This is an update of an oxp I released under a different name here.
It tries to alter the situation of standard missiles being 'a bit rubbish' and hardhead missiles being maybe a bit too good.
I like the simple mechanic of the ECM but I think it's problematic in it's current use.
As I see it:
Standard missiles are one of the few (if not only) weapons available for purchase by the starting player but often they are money 'thrown away' (bit harsh perhaps but can be true). Pirate packs and trade convoys will usually have ECM - so when the player needs their missiles most (outnumbered) they are at their least useful.
Thargoids in the original elite were (nearly always) immune to missiles because they always had ECM and there were no hardheads. I think that's kinda cool - if there were to be a special anti-Thargoid missile then I think it should be rare or expensive or part of a mission or perhaps all three! Meanwhile hardheads nearly always hit (to significant effect) and standard missiles nearly always don't. I don't think that's desirable behaviour.
So, what does this thing do about it?
- ECM frequency in non player ships is significantly reduced for most (but not all) ships
- 3 missile types: defence (cheap, weak), standard and torpedo (not ECM hardened but high damage)
- ECM is no much higher tech (which matches the elite lore if not it's historical tech value) and therfore rarer
- ECM is more fragile and so easilly damaged, so player is without it more often
Result is closer to the original elite and more interesting IMHO whilst remaining simple:
- Standard missiles are much more useful for both player and occasionally for non-players too
- ECM is rarer (and the torpedo is dangerous) but the defence missiles provide a relatively cheap, if perishable, anti-missile defence
- ECM becomes something that you are likely to be without ocasionally, even in a well equipped ship
- All missiles are a threat again but rarely a death sentence
- Thargoids no longer care about your missiles
It's only version 0.2 as there's potentially lots to tweak and maybe a few things to add but... it works for me.
Hope it's of interest.
Available from the in game manager.
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