Subset Games Forum

The main thing the ASB does is make it silly to hang around and blow up Elite Fighters. With four engines, you can jump faster than the ASB can prepare to fire once, and with decent defenses the Rebel Fighter won't hurt you too badly during that.

Other than that, the ASB really isn't a threat. It's just irritating.

Engines are just as critical an upgrade as shields are. It lets you dodge shots which is your only defense against missiles till you get a drone control and means your shields won't take as many lasers. Also, if you find you are screwed in a fight it lets you get away.

I am by no means an expert, but I honestly don't see the ASB as being all THAT much more hazardous than many other hazards. You really shouldn't fight elite fighters do the death, you should just aim to hold out till your FTL charges since the reward sucks anyways, so the ASB shouldn't be hitting you that much anyways. Granted sometimes bad stuff happens like a lucky missile takes out your engines, but that doesn't happen every time, and if you are in the situation to be fighting an elite fighter, that's not bad luck, that's bad decisions.

Nukeknockout wrote:With four engines, you can jump faster than the ASB can prepare to fire once.

Weird, I just played a game where I had level 5 engines and needed to cloak to avoid the ASB.

I just had 7 engines and had to cloak to avoid it too....(i frapsed the whole game too, plan to upload on uoutube, will be my first) They seem to vary in speed, because i have had one time where i never shot at just 4 too!

Generally though, 4 is typically enough for me to jump away just before a 2nd shot, subject to 2nds if engines or pilot gets damaged.

But again, the elite ships are hard on their own unless you've had a very good start... By hard I mean, taking care of them while taking 0 damage. The ABS is just bS, it makes fights where you already take damage into fights where you are just destroyed or on the red.

Please don't tell me that the way to go is engines because early on that is a very bad bet. Early on you need tobetter your weapon system and your shields. That is the highest priority. Possibly drones if you get them or teleporting, again if you have it. A little bit more dodge chance and extra FTL speed isn't going to really help you that much, not early on. It's a good upgrade for sector 3 or 4, not before that.

However it remains the fact that it's a stupid battle fighting elite ships now. Even at high dodge chances you are hit very often by the ABS if you stay and fight... Why should you stay and fight? Well, maybe you need that point of fuel it drops? At any rate. The Elite ships were tough enough as they were. Nearly impossible on a bad run, moderately dificult on a normal run, easy on a good run. Why change what was already balanced?

Elhazzared wrote:Please don't tell me that the way to go is engines because early on that is a very bad bet. Early on you need tobetter your weapon system and your shields. That is the highest priority. Possibly drones if you get them or teleporting, again if you have it. A little bit more dodge chance and extra FTL speed isn't going to really help you that much, not early on. It's a good upgrade for sector 3 or 4, not before that.

You asked me not to tell you (and said please) that you've stated almost exactly the opposite of the truth, so I won't.

It makes sense that you should try to avoid the rebel fleet isn't it ?

5thHorseman wrote:

Nukeknockout wrote:With four engines, you can jump faster than the ASB can prepare to fire once.

Weird, I just played a game where I had level 5 engines and needed to cloak to avoid the ASB.

Hmm. And I just had a game with level 6 engines and I only barely jumped in time. I suspect that the fire rate varies - 4 engines is sometimes good enough, 8 engines sometimes isn't good enough. The timing seems to get more aggressive the closer I get to Sector 8, with an effect of making the FTL Recharge Booster a little bit more useful.

Either way, it's accomplishing the goal of making me fear the Rebel Fleet.

The need to avoid the Rebel Fleet (which is actively pursuing you) is a basic premise of the game. It is actualized better now than before.
In terms of game mechanics, this is FTL's "Hunger Clock"' of Roguelikes. Not sure if the manner in which it is implemented is an innovation or not, but it's nicely done.

Wait... so the guy who is talking about sector 2 on easy is acting like they know the mechanics and facts of this game better than people who talk about beating hard and consistently beating normal? oh-kay.
I mean sometimes newer players in games might have a new fresh idea that's good that vets don't think of...sometimes...But to have a "don't tell me that my very set in stone opinionated opinion is not absolutely correct" mindset when you're new enough to be having any issue at all on easy mode is just mind-blowing.

I wont talk about the right or wrong about engine upgrades, I'll just say your mindset and complete intolerance to learning based on your obvious disregard for opposing opinions is wrong.