Battleships: "Cloak engaged"

[Rock]

So I asked myself "how much cloaking can you stack on Battleships ?".

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2964943301

This happened. Criminal Syndicate. Very fitting for a sneaky cloak and dagger Empire. Give it a try if you haven't messed with cloaking, it's fun.

No idea can you stack more cloaking strength.

[Ryika]

How can you even read what's on the outliner when it's so highly transparent?

[Rock]

Originally posted by Ryika:

How can you even read what's on the outliner when it's so highly transparent?

I was elected to lead. Not to read.

[Ryika]

Originally posted by Rock:

I was elected to lead. Not to read.

Hmm... mhh. Fair point.
And nice Simpsons reference.

[Rock]

Something I want to point out is that Fallen Empires have dark matter listening posts which gives them "Detection Strength: Exceptional Grade 1".

This is not enough for them to spot my Battleship fleets. So if the Fallen Empire can't spot me, no one can. This is beautiful.

[Blaze Shadowflame]

Originally posted by Rock:

No idea can you stack more cloaking strength.

Any admirals with the trickster trait? That increases it by another point. Although, as you stated above with the Fallen Empires you probably don't need it.

[Rock]

Originally posted by Blaze Shadowflame:

Originally posted by Rock:

No idea can you stack more cloaking strength.

Any admirals with the trickster trait? That increases it by another point. Although, as you stated above with the Fallen Empires you probably don't need it.

I actually forgot about that. I'm so biased when it comes to Admirals. I use only aggressive Admirals if I get to be picky.

Anyway yes it does increase the cloaking strength to "Exceptional Grade 4" !
The bad news is that it doesn't increase say shield benefits. It just combats against detection checks.
And ye, I'm already undetectable and in a "sweet spot". No debuffs except for the 49-50% reduced shields, which are already damn high thanks to the Psi-shields along with the psionic admirals giving shield hardening naturally.

But this does mean you can play something else than Criminal Syndicate (Megacorp) if you choose to opt in using only Trickster Admirals for you fleets for example.

[CrUsHeR]

I've made a summary for detection and cloaking in another thread.


Basically 8 detection is the max everyone can get, from regular tech and a full Array starbase.

Fallen Empires only have 6 from their Dark Matter Listening Post, and this doesn't allow any of the other detection buildings on the same starbase.

Then there's a primitive insight tech which adds another +2 to fully built array starbases, means you can have 10 detection.

And cloaking is also capped at 10.



What i don't get - what exactly people want with cloaked battleships. You can move around invisible with reduced speed, not having full afterburners makes it even worse. Since the AI mainly runs away during wars, this is bad.

Uncloaking by attacking from max range removes the invisibility. So if anything, you'd be avoiding ships with longer range weapons. But everything including FEs and Crisis uses smaller ships, so moving in closer would do them a favor.

[mss73055]

Yeah, I don't get it as to why cloaking.

Indirect fire currently breaks cloaking, while it should not.
Abduction bombardment should not break cloaking, and should be available during special military operations.

[Rock]

Originally posted by CrUsHeR:

IWhat i don't get - what exactly people want with cloaked battleships. You can move around invisible with reduced speed, not having full afterburners makes it even worse. Since the AI mainly runs away during wars, this is bad.

Uncloaking by attacking from max range removes the invisibility. So if anything, you'd be avoiding ships with longer range weapons. But everything including FEs and Crisis uses smaller ships, so moving in closer would do them a favor.

But...I don't have speed reduction with my cloaking. The only debuff is shields that are running at half capacity. And AI cannot run away from my fleets because they can't see them. They literally "forget" you soon as you cloak.

I had a war with Fallen Empire that woke up, had a big fight in a choke system that was mine. Then repaired fleets, cloaked again and the Fallen Empire next system away with it's last remaining fleets was like "hey I can take that system easy" and jumped into its death. AI was first RUNNING away from that system but soon as I got cloak back up they instantly made a U-turn towards that system I was in with my superior fleets.
Cloaking literally makes speed stacking irrelevant because your opponent cannot run away from a threat it cannot see. And the cloak cooldown is acceptable.

The only thing that has changed from my normal Battleship designs is 1 aux mod and that would be the psi-cloak. I honestly haven't seen massive losses or my fleet under performing because of the shield cut when compared to non-cloak fleets. It's simply a honestly impressive utility option that I've had a blast with in my current game and first time trying it in a serious way.
Of course you have to micro a bit more your fleets like what to attack because your fleets do not auto-attack targets when cloaked and you have to remember the shield cut so if you need more shields you have to de-cloak and let it regen.

Also remember that cloaked ships / fleets can ignore closed borders. Want to attack an Empire that is behind a Empire next to you but they have closed borders with you ? Not a problem, you just drive through :D

Had a big fight and your fleets are badly damaged and superior forces are trying to attack your wounded fleets ? Cloak on, you disappear, no need to waste a jump.

Also something I haven't yet have gotten a pleasure to test but Quantum catapult is FANTASTIC with this Empire fleet setup in theory. Because this would mean you can sling your fleet to max range and it wouldn't matter how scattered your fleets are because they would arrive invisible and enemy would have no means to detect you, so you can easily group up and pick your fights as you rally.

I've never felt this disgustingly powerful. Ye sure progenitor hive and psi clone ascendants stronk hurdurdurr etc. But this is just pure evil that the AI has no ability to combat against.

Give it a honest try when you are bored, gives new perspective to cloaking mechanic. You just get to be a sneaky bastard.

I can share the Empire and fleet designs too if someone is interested.