[Jeff Vader]

I also recall the dialogue suggesting that the GTVA used all of their meson bombs in the Knossos demolition.

Incorrect. They planned to destroy the Knossos with one Meson bomb, but had two other bombs standing by, just in case.

A large quantity of Meson warheads were later loaded on board the Bastion and another destroyer, which were detonated within the nodes leading out of Capella.

[Lucika]

I also recall the dialogue suggesting that the GTVA used all of their meson bombs in the Knossos demolition.

Incorrect. They planned to destroy the Knossos with one Meson bomb, but had two other bombs standing by, just in case.

A large quantity of Meson warheads were later loaded on board the Bastion and another destroyer, which were detonated within the nodes leading out of Capella.

Someone should make a ship what fires Meson bombs instead of beams.
Or, a kamikaze ship loaded with Meson running into a Sath (not against 80, of course).
Or, planting holographically disguised Mesons planted in the Sathanas's way...

I fell in love with Mesons!

[BengalTiger]

You sure your calculations are correct?

If I pit a Orion against a Hattie, the Orion will win most of the time.

Put the ships in a position where both have max firepower:



And the Hat ends up with some 13-17% after the Orion's a heap of debris.

[azile0]

Really? The Orion is weaker than the Hat? Huh, another reason to retire it. If a HATSHEPSUT can kill it...

[Snail]

Really? The Orion is weaker than the Hat? Huh, another reason to retire it. If a HATSHEPSUT can kill it...

Excuse me?

The Orion is likely one of the most powerful destroyers out there, the Hatshepsut's just better. The Hatshepsut's probably second only to the Ravana (and only if the Ravana takes it by surprise). The Orion is better than the Hecate, Typhon and Demon anyway.

I can't believe you would actually say that the Orion sucks and the Hatshepsut is a baseline for suck. Couldn't be further from the truth. Honestly.

[BengalTiger]

Naah, the Hat is the baseline for WIN.

As are the Perseus, Ares, Akhm Sekhmet and Erynies.

[Droid803]

The Hatshepsut is better because it actually has 35% more HP than the Orion (135k vs 100k).
If it ends up with 13-17% remaining, then the Orion actually has more firepower.
They're both pretty good, except that the Orion is absolutely worthless when against even a single competent bomber that knows to stay either in front, behind or to the sides of it (not top or bottom).

[eliex]

Taking out the Vindicator in Sicilian Defense took even less time than killing the corvette that came after. That's how easy it is to destroy Orions without any capital ship assistance.

[Snail]

Taking out the Vindicator in Sicilian Defense took even less time than killing the corvette that came after. That's how easy it is to destroy Orions without any capital ship assistance.

If I was Orion captain I'd take off every Zig Perseus.

[TrashMan]

You sure your calculations are correct?

If I pit a Orion against a Hattie, the Orion will win most of the time.

Put the ships in a position where both have max firepower:



And the Hat ends up with some 13-17% after the Orion's a heap of debris.

What difficulty are you playing on?

IIRC, the enemy damage changes with difficutly, and the Orion is Hostile.

[BengalTiger]

The test was on medium.

And the Hat had 17% HP left because the exploding Orion still beamed after it started falling apart. If it quit in the moment it reached zero, the Hat would be above 45%.

And here's what happened on Extreme:



After BVas salvo 1:



HP % are 42 and 78, for O and H respectively, the Orion fired 2 BGreens and a TerSlash. The other TerSlash is still charging up on the image. Random fire delays FTW.

And salvo 2:



Notice BGreen is charging up, and the Hat has 72% hull (it was hit only by the TerSlash seen charging up in the 2-nd image) between it's salvos. The small dots were fusion mortar rounds.

And after Orion's final shots:



It gave a whole salvo, maybe minus one TerSlash, and got the Hat down to 30%, highest in any of my 3 test fights. JPG compression seems to have blurred the 30 on the image.

P.S. I could probably do a couple more of these tomorrow, I have my winter break now and so I have some free time. Post candidates for shootouts, and maybe the directions they should be facing (as in max firepower, broadside, head on or whatever).

[General Battuta]

For the sake of science, try one where the Hattie is hostile, the Orion friendly. Keep all other variables the same.

[azile0]

With all my experience of playing, Hatties are a relief for me. Orions always give me an "Oh, crap" feeling. I play on Medium.

[Droid803]

Hostile Hatties? Or friendly ones?

I feel how you feel when they're friendly.
Hatties can generally survive even if you ignore a few bombers, because it has a good few AAAs and flaks, and it can take a fair few hits too. Orions prove to be liabilities when there are bombers present and no enemy corvette or destroyer to kill.

Enemy Hatshepsuts confuse me as to what I should do.
Enemy Orions are. "Stilleto the front heavy beam, shoot off the rest with primaries, park in front of the hangar and shoot everything that flies out, while encountering absolutely no resistance whatsoever".

[azile0]

I think it's also psychological. The Orion is huge, and intimidating. Maybe it's not threatening for YOU as a fighter, but anything Corvette-Cruiser sized will need some new brown pants.

The Hapshetsut on the other hand looks almost friendly. Nice, gentle curves, and, from what I remember, rather weak fighter bay capacity. Not any real good camping spots, though.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

If I were Command, I would get bombers to disable the rear LRed of the Sathanas, then get either and Orion, Hatshepsut or the Colossus to jump in behind it.

[Dilmah G]

If I were Command, I would get bombers to disable the rear LRed of the Sathanas, then get either and Orion, Hatshepsut or the Colossus to jump in behind it.

Discounting the fact the Sath would turn around and blow it to 50 million shades of debris? 

[azile0]

I don't see how it would be able to turn around fast enough. Those things move in an almost straight line at 30-50 KM/sec. It would have to turn a very wide arc to shoot back. The ship could kill it by then.

[jkalltheway]

Hmm... If i were command i would give this

hump node

idea more thought. The sight of massive humping occurring at one node would cause severe and massive discomfort as well as confusion among the shivan ranks. Then, according to chaos theory they would turn tail at once and return from whence they came. The shivans disgusted at our lack of professionalism would snub our galaxy, and thus we win the war. We go home, everyone is happy.

[Dilmah G]

I don't see how it would be able to turn around fast enough. Those things move in an almost straight line at 30-50 KM/sec. It would have to turn a very wide arc to shoot back. The ship could kill it by then.

An Orion? Doubt it, max would be lowering the Sath to about 75%

Hmm... If i were command i would give this

hump node

idea more thought. The sight of massive humping occurring at one node would cause severe and massive discomfort as well as confusion among the shivan ranks. Then, according to chaos theory they would turn tail at once and return from whence they came. The shivans disgusted at our lack of professionalism would snub our galaxy, and thus we win the war. We go home, everyone is happy.

I sense a screenshot opportunity here