Layered defense array upgrades

[PureKaozz]

I keep upgrading different kinds of weapons, but my array keeps using the same 120mm laser and point defense laser. Does anybody have a list of weapons that are used in the array?

[Kellis]

You may need to research a better type of 120mm laser array to updoot. ...or get unlucky and have them randomly decide they should begin to use railguns instead or something - looks like they also like the light railgun arrays.

[adobo]

Surface bases use lasers. Get visible light laser global tech and it will auto-upgrade. Station uses railgun battery.

[Aroth]

Platform weapons are updated based on global weapon technology, not your faction specific stuff. Once you research a new type of laser or railgun in the global tech, all bases auto-upgrade to that new tech if its better.

All those little light, medium and heavy 'gun' techs are solely for your ships.

[Kellis]

Incorrect. The defense platforms update to weaponry you have access to - no access? No update. Finish an engineering project that the platforms decide they like more than your old tech, and they'll update to that. Just last night watched them decide to update from light rail battery III to medium rail battery III as I finished research on it.

[Patrus]

From my tests and information I've read in other places: it depends on the location of the array.

Ground arrays (built on planets and asteroids) use only lasers and require only global technology (for example: "Visible combat lasers") to upgrade, you don't need to do the engineering project.

Space arrays (built on space stations) use both lasers and railguns and require specific engineering projects (point defense and battery AFAIK).

[PureKaozz]

Ok thanks, ill start researching more batteries then and some rail guns

[Fiddler6291]

I was wondering that myself, so I did some tests. Seems like the station ones only fit turreted weapons (which makes sense). So everything that isn't a turret won't be considered for an upgrade I think. As far as the PD slot goes: mine stayed with the PD laser for eternity, but there might be an upgrade somewhere deeper into the tech tree.

[Patrus]

By "batteries" I mean gun batteries (for example: "railgun battery" technology), not electric batteries.

[Kellis]

...you can't, like, throw salt water batteries at the aliens? You have disillusioned me and caused me great sadness. I hope you are happy with yourself. :(

[corisai]

Originally posted by Patrus:

Space arrays (built on space stations) use both lasers and railguns and require specific engineering projects (point defense and battery AFAIK).

t1 module using basic 1-points turret.
t2 module prefer to use 2-points turret (but will use 1-point if have no better option).
t3 module prefer to use 4-points turret.

[Mistfox]

Originally posted by Kellis:

...you can't, like, throw salt water batteries at the aliens? You have disillusioned me and caused me great sadness. I hope you are happy with yourself. :(

It would be too OPed. You can get infinite ammo then just by crying into empty containers.

[corisai]

Originally posted by Kellis:

...you can't, like, throw salt water batteries at the aliens?

You can!

1) Design a ship with nothing but salt water batteries & a bit of engines.
2) Lead it into battle.
3) Use "ram" command.
4) ???
5) PROFIT!

P.S. I'm absolutely serious. You can :)

[Cloudbow Rose]

Originally posted by Kellis:

...you can't, like, throw salt water batteries at the aliens? You have disillusioned me and caused me great sadness. I hope you are happy with yourself. :(

Everyone in here keeps speaking missile doctrine. But in my experience going all in with lasers is also viable, even against aliens. A group of 3 laser destroyers, even with nothing but IR laser tech can still gut most alien ships *if* you can get close. It's easy to get close to early alien destroyers indeed. You fill up all the hull weapons slots with PD lasers, put the biggest laser you can on the nose, and boom. As long as you keep a tight formation, the early alien ships can't even scratch your saltwater battery powered laser fleet!

Yes, PD even shoots down alien rail gun shots. The only thing you really need to worry about is their own lasers. Just try not to piss the aliens off so much that they send a 30+ ship doomstack to wipe you out from space like i did. ^^;

[corisai]

Originally posted by Cloudbow Rose:

Everyone in here keeps speaking missile doctrine. But in my experience going all in with lasers is also viable, even against aliens. A group of 3 laser destroyers, even with nothing but IR laser tech can still gut most alien ships *if* you can get close.

Try lasers against mothership ;)

They are viable, but only against early low threat targets.

Missiles (thanks to nukes) and long-range kinetics are only way to deal with biggest alien warships without suffering horrible losses.

[Cloudbow Rose]

Originally posted by corisai:

Originally posted by Cloudbow Rose:

Everyone in here keeps speaking missile doctrine. But in my experience going all in with lasers is also viable, even against aliens. A group of 3 laser destroyers, even with nothing but IR laser tech can still gut most alien ships *if* you can get close.

Try lasers against mothership ;)

They are viable, but only against early low threat targets.

Depends on the lasers being used and what side of the mother ship you shoot. A Titan nose end-tech laser can sheer through their mother ship's sides or rear pretty handily.

But to be totally honest, you shoulden't *just* be using lasers. Going all in on one weapon tech path is really only something you do when you're just getting ready to fight. Ideally you should spread out and have more varied assets ready by the time anything like the mothership should arrive. I've seen stories of early railgun barrages just chewing through it because it's soo big and cannot dodge. Just having your own lasers too means your guns can keep firing for a long long time.

And armor, don't skimp on armor. The aliens have lasers too.