(January 17th, 2017, 23:41)Reformations Wrote: Maybe noob question but what are advantages of huge (or non-small, for that matter) bombers? Small seems superior in every way?
1) We can build non-small bombers right now! Even nukes won't fit on a small until we get more tech (though the needed tech is in percentages, and we can build a placeholder for another couple turns at least). Sometimes, the equation looks like, "real bombers now >>> better bombers too late."
2) We have no maneuverability, so we're going to be taking a lot of hits. If a huge bomber can reach its target and destroy the bases without being destroyed, it can then move on (possibly with another to support it) and attack the next target with no attrition. This is generally the reason huge ships (with larges standing in for them when possible/necessary) are commonly used in general, apart from big Special systems: Taking no losses means you can focus back on economy while your fleet does its thing, or snowball your fleet to take on bigger, harder targets as you go along.
3) Bombs on larger ships can be stronger than on smalls: A small hull that's basically a nuclear bomb strapped to a retro rocket will hit only 40% of the time (or worse if the humans get ECM). All the bombs on a large or huge hull will benefit from MkI computer (MkII if we wait) and a battle scanner, for a 60-70% hit chance that would be reduced less severely by enemy ECM. Of course, if there's room for a MkI computer on the small along with the bomb, that changes the equation some, and the small may (instead?) be able to equip ECM1 itself (not sure) which would cut down on attrition by about 25%.
So it's not clear-cut, but there are reasons to consider dreads here.
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Note for Ianus: I didn't look at the actual ship design possibilities for any of my analysis above, and none of it really addresses the human fleets! If I were planning to attack them, the first thing I'd do would be to build a scanner out of Stalaz and send it up for a look at whatever they're fielding that I can see.