M8 Ships

[dragondream]

So, I have realised this is probably the least discussed ship class here on the forums. I know M8 is a bomber class, but what is it used for? Is it anything an M7M can't do?

Just curious about these ships, not used them at all and kind of wondering what on earth they are good for. I am so used to M3/M6/M7 that I have not even considered an M8 in my game. I have no idea what their combat skills are like either so someone please explain it to me. That is, if you have actually used them either...

[pulzarokkit]

i have 1 hades so far and im loading it with tomahawks from npc factories and military outposts

i bet they will be effective on quick assasination missions
also they are a lot more cheaper bought in bulk than the m7m's

[Kapakio]

Bombers are mainly station killers. They are also good in killing capital ships from a safe distance, and since you can launch 8 torpedoes at the same time (barrage) that will distract the turrest of the cap ships, some will surely hit their target. Not very useful against Khaak ships tho.

[mrbadger]

I also have a Hades, which I keep permenantly docked at an npc tomahawk factory. It's the nicest looking M8 in my opinion.

The M8 is a bit of an oddity though. It can take out an M2 in 2 or 3 of barrages, but it's not able to defend itself at all, and has very little sheilding given it's low speed and heavy offensive firepower. It's capacity for inflicting extreme damage means it's not really useful for a task like capping big ships, and the slow speed of it's missiles mean it's no good for taking out smaller ships.

It has a place in a well rounded fleet I imagine, but I haven't managed to find a place for it in any fights I've had. Possibly some of the plot missions might see it becoming important, I know a few missions where it might anyway, not sure.

Some people really like them though, I've read a fair few posts extolling their virtues, and I know N-S uses them in his stories.

[Alan Phipps]

Have one with maxed shields, cargo and tunings safely docked somewhere central and fitted with jumpdrive and 300 e-cells with the rest of the cargospace full of torpedos. It is a great emergency fix to jump in anywhere to deal with an unexpected capital ship threat that is overcoming the local patrols/defenders. That is assuming you don't want to try to capture the target of course. Always jump it into a gate far away from the threat and its escorts. You can do remote barrages so you don't even have to enter it yourself

[dragondream]

So, how expensive is it to keep them stocked though? Thanks for the replies so far btw.

[Alan Phipps]

Plugged into a self-sustaining complex with the right resources - just the cost of the torpedo factory. As I said, it can be held as an emergency standby fix that does not actually get used very often and so could rely on NPC missile production as Mr Badger does.

[Kor'ah]

Bomber fitted out: ~7 million
5x tomahawk complex to feed it: ~26 Million

So you are looking at around 33M for the ability to kill any ship bigger than a M6, or quickly take out any station includeing a shipyard. Cheapest M7M is 38M (OTAS Aquilo) for contrast, complex for it not included.


For use....Remote control them through the sector map and make heavy use of the "Missile Barrage" command. Each barrage is putting out 5GJ of damage. So, when the missions start throwing several capitals at once you can call in the M8 and just nuke them off the field with little fuss. It also goes alot faster than lumbering into range with an M2. You can stick with a faster fighter, or corvette, and target spot for the M8.

Oh, and M8s are the last word in "Q Removal" early in a game. One well placed barrage and dead Q right there.

[AgamemnonArgon]

Owned a Teladi one. It made a mess of some enemy ships in a big scrap, then I failed to protect it and lost it, about 12 million worth all kitted out. Now have a Tomahawk complex in the system planned for using them. Intending to buy for speed this time, and put some M3's as cover. X3TC is a more difficult game than the last few. If you buy an M8, protect it. Looks and speed for my next M8. It isn't what I would call a bomber more a Stand Off - Cruise Missile transport.

[mrbadger]

Bomber fitted out: ~7 million
5x tomahawk complex to feed it: ~26 Million

I've not yet seen the need to do anything but let an npc station feed my M8. I speculate this wouldn't be required unless you really plan to get through a ton of missiles with it.

Obviously this is what you intend, what are you doing that would need that much firepower? Killing an entire race or something?

[Kor'ah]

Oh, just very hard rated multi-sector patrols at Overlord combat rank, while flying the springblossem. Those can, and mostly do, empty two Hades each loaded with 160 tomahawks.

