Snurx · 24 Nov 2005, 21:53

Ive never been much of a disorter type myself, but been building a few this round. And I must say (as a zik) that they are great, since my targets cant fleetscan. Of course, its a tradeoff, but then again, Im not gonna build only disorters. Its just so that the regular joe can't fleetscan (as there will always be a scanner with more amps).

Stoom · 25 Nov 2005, 10:23

Distorters are really usefull, put construction on prio #1 and you build 1 per 6 ticks...
It's possible having 60-70+ distorters atm, which most scanners don't have (afaik)

noah02 · 25 Nov 2005, 13:31

Distorters are pretty cool like but i just build 60 finance centres of the go and build amps after that coz there is nothing worse than not being able to fleet scan someone for them to land a good fake attack on you.

Paisley · 25 Nov 2005, 13:39

dist whore is a double edged sword

Tearz · 25 Nov 2005, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoom

Distorters are really usefull, put construction on prio #1 and you build 1 per 6 ticks...
It's possible having 60-70+ distorters atm, which most scanners don't have (afaik)

It's possible for a lot more than 70 dists already + maintaining high alertness.

I dread to think how many dists terran dist whores have, if there are indeed any this round (lo Cmd_Carl R14

)

noah02 · 25 Nov 2005, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoom

Distorters are really usefull, put construction on prio #1 and you build 1 per 6 ticks...
It's possible having 60-70+ distorters atm, which most scanners don't have (afaik)

1 per 4 ticks for terran \o/

ComradeRob · 25 Nov 2005, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoX

Well, agreed on that as well then,

But all those mines, finance centre… you didn’t build – don’t they count?

Of course they do. That's why intelligent players decide what constructions to build as part of their overall strategy.

For example, you may choose to play as Zik and build lots of distorters. Because you have more than two pod classes available (assuming you have stolen some pods), you can hit your target with a fleet that will be almost impossible to anticipate without fleet analysis. If your target has fewer amps than you have distorters, there's a good chance that he will be unable to get the correct defence. In a best-case scenario, you can profit considerably by stealing incorrect defence ships. In alliance wars, this also raises the potential for drawing out enemy defence by sending, say, one frigate and 5000 fighters at a target, which the defenders may be forced to assume is 5001 frigates (or 5001 CO, or 5001 FI).

Or you might choose to play as Cath, getting cruisers early and building a large initial lead by capping lots of roids. In those circumstances, mines and finance centres would be more important.

Anyhow, it's amusing to note that your view of strategy has about as much depth as your view of alliance politics

Paisley · 25 Nov 2005, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoX

Well, agreed on that as well then,

But all those mines, finance centre… you didn’t build – don’t they count?

If you have any further questions... the guys in #strategy will be helpful to ya.
Seasoned pros

MotoX · 25 Nov 2005, 19:26

ComradeRob...

The last remark was not necessary though since this thread was an attempt to be some what serious 

I make these threads from time to time to wakeup and inform the new players that after all joins up every new round.

I believe that we (even you) got some skills to give away to the new recruits so please keep this thread informative instead of throwing cheep shots at the thread owner?

Back to subject then:

Even if you can’t fleet scan the attacker and deff is harder to figure out alliances will still send deff fleets and since the attacker can’t fleet scan the defender he prop will pull his attack, right?

Paisley · 25 Nov 2005, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoX

Back to subject then:

Even if you can’t fleet scan the attacker and deff is harder to figure out alliances will still send deff fleets and since the attacker can’t fleet scan the defender he prop will pull his attack, right?

Double edged sword I know but if you got xan incs it aint gonna matter.
fleet scan is for the target (defending planet) to find out what is in the fleet of the attacker. a Jumpgate probe aka jpg shows all fleets (friendly and hostile) going towards the planet.

I would recommend doing a "reverse calc" when you can't fleet scan, but can get a unit on him.
Ask yourself for example why is he sending zik BS at me when I have more than enough anti bs... but if he was sending zik frigs at me he would cap roids and ships... I wonder if he is faking frigs.

find the motive to the attack and you are half way there

MotoX · 25 Nov 2005, 20:02

True, and it gets even harder when the attacker sends a Fi fleet with only one BS ships to fool the defending planet with their ETA…

TheShadowMan · 28 Nov 2005, 11:56

having distorters is great if ur playing zik, like some other posters have already stated.

My current trick at the moment is landing a pure cr fleet + hornets on xan's. I just match up the numbers so it looks like a bs fleet. The marjority of the time i land with peacekeeper defence as its been called wrong. The frigs i steal feed my frigate fleet.

I think in the last 10 or so attacks only one person reverse calced me via a unit. So I landed on peacekeeper and scarab defence. I still capped roids cos i forgot to take out me mossies from the fleet!

Anyway I would advise building distorters if you zik, fake ur target and hope ur not hitting an alliance scanner!

tsm

Paisley · 29 Nov 2005, 05:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotoX

True, and it gets even harder when the attacker sends a Fi fleet with only one BS ships to fool the defending planet with their ETA…

I call it a def sponge... you send a fake fleet to "soak up" defence, a tactic I have done many a time on a single and battle comander (ally) basis.

For this to work you have to ensure they cant fleet scan you...

1. They haven't researched fleet analysis (waves 6 on the tech scan)
2. you have more distorters than they have amps.
3. your a xan faking frigs. (as xan ships cant be fleet scaned)

one other point is make the fake viable... do a calc to see how much def it can potentally draw out.

Doorsdown · 29 Nov 2005, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddies

dist whore is a double edged sword

less so this round. people that may need a scan of you for your own benifit can get on

Stoom · 1 Dec 2005, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheShadowMan

having distorters is great if ur playing zik, like some other posters have already stated.

My current trick at the moment is landing a pure cr fleet + hornets on xan's. I just match up the numbers so it looks like a bs fleet. The marjority of the time i land with peacekeeper defence as its been called wrong. The frigs i steal feed my frigate fleet.

I think in the last 10 or so attacks only one person reverse calced me via a unit. So I landed on peacekeeper and scarab defence. I still capped roids cos i forgot to take out me mossies from the fleet!

Anyway I would advise building distorters if you zik, fake ur target and hope ur not hitting an alliance scanner!

tsm

Works like a charm indeed!
Faking Fr as Bs is easy too.
This is to be used in retals more likely tho, since most ppl have their vsh/viper out on def. (works for me atleast

)