Best superfighter
- Thread starter Chameleon102
- Start date
Wedge009
Rogue Leader
I voted "Other" for the Vampire before I read the thread. Oops. 
Anyway, I found it difficult to use trackers well since they usually end up going for the same target. Although they're useful against corvettes.
And while I consider myself a good shot with the slow firing Devastator, I don't like 'charging' weapons like the Mass Driver and the Fission Cannon, so that was a point against the Dragon for me.
I don't think the Rapier was really a 'super' fighter, just a new ship design. But it was still pretty good, even if I prefer a Raptor for strike missions.
I'm glad no one's really gone for the Crossbow. As LOAF put it (in relation to the Broadsword): "We lost two turrets for this?!" Not to mention that the five forward guns drain the capacitors in two or three shots.
The Morningstar's nuke was fun in that it fooled capships and installations into thinking that it was 'just' another missile as opposed to a torpedo. But I could never vote for anything designed by Maniac.
What idiot puts afterburners on a ship which requires fuel to jump?!
I probably should have voted for the Excalibur. Those tracking guns just made it ridiculously easy. I think the guns tracking speed was a bit unrealistic though. And the Excalibur could be a bit lacking in strikes agains several capships.
The Dragon was good, but it could never be used in WCP times, not to mention that it was the symbol of an evil conspiracy. I suppose the only thing about it which appeals to me is the unlimited AB, but I don't use ABs that much, anyway.
Which is why the Vampire is my favourite, in a sense I think it is overpowered. A powerful set of guns (in WCP, I didn't really enjoy the Pulse Particle in SO) with a generous gun pool, excellent speed, ridiculously manoeuvrable, and an incredible missile complement, the Vampire tops it for me. I suppose the only problem I have with it in that it could be too maneouvrable.
Anyway, I found it difficult to use trackers well since they usually end up going for the same target. Although they're useful against corvettes.
And while I consider myself a good shot with the slow firing Devastator, I don't like 'charging' weapons like the Mass Driver and the Fission Cannon, so that was a point against the Dragon for me.
I don't think the Rapier was really a 'super' fighter, just a new ship design. But it was still pretty good, even if I prefer a Raptor for strike missions.
I'm glad no one's really gone for the Crossbow. As LOAF put it (in relation to the Broadsword): "We lost two turrets for this?!" Not to mention that the five forward guns drain the capacitors in two or three shots.
The Morningstar's nuke was fun in that it fooled capships and installations into thinking that it was 'just' another missile as opposed to a torpedo. But I could never vote for anything designed by Maniac.
What idiot puts afterburners on a ship which requires fuel to jump?!I probably should have voted for the Excalibur. Those tracking guns just made it ridiculously easy. I think the guns tracking speed was a bit unrealistic though. And the Excalibur could be a bit lacking in strikes agains several capships.
The Dragon was good, but it could never be used in WCP times, not to mention that it was the symbol of an evil conspiracy. I suppose the only thing about it which appeals to me is the unlimited AB, but I don't use ABs that much, anyway.
Which is why the Vampire is my favourite, in a sense I think it is overpowered. A powerful set of guns (in WCP, I didn't really enjoy the Pulse Particle in SO) with a generous gun pool, excellent speed, ridiculously manoeuvrable, and an incredible missile complement, the Vampire tops it for me. I suppose the only problem I have with it in that it could be too maneouvrable.
Some argue that the Dragon's weapons couldn't stand against those of a Vampire. That's true, but remember I said using an UPGRADE Dragon with newest weapons and stuff. But the thing that appeals to me more than the technology is the stylish look of the Dragon, which is the best looking fighter in WC IMO.
Apart from the technological problems of upgrading a fighter that is horrdendously expensive and was only produced in very small numbers of which almost all were destroyed a decade ago, the Dragon just doesn't have any advantages that make it worth the effort. Rather than quote a whole bunch of posts, I'll answer the points raised by others below.
Using fissions against capships: Erm, what evidence do we have that fissions would even make a dent in WC
's phase shielded capships? While fissions were powerfull against capships in WC4, so were dumbfires, which make no impact at all on WC ships. Same for the charging mass drivers, which have a similar damage potential to fissions.
Using fissions against fighters: While being able to destroy an Arrow with one shot might be a buzz, it's also impractical. In the time it takes fissions to run to charge alone, an Excal or Vampire's main guns can shred a light fighter. That's to say nothing of the time it takes to line up a shot with the fissions or the time it would take to do it all over again if you miss with that one chance.
Infinite afterburn: Again, this is a cool feature, but of limited use. Seriously, folks, how many times have you run out AB fuel in an Excalibur or Vampire? I've played WC3 and WC literally a dozen times, mostly on nightmare, and I can count those instances on one hand.
