Moo2 Pointy Stick Bear Research.. (The Tractor Beam)

[TheArchduke]

The strategy works best with the Bulrathis in Moo2, though with Neutron Blasters, any race can possible go down this road.

There might be a strategy involving this already, so bear with me.

The basis behind my shipbuilding and with the Bulrathis you don´t need Troop Pods really is to conquer ships.

Why? Because as soon as the shields are down in the early game, nothing can stop those Bear Shock Troopers from taking over ships. So the key to do that is the inexpensive Tractor Beam tech.

It also makes your neutron blasters (killing marines on the fly) or whatever beam you use to bring down those shields hit better as it makes enemy ships immobile.

So 2 larges + 2 tractor beams each can take over large ships as if there is no tomorow. This also nets you money, techs whilst we are at it. Also starbases pose zero problem if you go with this approach.

Good things to have as well:

- Augmented Engines, makes your ships move faster.
- Neutron Blaster to kill those ships.

The Bulrathis go best with this strategy as they got:

- High-G, so the gravity generator is not needed, which blocks tractor beam research
- Even small amounts of troops whip out enemy troops with zero problem

 

[Megafrost]

Interesting. I'd always thought pointy stick research failed in MoO2, but I only invaded planets. For some reason or another, I've never figured out how to capture an enemy ship. Maybe I should boot up a game at some point so I can learn more about it.

 

[Aabraxan]

You can get techs both by capturing planets and by capturing and scrapping enemy ships. I've never quite figured out the mechanics of the latter, though. If you scrap a ship using a tech that you don't know, I don't think you automatically get the new tech. I've always found that capturing ships seemed to require finesse beyond that possessed by myself. I have always just found it much easier to kill ships than to capture them. Perhaps I need to experiment with this strategy a little more.

 

[vmxa]

Don't worry about capturing ships, unless you want an antaran tech. You need troops and techs to enhance them. You can also use tractor beams, but why bother?

 

[TheArchduke]

It is more about the free techs and cash if you scrap them.

Granted you don´t "always" get lucky. But when I capture 5-6 ships with the bears I gain all techs involved.

And to capturing ships being difficult. As said, either you play the Bears or you use neutron blaster to take some marines down. It is actually not that difficult, try it. I love this tactic.

 

[Megafrost]

When I get some time (which may not be for a couple weeks), I'll be sure to give this tactic a shot. I' have no idea how to actually capture a ship, and I believe it is time that I learned.

 

[vmxa]

You just about have to have accidentally captured a few. Loknar tends to capture ships from time to time.

 

[Aabraxan]

It's been a while since I tried to capture any ships; in fact, it's been a while since I played. But my recollection is that you really have to design your fleet with the intention of capturing ships. It also seems like the "window" between immobilized and destroyed is very small, so I always end up overshooting and destroying the ship, anyway. I also don't use Neutron Blasters very much. As I recall, they're early enough in the tech tree that my comps usually aren't very good at that point, so I'm still using missiles. I'll have to pull an old save and take a look.

Does anyone remember off-hand what techs are in the same group with Tractor Beam?

Megafrost -- the mechanics are (theoretically) simple. Immobilize the enemy ship and board it. Click "Capture" rather than "Raid."

 

[vmxa]

If you want to capture more than a rare one, then you have to specialize.

Graviton Beam, Planetary Generator, Tractor Beams PHYSICS 1150 rp

 

[TheArchduke]

And that´s why Bulrathis are great for the boarding technique.

They don´t need the Planetary Generator you normally want for other races. And they are way stronger when they do board a ship.