Aren't "Missiles" less damaging than earlier, "inferior" weapons?

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Author Topic:   Aren't "Missiles" less damaging than earlier, "inferior" weapons?

dodger posted 02-22-99 10:55 AM ET
I'm a newcomer to TBS games --- I'm still overwhelmed by technology, so I 'OK' all the tech upgrades the computer suggests.
But I notice that when I become missile capable, then certain units (like the missile battery and missile artillery), when they attack, "cause explosions" instead of making that laser-like flash that's accompanied by that "hissing" sound (e.g., laser weapons & "chaos" guns)... My point is that the "explosions" seem to damage many units a little, whereas the "hissing" weapons do much more damage to a single unit.
Here's my question: Since it takes the "bombing" or "explosion" units so much longer to destroy an enemy, why would I ever want them to be built? Are they doing some kind of extra damage I'm not aware of?
It just seems like, if there are 3 enemy units inside a base, it would take 4 "bombing" missile units 15 turns to kill them, whereas 4 healthy "hissing" units could do it in one turn...
zaz posted 02-22-99 11:23 AM ET
You can use your Artillery "bombing" units to weaken stronger units by use ranged combat. Then move in with your Infantry or Tanks "hissing" weapons to finish off weakened units easier.

Just one solution
marc420w posted 02-22-99 11:46 AM ET
I've seen the computer what to 'upgrade' me to a lower class of weapon. A missile has an attack value of 6. Its possible to have developed something with a higher attack value before you develop missiles. That just depends on how you move through the tech tree. So if you have a unit with an attack value of 8, and the computer asks if you want to 'upgrade' it to missiles (AV=6), then Just Say No.
JaimeWolf posted 02-23-99 12:27 AM ET
The problem here is not the missiles but the "battery"/"artillery" appelation. This means the unit has the "Heavy Artillery" special ability implying that it will use ranged combat (not endangering itself) but is only able to damage units down to 50%. Its other advantage is that it clobbers all units in a stack, not just the hardest one.
MikeH II posted 02-23-99 11:21 AM ET
Hard to tell they are artillery units isn't it?
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Author	Topic: Aren't "Missiles" less damaging than earlier, "inferior" weapons?
dodger	posted 02-22-99 10:55 AM ET I'm a newcomer to TBS games --- I'm still overwhelmed by technology, so I 'OK' all the tech upgrades the computer suggests. But I notice that when I become missile capable, then certain units (like the missile battery and missile artillery), when they attack, "cause explosions" instead of making that laser-like flash that's accompanied by that "hissing" sound (e.g., laser weapons & "chaos" guns)... My point is that the "explosions" seem to damage many units a little, whereas the "hissing" weapons do much more damage to a single unit. Here's my question: Since it takes the "bombing" or "explosion" units so much longer to destroy an enemy, why would I ever want them to be built? Are they doing some kind of extra damage I'm not aware of? It just seems like, if there are 3 enemy units inside a base, it would take 4 "bombing" missile units 15 turns to kill them, whereas 4 healthy "hissing" units could do it in one turn...
zaz	posted 02-22-99 11:23 AM ET You can use your Artillery "bombing" units to weaken stronger units by use ranged combat. Then move in with your Infantry or Tanks "hissing" weapons to finish off weakened units easier. Just one solution
marc420w	posted 02-22-99 11:46 AM ET I've seen the computer what to 'upgrade' me to a lower class of weapon. A missile has an attack value of 6. Its possible to have developed something with a higher attack value before you develop missiles. That just depends on how you move through the tech tree. So if you have a unit with an attack value of 8, and the computer asks if you want to 'upgrade' it to missiles (AV=6), then Just Say No.
JaimeWolf	posted 02-23-99 12:27 AM ET The problem here is not the missiles but the "battery"/"artillery" appelation. This means the unit has the "Heavy Artillery" special ability implying that it will use ranged combat (not endangering itself) but is only able to damage units down to 50%. Its other advantage is that it clobbers all units in a stack, not just the hardest one.
MikeH II	posted 02-23-99 11:21 AM ET Hard to tell they are artillery units isn't it?