weapons

The weapons graphics is unique for each ship and perhaps
to some extent even to each empire. You do not
acquire new graphic attacks with changing techs, the
attacks merely become more powerful.

All fights end in one shot, with about half the time
the defending side firing back(depending on wether
or not the defending side wins or does signifigant
damage)

That corvettes are killing rangers, thats very odd,
but some suggestions would be to build shipyards and
other improvements that improve starships on the
planets producing the ships as well as building
starbases on military resources(red triangles) and
adding improvements to the starbases.

As for techs that improve weapons, they do exist
they are listed as +weapons such as 1d-phase, 2d-phasing
etc.

Thanks for clarifying the attack graphic. Suppose I'll try building up my shipyards.

Grab some military resources if you can, too. Each yields +68% attack/def once fully exploited, if memory serves.

What does building up shipyards do, anyway? The thing just says +x% starship. Is that to hit points, or attack and defense, or what?

-Drake

~SDC~

Starship bonus = bonus to attack and defense, as well.

If corvettes can effectively take on a ranger, then check to see what military resources they own. Find each of those starbases with the red cones on the map, and kill them. Or have someone else kill them. But the point is to destroy those bases!

The middle range of the tech tree already has an immense attacker's advantage. The defense ratings of everything from battle cruisers to dreads lack behind the attack rating (battlehammers are a special case). So, the guy who fires first has a definite advantage already, especially if you happen to see his stats and they say attack +150%! But, until you can take away that resource advantage and make it your own, go on the offensive. Attack, attack, attack! Then fade away, to strike again another time. Be the guy who shoots first.

Granted, there are cases where you will have to be on the defense because you get jumped or are overextended after attacking, but have good recon abilities and generally be on the offensive. Think like a fighter pilot. Defense is only useful in a dogfight if you use it to either gain the advantage to kill the other guy or use it to get away.