Suggestion: Nuclear-Pumped Laser Warheads

[harpy eagle]

Also includes fusion-pumped and antimatter-pumped laser warheads, depending on your tech level.

The idea is for a researchable new type of missile that is less vulnerable to PD by being able to attack ships at short range instead of impacting them. Instead of detonating the warhead against the hull/shields of enemy ships, some kind of containment field is used to channel the detonation energy into a one-time use laser pump that is then fired at the target ship.

In game terms, instead dealing damage when the missile collides with it's destination, once it gets into short range it explodes and fires a number of laser weapon shots at the missile's target. The laser used depends on which laser and missile techs you have researched:

• lasers + guidance systems -> nuclear-pumped laser missile
• turbolasers + fusion warheads -> fusion-pumped laser missile
• primary beams + antimatter warheads -> antimatter-pumped beam missile

These are in addition to the core pumped laser warhead tech (see below). Researching the corresponding laser tech probably should unlock new versions of this weapon, for consistency with the way new types of regular missiles become available.

The number of shots made can be used to balance the damage output of the missiles. I currently envision the weapon as an alternative to regular missiles that is less vulnerable to PD, so I would set the number of shots so that the average damage output is roughly the same as the corresponding missile warhead, but of course that can be changed according to the needs of game design.

The research requirements would probably be something like: corresponding missile tech + corresponding laser tech + either containment fields or a new tech that has it as a prerequisite, depending on how much research you think it should need to acquire.

This idea could alternatively be an alternate type of torpedo instead of missile, but I think that runs counter to the idea of it being a way to mitigate PD.

Edit: Actually I can see this potentially as a torpedo tech - while torpedoes trade vulnerability to PD for more raw damage, this tech could then be researched as a way to address that downside of torpedoes.

In that case then the tech requirements would be: (corresponding laser tech) + (corresponding torpedo tech) + (the core laser pumped warhead tech as described above)

Edit2: And while short range isn't that big a deal for missiles, it matters more for torpedoes that would take longer to cross that short range (I chose short range since it is the range at which lasers do not suffer attenuation).

[siyoa]

isn't that what plasma torpedoes you can get from defeating certain harpy units (or purchase from herald) do ?

if you never used them, just try them ... because for long time I didn't use them due to fact that every time I got them it seemed I have superior torpedoes already, then one time I just put them on the ship for fun and got surprised that they change into "laser" from certain distance

[siyoa]

bomb_pumped_range=12, is maybe what you are looking for

Code: Select all

define_weapon "Plasma Torpedo" {
  launch_sound = "ANTI_MATTER_MISSILE_LAUNCH",
  motion_sound = "ANTI_MATTER_MISSILE_ENGINE_LOOP",

  tier=2.2,
  type= "torpedo",
  drawer_type = 'plasma_torpedo',
  desc = new_desc_object | [=[

A torpedo powered by a fusion reactor which attacks by channeling the
superheated plasma generated by the reactor detonation through its
advanced casing to form a focused and lethal beam directed towards the
target.

  ]=]..torpedo_munitions, 
  damage_fun = const_dmg(50),
  speed = 4,
  health=20,

	bomb_pumped_range=12,

  --power_mult=.15,
  --damage_fun = const_dmg(280),
  --mods = set("MIRV", "Emissions Guidance", "Fast", "Heavy Armor", "ECCM")
}

[harpy eagle]

Huh, didn't know about that, interesting. Do you think there is still a place in the game for this as a researchable tech as described above?

[siyoa]

it is this tech, obtainable from harpies or herald ... easy to mod to fit your needs

this tech unlocks the weapon I quoted in previous post

Code: Select all

tech 'Plasma Torpedoes' {
		cost = mid(.4),
		locked=true,
		herald_codex=true,
    prereq = all_of( 'Fusion', 'Heavy Missiles'),
		unlocks_parts = 'Plasma Torpedo',
		shortened_name = 'Torpedoes',
		desc = [=[
		
		The explosion-powered beams created by the suicide attacks of the Star
		Harpy “Proteans” are intriguing, in that they reduce the
		effectiveness of point-defense weaponry by allowing the attack to
		proceed whether or not the firing vessel is destroyed. The idea of a
		shaped-charge warhead is not new, but it has been impractical in our
		current missiles, as we cannot currently construct a firing mechanism
		that can withstand the force of the reactor detonation long enough to
		accurately focus the resulting beam. However, the carapace of the
		Protean is able to do just that. If we can synthesize a warhead casing of
		this advanced organic material, then an explosion powered by one of our
		conventional torpedo engines should be able to replicate this
		dangerous effect.

		]=],
	}, 

[siyoa]

Huh, didn't know about that, interesting. Do you think there is still a place in the game for this as a researchable tech as described above?

definitely

[harpy eagle]

I guess the only thing it really needs to fit in with the rest of the game would be names for the tech and ship parts that aren't such a mouthful