What is the Best M8 and how can i protect it

[jonbuttle]

Ive been looking at buying an M8 but i cant spot what the best one would be? I already have hundreds of tomahawk missiles and a big complex churning out even more, Therefore im looking more at the Commonwealth ones instead of the terran ones.

Also looking through the forum ive seen that there have been problems protecting them from fighters without huge friendly fire issues i was thinking maybe 2 M3+ to an M8 and having maybe 3 M8's in a squad?

What do you guys think then?

1. Which should i buy?
2. How should i stop it dying?

If everyone says the terran one is the best i'll cry.

Cheers
Jon

[Olterin]

Well, ideally, the best way to protect an M8 is simple - maintain extreme range during combat. Those Tomahawks do have a very long range, so...

But, if you somehow manage to get your M8 all tangled up in combat, well, a flak-equipped frigate should do wonders to fend off any attackers - the Cerberus was created for exactly that role, see it's available weapon mounts. If a Flakberus is too expensive, well, anything that's good at swatting fighters should be good here, as long as said something can keep up with your M8.


As for which M8 is the best one... well, they all get the job done, don't they? They can all nuke the site from orbit (so to speak). Beyond that, personally, I'd say go for either the one with the biggest cargo hold or the fastest one, depending on what you want them to be best at: prolonged operations in hostile territory or rapid deployment on home turf. Or anything in between. Alternatively, pick one you like the looks of

[imperium3]

For the best M8: as Olterin said they are all fully capable of destroying anything you want them to. Strictly speaking, the Terran Claymore is the best because the Phantom missile is much more dangerous than the Tomahawk, but Phantoms are also quite hard to get. But apart from that there aren't any yawning differences.

So if you're choosing an M8, I advise you to go for whichever one you personally like most. I would go for the Paranid Hades just because it looks so sexy, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course.

[jonbuttle]

OK thanks for the reply's guys

I've looked closer at the stats on them and they still look very similar! Im going in game now so ill scout around and take a look at the Hades and the Viper which appear to be popular / good.

Thanks for the flak-cerberus idea ill give it a go - (Need to get some cash first)

Cheers
Jon

[NUKLEAR-SLUG]

Ive been looking at buying an M8 but i cant spot what the best one would be?

Paranid Hades. If you're going to nuke the universe then look good doing it.

[Alan Phipps]

The best M8 protection is with the jumpdrive and enough e-cells. Keep it somewhere central and safe with a ship/station to restock missiles and e-cells. When needed, jump it into the safest of the combat sector gates and issue remote barrage commands as needed, then jump it back out to its base to restock.

Spoiler

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Having good hub gate coverage near likely usage areas helps to keep the e-cell requirements down leaving room for more missiles if needed.

[Gizmocat]

I just forgot to return a Peregrine last night - it doesn't look too bad either.

Still waiting for a Boron bomber though....

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

Still waiting for a Boron bomber though....

The Marlin Hauler, don't. That ship is by far the worst of the M8's and looks like the Argon Gladiator but there is one major difference. The difference being that the Marlin Hauler is inferior in every way, seriously.

[EmperorJon]

The difference being that the Marlin Hauler is inferior in every way, seriously.

Because it doesn't exist.

It isn't in the Vanilla game, and like most of the non-existant ships, it simply uses the model of one that already does.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

The difference being that the Marlin Hauler is inferior in every way, seriously.

Because it doesn't exist.

It isn't in the Vanilla game, and like most of the non-existant ships, it simply uses the model of one that already does.

It used to exist in prior versions. I remember seeing the Marlin Hauler on station defense missions back in 1.0. I think I had one in my collection after the pilot bailed (been a while).

[Reimu Hakurei]

Spoiler

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After the Aldrin plotline you can get Phantom Missile Fabs and start putting out as many as you want, so after that point a Claymore is the best.

The difference being that the Marlin Hauler is inferior in every way, seriously.

It's faster.

[Ozkar]

I am gonna say Hades for pure looks. Those 3-eyes know how to make a ship look good...except when they don't, Perseus V. anyone?

If its your personal ship, then the Split one Viper? because its much faster, but really, I don't think M8 needs to be getting closer than 10km from a hostile.

I second the push for a unique looking Boron M8, their whole "peaceful" persona kind of ended with the introduction of the Thrasher

[mrbadger]

If its your personal ship, then the Split one Viper? because its much faster, but really, I don't think M8 needs to be getting closer than 10km from a hostile.

10km is suicidally close for an M8, because it couldn't outrun anything, and most ships could get within firing range before the jumpdrive spooled up for an escape.

I prefer 20-30km.

[EmperorJon]

Yeah, the XTM team have made one for the TC extended mod, and it looks very 'Boron looking'. Perfect, in fact. Just look at it!

http://downloads.thexuniverse.us/XTC_Pr ... lin_01.jpg
http://downloads.thexuniverse.us/XTC_Pr ... lin_02.jpg
http://downloads.thexuniverse.us/XTC_Pr ... lin_03.jpg

[AgamemnonArgon]

Owned a Teladi M8, didn't protect it, and Pirate fighters took it down.
Bought a new Argon one, have it parked at an Outpost, loaded for bear, with my Cobra. Two escort fighters needed to protect it, cheapest would be the Nova. I have about eight Novas saddled up, in the same sector, ready to go.

[Killjaeden]

Speed is crucial, especially in big sectors...
the tomahawks are 40Km only. The few to call it long range.
So you have to move your M8. As Quick response Bomber the Viper is excellent. Especially when operating in hostile territory speed is crucial.

The Viper is as fast as most heavy fighters (those are the biggest enemy) so they have a hard time catching it.

No need to guard a bomber. Dock it for standby somewhere near your operation area, call it when you need it, start barrage, jump it home.