[Marcov]

For seeing the awesome power of the NTD Repulse in the FS2 campaign, I basically think the Orion is simply an overkill ship.

However, just one thing.

I tried testing the Orion against a Ravana. The Ravana totally toasted the Orion up with its 2 SReds and LReds, with the Orion firing with only 1 TerSlash! How can this be??

Another testing mission. I placed a Ravana quite a distance off the Orion (about 3 clicks), and two Lilith cruisers 3000 metres either side of the Orion. However, again, it fires the TerSlash! I find this quite annoying, and replace the TerSlash beams with BGreens via Weapons editor. Still, nothing happens; the Orion fires no beams!

Is this a common problem?

[The E]

Not a problem.

Let me guess, you just placed the ships in the mission and gave them orders to attack each other?
If so, the standard FS2 capship behaviour favours the Lilith and Ravana with their massive forward firepower heavily. The Orions big guns, which are placed on its broadside, simply don't have the field of fire to engage those ships head-on, not to mention that the LRed fires a lot faster than the BGreen. Capship duels like this have to be FREDed carefully, with Waypoints and everything to simulate an exciting battle.

[Marcov]

I've noticed that nearly ALL Terran capships can't fire properly. In fact, I think they can't fire at all. While look at the Shivans. They have no problems in launching beams!

Besides, I didn't really give any attack orders. I rely on the ship to fire its beam. And I didn't forget the beam-free-all SEXP.

[The E]

Well, there's the "All ships beam-freed by default" option in mission specs, which is probably a better option. And Terran beams have high recharge rates, which in turn are dependent on the difficulty setting. Beams on Insane fire much faster than on Easy.

[Dilmah G]

The E's right, you really need to FRED the thing some waypoints so it has opportunities to use its broadside armament, even then, Shivan Capships generally outperform the Terrans'. The saving grace really is coordinated fighter-large ship operations by the GTVA, since in the right hands, Terran ships have the capacity to outperform the Shivans. But toe-to-toe, I'd say the GTVA is on the backfoot without smart strategical planning and deployment etc.

[stuart133]

Seeing as in the FreeSpace universe bombers are probably the most powerful anti capship weapon (apart from maybe the Santhanas) and the Terran's bombers and fighters IMO are better than the Shivan's it makes sense that the Shivan capships are better than the GTVA's

[headdie]

The Ravana is briefed in game as a cap ship killer, basically a Ravana is to a Destroyer what a Corvette is to a cruiser.  The Orion though armed towards cap ship warfare side suffers from having to be broadside to its target to get the maximum effect where as the Ravana toasts its target on approach

[TrashMan]

Shivans ships have only one advantage - beam power.

Equip an Orion with shivan beams and THEN do the test.

[Aardwolf]

Hm... the Moloch can be a menace to fighters (especially on harder difficulties) because of its missiles and flak... and the Orion has no missile launchers at all.

As far as warships versus warships, beams are the way to go, but when you consider the fighter complements, or fighters called in as reinforcements from elsewhere, the Shivans have a bit of an advantage there.

Really the Orion just has a pathetic anti-fighter armament for a ship of its size.

[General Battuta]

Shivans ships have only one advantage - beam power.

Equip an Orion with shivan beams and THEN do the test.

The Ravana still seems to pulverize it...

[Aardwolf]

Make a beam with a huge radius and huge subsystem damage?

Speaking of which, has anyone ever made area-of-effect subsystem damage weapons?

[TrashMan]

Shivans ships have only one advantage - beam power.

Equip an Orion with shivan beams and THEN do the test.

The Ravana still seems to pulverize it...

Start them both in optimal fireing positions. Orion wins or both die.

[Qent]

How's that possible? A Ravana has significantly more total firepower.

[Commander Zane]

The Orion is capable of putting three BGreens and two TerSlashes if you put it on its strongest side, if it had Shivan beams then it would be outpowering the Ravana three LReds to two plus whatever Shivan beam replacing the TerSlashes.

[Qent]

Oh whoops I didn't realize you still had Shivan beams on it.

[Commander Zane]

It's the Port-side of the Orion that has more beam coverage right?

[headdie]

How's that possible? A Ravana has significantly more total firepower.

its all about weapons layout, the Ravana has all its nastiest guns strapped to the front of the ship pointing forwards, the Orion on the other hand has most of its firepower strapped to the sides facing sideways.  TerSlas turret does more damage to the target if it hits for the full duration than Sred so under.

though blob turrets have an effect on destroyers its like a mosquito to an elephant, enough will kill it but the big guns tend to do the job before there is any significant effect on a strait fight but even then terrans have the advantage of range and depending on comparison have the edge on refire or damage

[Tantalus53]

When you play to an orion's strengths and bring its flank beams to bear, its nearly undefeatable in the realm of Capship combat. It has that many cannons. Only ship ive seen take down an orion at its best position is a Demon, and it owes that to the 60K HP it has more than the Old rustbucket Orions.

[Qent]

Just looking at the numbers though, those two LReds are the equivalent of five BGreens. Also, in optimal firing positions, the Ravana would be firing all of it beams while the Orion would not.

[General Battuta]

Actually, the Orion might win in broadside-vs.-nose.

Canonically Shivan AI levels are higher, but that's usually on fighters rather than warships. I dunno if that'd make a big difference.