Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares/Computers: Difference between revisions

Targeting computer that increases beam weapons' chances of hitting by +25. In practise not noticeably better than no computer. If the computer is destroyed, its bonus is lost.

Targeting computer that increases beam weapons' chances of hitting by +50. Not cumulative with other computers.

Achievement that gives a +10 bonus for both Spies (espionage and sabotage against other empires) and Agents (your <s>bumbling fools</s> heroic counter-intelligence operatives).

Ship Special System that generates RPs depending on the ship's size (RPs = 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32; the 16 and 32 are for Titan and Doom Star ships, which you can't build until you get the relevant techs), and gives a special attack bonus if fighting Space Monsters or the Guardian. There are much better ways to increase research and to get attack bonuses that work against other empires as well as against Space Monsters or the Guardian.

Targeting computer that increases beam weapons' chances of hitting by +75. Not cumulative with other computers. The first targeting computer that is worth using in offensive operations.

Best choice for non-Creatives: usually Supercomputer; the large boost in research early on may be decisive. However, blitz races may choose positronic computer if they are in a good position for an offence. If research is important to you at this stage of the game, only consider Holo Simulator if you are very short on cash and are Subterranean.

Of course, you may be of the mindset that all research provides only a temporary advantage as it will eventually be taken through spies, trade or conquest. All of your hard work on research is liable to be taken away to give everyone else an advantage and deprive you of the opportunity cost of more colonies, buildings and conquest. You probably won't be assigning any colonists whatsoever to research and will have a massive spy network, even if you still build research buildings for some automatic RPs. You probably already have stolen Supercomputer by now anyway.

Targeting computer that increases beam weapons' chances of hitting by +100. Also improves your chances of shooting first if you play with the "ship initiative" option on (see the military sections of this guide for details). Not cumulative with other computers. The first targeting computer that is effective against ships that have a defensive bonus; hardly ever misses against other ships.

Building that produces 30 RP without needing scientists. At this stage of the game it's good on planets with scientists and amazing on planets without (which are probably the majority at this stage); typically increases an empire's research by 50%, sometimes more. When you start researching Autolab, all colonies should if possible stockpile production to build one immediately. You should already have strengthened your finances to handle the maintenance.

Ship Special System that doubles all beam weapon damage that penetrates the target's shields. Deadly when coupled with a good computer and good beam weapons. It's effective against warships, Star Bases, missiles, fighters and ground-based defences (although a planet's atmosphere halves the effective power of beam weapons).

Best choice for non-Creatives: very difficult, as all three techs are extremely desirable. Hardly any can afford to take Structural Analyzer. Those who expect serious combat soon (offensive or defensive) and want to use beams take Cybertronic Computer and must attack quickly before those who take Autolab get a significant lead in technology.

This tech level is Creatives' most important payday - a few later ones may have equally large effects, but this one changes the game for Creatives: Autolabs enable them to research military techs fast (and Stock Exchanges, which they should build as early as possible, to meet the high costs of an invasion campaign); Cybertronic Computer + Structural Analyzer + reasonable beams kill larger enemy fleets fast (beams are best for Creatives because missiles lead to wars of attrition, which Creatives can't afford as they are generally slow at shipbuilding).

Robotic "colonists" that can only farm, but each generates 3 more food than a normal colonist (excluding Natives) in the same environment. Its productivity is not influenced by racial or government bonuses or penalties, but is enhanced by agricultural technologies that have been "built" on the colony. It does not contribute to a colony's cash income. All Androids are Tolerant (see note below).

Robotic "colonists" that can only do industrial work, but each generates three more PP than a normal colonist in the same environment. Its productivity is not influenced by racial or government bonuses or penalties, but is enhanced by construction technologies (both buildings and achievements). It does not contribute to a colony's cash income. All Androids are Tolerant (see note below).

Robotic "colonist" that can only do research, but generates three more RP than a normal colonist in the same environment. Its productivity is not influenced by racial or government bonuses or penalties, but is enhanced by research buildings (but not by the Heightened Intelligence Achievement, see [[../Biology|Biology]]). It does not contribute to a colony's cash income. All Androids are Tolerant (see note below).  

*Because they are not affected by pollution or gravity, and don't make credits, the buildings specific to those if present on an android-only colony will only cost credits to maintain without providing any benefit. Because of androids' production bonus (net of their credit loss) they will easily outperform organic populations without credit multipliers such as Spaceports and Stock Exchanges. However these multipliers cost production to make and credits to maintain, and only with an organic population of around 8 or higher are they worth building. Populations of this size can't occur on toxic and radiated (if you're lacking the radiation shield) as well as Tiny planets, so it follows that they are best populated solely by androids and with only buildings suitable for them. It is generally an either-or situation; a planet should be either designed for androids or for organics. Of course, you can also use Tolerant (or better yet, Sub Tolerant) captured races for small or larger non-terraformable planets as well, as for terraformed medium or larger planets organics are the clear winners with their credit multipliers. Small planets can go either way depending on your situation.

The best targeting computer, increases beam weapons' chances of hitting by +125. Not cumulative with other computers. Only misses against Battleships or smaller warships that have either a +50 defensive bonus or a Displacement Device; hits anything else almost 100% of the time. Also maximizes your chances of shooting first if you play with the "ship initiative" option on (see the military sections of this guide for details). Note: this is the only computer that the Antarans use.

Ship Special System than enables beam weapons to bypass the target's armor ''including Heavy Armor'' (they must first penetrate the shields) and triples the chance to damage weapons and other essential systems (and often causes drive explosions). Achilles Targeting Unit + good computer (at least Cybertronic) + good beams = mass murder of enemy fleets, and genocide if also supported by Structural Analyzer and [[../Power|High Energy Focus]].

Best choice for non-Creatives: excruciatingly difficult - non-Creatives should hope the game does not get this far. Considering the situation for non-Creatives, the Virtual Reality Network a tech level back improves morale, is built immediately in all colonies and does not require maintenance. The Pleasure Dome has to be built and has maintenance.

This level is not often reached in competitive games, but it's a huge payday for Creatives, for whom 1 Battleship can sometimes destroy 4 to 6 non-Creative Battleships ''per combat turn'' (remember that Creatives also get Structural Analyzer and by this stage probably also have [[../Power|High Energy Focus + Megafluxers; and at least Anti-Matter Drives]]).