Has anyone ever used a quantum catapult offensively?

[Forblaze]

I don't know why I even build these things, honestly.

[Råb!d]

I haven't been able to figure out how to install it so far. I haven't tried very hard either. I just wish we could start attacking without having to declare war every time. I'm sure the marauders don't have that hassle.

[Sabaithal]

I use it to launch guerilla fleets against crises in distant parts of the galaxy. It being one-way doesn't matter when I have every combat retreat bonus possible.

[Speed Malus]

Yes, Perfect for the Barbaric Despoilers/Letter of Marques kind of capital raids.

[RestedPandy]

Yes, I've used it with a secured L cluster (massive fortifications on the hub world) to launch fleets on flanking attacks (especially if target is close enough to an L Gate for retreat) and once the raid is done head for the nearest L Gate or self built gateway in a friendly sector to jump back and prepare for next launch.

Have also used it where a strong opponent I can't take yet (fallen empire or monster etc) has blocked starlane access in a specific direction to launch construction ships to unbuilt but explorer sectors to build a starbase (influence penalty cost can be painful at first) but afterwards gives a good foothold to expand into and combined with a gateway can link back to the main empire seamlessly.

[Bloodartist]

Originally posted by Forblaze:

I don't know why I even build these things, honestly.

I dont think Ive ever built one. I repaired one once but didnt use it.

[RCMidas]

Originally posted by Råb!d:

I haven't been able to figure out how to install it so far. I haven't tried very hard either. I just wish we could start attacking without having to declare war every time. I'm sure the marauders don't have that hassle.

Pulsars and neutron stars. Fairly simple requirements. And marauders don't have that hassle because they are effectively at war with everyone all the war anyway.

[Unimportant]

I launched my ships to the center of the galaxy and steal that system from AI

[Comrade Burrito]

In my current campaign, I launched 2 fleets into a Fanatical Purifier's space, followed by a colossus, then pacified their capital planet before they could even bring back their fleet from the borders. Their war exhaustion immediately went to 100%, while mine was still at 1%.

[atreesloth]

Originally posted by Comrade Burrito:

In my current campaign, I launched 2 fleets into a Fanatical Purifier's space, followed by a colossus, then pacified their capital planet before they could even bring back their fleet from the borders

Yup. That's what I do. The AI likes its doomstacks, which means if you launch a fleet at their homeworld and guaranteed colonies, you can inflict vast damage on them before their doomstack makes it back from the front.

That said, I use quantum catapults only with the Slingshot to the Stars origin or if I find a broken one. Otherwise, the cost of building them is too high.