Cloaking against the Nephilim: I've seen people say that Confed could develop a cloak Mk 2, but this would be assuming that Confed would invest in both an upgraded Dragon and an upgraded cloak. That's like saying "If we had some ham, we could have ham and egss, if only we had some eggs." If Confed could indeed develop a new cloak, wouldn't make far more sense to put in an existing design that is familar to both pilots and has the resources to support it (such as the Excalibur or Vampire) rather than trying to drag a no longer produced design out of mothballs?
Torpedoes against capships: There are already fighters that can do this. Strike Vampire, anyone?
Bottom line with the Dragon in WC times: Cloaking is useless, fission guns are much less practical than other weapons, infinite AB is of very little real use. Take all that way, and the only real advantage it has over the Vampire and Excal are its defenses. That's a poor substitute for the speed, agaility and firepower deficiencies it has compared to both the Excal and the Vampire.
Best, Raptor
Using fissions against capships: Erm, what evidence do we have that fissions would even make a dent in WC
's phase shielded capships? While fissions were powerfull against capships in WC4, so were dumbfires, which make no impact at all on WC ships. Same for the charging mass drivers, which have a similar damage potential to fissions.Using fissions against fighters: While being able to destroy an Arrow with one shot might be a buzz, it's also impractical. In the time it takes fissions to run to charge alone, an Excal or Vampire's main guns can shred a light fighter. That's to say nothing of the time it takes to line up a shot with the fissions or the time it would take to do it all over again if you miss with that one chance.
Infinite afterburn: Again, this is a cool feature, but of limited use. Seriously, folks, how many times have you run out AB fuel in an Excalibur or Vampire? I've played WC3 and WC
literally a dozen times, mostly on nightmare, and I can count those instances on one hand.Cloaking against the Nephilim: I've seen people say that Confed could develop a cloak Mk 2, but this would be assuming that Confed would invest in both an upgraded Dragon and an upgraded cloak. That's like saying "If we had some ham, we could have ham and egss, if only we had some eggs." If Confed could indeed develop a new cloak, wouldn't make far more sense to put in an existing design that is familar to both pilots and has the resources to support it (such as the Excalibur or Vampire) rather than trying to drag a no longer produced design out of mothballs?
Torpedoes against capships: There are already fighters that can do this. Strike Vampire, anyone?
Bottom line with the Dragon in WC
times: Cloaking is useless, fission guns are much less practical than other weapons, infinite AB is of very little real use. Take all that way, and the only real advantage it has over the Vampire and Excal are its defenses. That's a poor substitute for the speed, agaility and firepower deficiencies it has compared to both the Excal and the Vampire.Best, Raptor
Well, I miss cloaking feature. I would definetly loke Vampire to have cloak.Then it would be the real Black Vampire.
And infinite AB fuel appeals to me because I run out of fuel often in long missions. Like the bomber escort in WCP when there are four seperate engagements.
And Dragon looks so COOL...
But so do Excalibur and Vamp
And infinite AB fuel appeals to me because I run out of fuel often in long missions. Like the bomber escort in WCP when there are four seperate engagements.
And Dragon looks so COOL...
But so do Excalibur and Vamp
Mekt-Hakkikt
Mpanty's bane
When I made my choice (I voted for the Dragon), I thought we would take into consideration which superfighter was the best for its time. And I think before the Dragon every superfighter had its weakness (even if it was a rather small one). The Rapier in Wc1 had relatively light armour, the Morningstar was not particulary fast and had a crappy missile loadout, the Crossbow still had no ABs and the Exacalibur had 'only' strong protection (not ultra-heavy shields/armour) and she carried no torps.
The Drgaon IMHO has no apparent weakness compared to the other WC4 fighters (remember that the Excalibur was scaled down). Only a few fighters were faster or more heavily armed and none boosted such incredible defenses as the Dragon.
The only serious challenge to the Dragon's perfection rate is the Vampire, IMHO.
The Drgaon IMHO has no apparent weakness compared to the other WC4 fighters (remember that the Excalibur was scaled down). Only a few fighters were faster or more heavily armed and none boosted such incredible defenses as the Dragon.
The only serious challenge to the Dragon's perfection rate is the Vampire, IMHO.
Unforgiven
Spaceman
Maybe I should change my name to Excalibur then, to make people love me?
Unforgiven
Spaceman
I didn't *seriously* consider changing my name. Too bad there are already a lot of Unforgiven's out there too. Maybe not on this board, but elsewhere, there are plenty.
And btw, I like LOAD and beyond, it kind of depends what mood I'm in if I'll listen to old or new 'Tallica.
From the newer albums, not counting the Garage, Inc. covers (which I also like a lot), I especially like 'The Unforgiven II'
And btw, I like LOAD and beyond, it kind of depends what mood I'm in if I'll listen to old or new 'Tallica.
From the newer albums, not counting the Garage, Inc. covers (which I also like a lot), I especially like 'The Unforgiven II'