[idaeus]

Bomber fitted out: ~7 million
5x tomahawk complex to feed it: ~26 Million

I've not yet seen the need to do anything but let an npc station feed my M8. I speculate this wouldn't be required unless you really plan to get through a ton of missiles with it.

Obviously this is what you intend, what are you doing that would need that much firepower? Killing an entire race or something?

That depends upon whether he has been to the NUKLEAR-SLUG School of Aggressive Negotiations

[wizrd755]

I also have a Hades, which I keep permenantly docked at an npc tomahawk factory. It's the nicest looking M8 in my opinion.

The M8 is a bit of an oddity though. It can take out an M2 in 2 or 3 of barrages, but it's not able to defend itself at all, and has very little sheilding given it's low speed and heavy offensive firepower. It's capacity for inflicting extreme damage means it's not really useful for a task like capping big ships, and the slow speed of it's missiles mean it's no good for taking out smaller ships.
quote] Slightly modified...

Like the looks of the Hades, but LOve the SPEED if the Viper; 175ms, great turning, but, kind-of butt ugly..

Correct, they only have a rear turret, but the right gun can do wonders.. MD, PRG, even PBG's keep my Vipe safe..

For the Q: 2 barrages, bye-bye-Q; Khaak M2 - 2 Barrages, bye-bye Bug.. Using them in OFF take some patience and protection, but Khaak M-6, 1 barrage toast..

A "think" option I do is to launch remotelly from the Viper, whilst I "p--- off" the target. when the 'Hawks get within 15k of the target, I spam a few Wasps. Distraction, contact, bye-bye target... Works for me...

[XanII]

Dont know about hades and tomahawks as i havent used them in action yet butt Terran Claymore is bad against Khaak M2. pummeled it with loads of missiles. only managed to damage it slightly. its just too good anti-missile ship and claymores missiles are so slow .

[mrbadger]

Dont know about hades and tomahawks as i havent used them in action yet butt Terran Claymore is bad against Khaak M2. pummeled it with loads of missiles. only managed to damage it slightly. its just too good anti-missile ship and claymores missiles are so slow .

The Kha'ak M2 has instant kill weapons that never miss, or at least almost never miss. That makes them all but impervious to missiles, especially if they are already alerted to your presence. I've never had any success taking them out with missiles.

[Kor'ah]

The problem is you are not useing enough missiles. Kha'ak in vanilla do have the best anti-missile defenses, but once you start scoreing hits it turns off like every other ship in the game. These things die just fine from 45 typhoons and it takes 32 tomahawks (4xBarrages) to do the same thing.

Oh, and the terran claymore is the best M8 in the game. The ship can carry 300+ phantoms with ease. The phantom missile out preforms the tomahawk in every respect.

[pulzarokkit]

yeah but GOD removed the fabs in my game
and hades>claymore in looks

[Kor'ah]

Not enough Phantom missile factories anyway. A fresh game starts out with two, that are a hassle to keep supplied. Have to get through the aldrin missions and build your own complex for them.

For looks....Yeah Hades looks better and it's why I picked up a pair.

[Kapakio]

The problem is you are not useing enough missiles. Kha'ak in vanilla do have the best anti-missile defenses, but once you start scoreing hits it turns off like every other ship in the game. These things die just fine from 45 typhoons and it takes 32 tomahawks (4xBarrages) to do the same thing.

In my experience, I need much more than 4 barrages to kill a Khaak M2 with tomahawks. Last time I remember I neded 7 barrages. Well, they were launched in 2 waves, so probably sending one single wave of 6 or maybe 5 barrages could do the job.

[XanII]

Dont know about hades and tomahawks as i havent used them in action yet butt Terran Claymore is bad against Khaak M2. pummeled it with loads of missiles. only managed to damage it slightly. its just too good anti-missile ship and claymores missiles are so slow .

The Kha'ak M2 has instant kill weapons that never miss, or at least almost never miss. That makes them all but impervious to missiles, especially if they are already alerted to your presence. I've never had any success taking them out with missiles.

Used the Claymore against the M2 that spawns in A148. Sneaked up on it as it killed the colossus in the sector. but somehow it noticed the missiles coming in started busting them down. It was costly but i learned something there.

And getting phantoms is next to impossible.