- Edited
This is something I use to help build and plan out the fighting style and shape of ships faster and keep them at least some what optimal. While its all my option I think it might help someone so I'll drop it in here just in case.
In Cosmoteer there are 5 ship shapes possible with minor variation on each:
The V shape:
The V shape is very good for designs that want to use all of there weapons on the same target at once.
While mostly useful on the large scale it works on the small scale but not as effectively. The idea with this
shape is to completely encircle a target ship and over power it with all of your weapons at once.
Ideal for diagonal ship designs!
The Delta Shape:
The Delta shape is the basic shape for diagonal ships. With smaller designs it can work well with small cannons,
laser blasters and, electro bolters but once you start getting into large cannon territory you may want to go to
the V shape for your delta designs. While I have talked in length about it being a diagonal design you can build
it in your vertical ships as well however in general this ship configuration is only suitable for lower price
ranges. Best used in the lower price ranges.
The Wall:
The Wall is META and for good reason, it is easy to build walls, the design often only leaves your shielded
weapons exposed and all your weapons are on the same target. Walls are the most optimal if ugly option for
your ship configuration. Ideal for vertical ship designs!
The Box/Rectangle:
The Box design is generally not a good ship layout until much higher price ranges and even then its dicey.
Splitting your weapons across four firing planes is just not a good idea. Even if you go for a more
rectangle approach like a broadsider battle ship its still bad as again you split your weapons up. The
only redeeming factor is that you can spread damage across your ship and still keep on fighting unlike
other ship shapes that will can be crippled by exposing their one fighting side for too long.
Best used in higher price ranges.
The Beam:
The Beam design is generally a one shot design that has all missiles and all of them on side to burst down
and enemy ship or to focus one side of and enemy ship and keep their 'splody missile launchers safe. They
do this by having a massive block of armor on the front of the ship forcing enemy's to blast through it
while they get their flank destroyed by wave after wave of missile. While gimmicky it is and effective
design but I can't see you using this shape for any other kind of ship.
Ideal for missile boats!
So now that we have the now that we are in ship shape lets talk about ship function.
When it comes to the fighting style of the ship I see three primary styles and three sub styles available
they are as follows:
Primary:
Burst/Rush Down - The function of this ship is to destroy or cripple the enemy is one salvo that they are
no longer a threat. General hallmarks of a burst ship is having a lot of weapons but not enough ammo
factories to sustain them in a long fire fight. IE having a large amount of Large Cannons but only one
ammo factory for each of them. Lots of Missile Launchers or Large Cannons are ideal for these ships.
Best shapes for this are V, Beam and Wall!
DOT/Mixed Weapon - The idea of this ship is to sustain damage at the cost of raw burst or having some burst
and being able to sustain some DOT or mixing many weapons to really keep the pressure on them. This flexibility makes this style a good middle of the road style. You can mix about any weapon type here, get creative! The best shapes for this are Box/Rectangle, Wall!
Kite/Range - Pretty self explanatory shoot and scoot! Long range weapons and a lot of thrusters make this
fighting style very squishy but if you are fast enough you can shoot them and they can't shoot you!
Ion beams, rail guns, large cannons and Missile launcher are your best friend here! Best with Wall shapes!
Secondary:
Armor Wall - Armor, and lots of it! We are talking like 6 or more blocks of it! Better yet if you have missiles
that can zoom around the wall to hit the enemy ships! Great for Bust/Rush down builds! Best with Beam shapes!
Broadsider - This is a build that is best used with DOT/Mixed Weapons but if it spins fast enough you can make
it a Bust/Rush Down ship as well. Best with Box/Rectangle shapes!
Splitter - This is a very gimmicky build that only really useful in tourney play where you enemy thinks you
only have X amount of ships but you really have more. Sometimes many, many more. Depending on how many ships
you plan on splitting into will determine what shapes and fighting style you choose but in general it is
best with Burst/Rush Down and the best shape for it is V, Wall, and Delta.
I hope this helps with you all building ships in the future!
