As far as defending planets, which is a better buy; planetary shielding or planetary defensive figs? I know that shield and fig prices fluctuate but which provides the best defense?

Also, are sector figs really worthwhile? I'm thinking their defensive odds are lower, but are they still useful to keep someone from camping out in your home sector?

Planet shields are 20:1 odds
Planet figs are 3:1 odds
Sector figs are 1:1 odds
Ore and cannon settings depend on the game settings MBBS or Classic.

http://www.tw-cabal.com/formulas.html#M ... 20Formulas

Fighters are a lot more versatile in the game you can protect yourself with them and you can kill/pod others with them.
I know this doesn't completely answer your question but I have to leave it open for you to draw you own conclusion because the best planet defense really depends on a lot of factors in the game and what type of people you are playing against.

defense matters 100% on game edits.
as long as you have 200 shields, i personally prefer figs as you can kill people with them
the best defense is a good offense.

Slim

One other factor no one else mentioned is whether Photons are enabled or disabled. Planet defense strategies for non-photon games put much more emphasis on Sector defense figs. If photons are disabled (my preference), you are better off keeping enemies out of your sector completely by using tons of sector defense figs. When you can afford it, build up Planet shields and planet figs. But remember that once an enemy gets past your sector defenses, it becomes that much harder to deal with the problem. Best to keep them out in the first place. Also, you need to be aware that game versions before 3.11.56 had the "Alien Fig Bug", in which Ferrengis bumping into your sector defense figs could OBLITERATE millions of figs at Extern. You need to be sure that your home base is completely outside the range of operations of all Ferrengis and Aliens if your game is subject to this bug.

Cool...thanks guys!

"One other factor no one else mentioned is whether Photons are enabled or disabled. Planet defense strategies for non-photon games put much more emphasis on Sector defense figs. If photons are disabled (my preference), you are better off keeping enemies out of your sector completely by using tons of sector defense figs."

so if i have a 400k fig, 8.0 offensive odd ship you are going to throw your figs in the sector? can you say hot knife through butter? as i said, it depends 100% on edits. simple as that. without knowing edits you can not say what the best defense is without possibly being wrong.

Slim

Slim, I get you're point, but all I have to say is: offensive figs.

ok, so i grab a ship with high defensive odds, i still rake through the figs like a fat man through a buffet.

Slim

then I stack the sector with cannons, and blast you with ore.

then i photon in and shoot gtorps ya, forget this lameness, it depends 100% on edits. im done.

Slim

It does depend on game edits. I am all with Slim on this. But, I do have to say this. 9/10 ths of the time shields are cheaper than figs. I personally would rather have shields on the planets than figs. Let your planets create the figs for you. You just keep an eye on yur base and take care of the door. If you are able to have shields then your planet has a cannon. Set it to do damage then you take care of the rest. Chances are if they attack while you are offline they will get it. Cause they can just refil and come back.

Another thing to keep in mind is if they destroy your sector figs they can drop one of theirs in there and warp in a planet of their own keeping you out of your own base. So you do need alot of sector figs.

And it all boils down to the game edits in the end.

In regards to shields, they may be cheaper most of the time, but they also get worse odds than figs. The shield prices have to be really low to get more defense/credit than with figs.

I personally like both shields AND fighters on the planet. After all, to quote my mentore many years ago: "Shields are your friends". To get to my planet fighters you have to get through my shields while being hit by my cannons. If I keep tabs on what sectors are being hit, I can move planets around, refurb the shields and any ore that might have been expended then YOU get to go through it all again, and again, and again.

quote:Originally posted by Harley Nuss (teamEIS)

In regards to shields, they may be cheaper most of the time, but they also get worse odds than figs. The shield prices have to be really low to get more defense/credit than with figs.


I'll also reqout what was said above...

Planet shields are 20:1 odds
Planet figs are 3:1 odds
Sector figs are 1:1 odds


-----------------

I just want to reiterate the point your making harley in case some of the newer players don't understand. Above it may look like shields have the better odds, and on the surface they do. However, it takes 10 ship shields to make 1 planet shield. So if you divide it out you have to buy more then 10 times the shields for the same defense as the figs.

20:1 / 10 = 2:1 .. which is less then fighter odds.
Hope this helps.
-LT