Galdred
Studio Draconis
It will be hard to test given that the game doesn't support MP, but primaries and fully modded Turbolasers seemed pretty devastating to missiles when I tried.I honestly find this to be untrue: It generally takes more PD, or dedicated PD, to stop an equivalent missile boat, so against an equal force, you will always get hit by missiles. It takes at least 2 or or 3 dedicated PD boats to shut down an equivalent missile barrage from a dedicated missile boat...although what constitutes a "dedicated missile boat" can be a bit weird. An Ashdar "Missile Cruiser", for instance, has an inferior missile throw (5) to even their Light Cruisers (6). With a missile boat, throw weight is everything: It's about getting as many birds in flight as possible. Ammo capacity is irrelevant, by the time you can fire more than one or two volleys, it is no longer a missile duel.Missiles vs monsters is a good point, but I find that unless you field an overwhelming number of them, they don't have enough volumes to get through Point Defense, and the limited ammunitions makes things even worse.
Good point about Assault Transports. I had to use assault carriers because I was playing Yoral most of the time. Their main advantage is that they have a high troop count (300).But I want them alive! No disintegration!I prefer fighters to eat PDF fire for my shuttles: by the time you get shuttles, you should also have fighters available
I actually attack with Assault Transports. I don't need to tech carriers for this, as it does not appear that the size of the shuttle bay increases the number of assault troopers carried.(why tech carrier otherwise?).
Have you managed to make good use of the humans? They are designed as the capture faction, but I find their start too rough.
Missiles are actually very good at planetary bombardment, too. Planetary bases have weak to nonexistent PD and can easily be overcome by missile barrages, which have the benefit of arriving at their destination FASTER while you run screaming from the counterfire.These really help to remove the ships you cannot take over or the planetary bases without exposing your fleet.
It is true that AI planetary bases don't have point defense. The starbase usually do, but not to the point of making getting close attractive