[TC] are M8s actually good for anything?

TriBeCa · Post by **TriBeCa** » Sun, 4. Apr 10, 23:53

Terrans gave me a claymore after finishing their missions... but seriously only 2 laser mounts and no front mounted weapons? Less than 200MJ of shielding... what is this thing supposed to be for? All I can think of is putting Trade software on it and using it to sell wares for my complex.

Cactus-Soup · Post by **Cactus-Soup** » Sun, 4. Apr 10, 23:57

Exactly what it says, taking out capital ships.

In terms of cost effectiveness, they're the best anti capital option, other than finding hammerheads.

TriBeCa · Post by **TriBeCa** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 00:11

Cactus-Soup wrote:Exactly what it says, taking out capital ships.

In terms of cost effectiveness, they're the best anti capital option, other than finding hammerheads.

Two EMPCs and poltergeist missiles can take out a capital ship? Really? Or are you supposed to use them in groups of 10?

Unless I'm seriously missing something, the Split Dragon has to be wayyyyy better for that purpose, no?

Catra · Post by **Catra** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 00:17

the claymore bomber uses the phantom missile, which is the 4th strongest missile in the game.

Deadbeat_Spinn · Post by **Deadbeat_Spinn** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 00:17

TriBeCa wrote:
Two EMPCs and poltergeist missiles can take out a capital ship?

No but Phantoms can.

Take any fully loaded M8 out for a spin and test it, the results will speak for themselves.

Cactus-Soup · Post by **Cactus-Soup** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 00:18

Missile barrages, M8's shouldn't ever really get into close combat.

But yeah one Phantom Barrage is enough to take out 5.4 GJ of shielding (and most likely the hull right with it)

The trick is that although most Split, Argon and Paranid ships are generically good at everything, most other ships serve only one or two particular uses, but they're far superior at those things than other ships are.

fairywhipper · Post by **fairywhipper** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 05:22

when you get enougth phantom missles together, take it for a spin and fire 5 barrages in a sector. this should get rid of most pesky things such as Qs, Ks, Js or anything else hostile. apart from that, the answer is no.

tasev1 · Post by **tasev1** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 05:57

That's a hard one to do too. If it's not player controled, better make sure you know where you're sending your M8 (and that's AFTER YOU get there).

Again, barrage the frak out of them 'cause most of your missiles will be shot down.

For me, I don't like it. Tried that method against a Khaak base, and it didn't work so well.

Sold my Claymore (thought I liked the name).

Bobucles · Post by **Bobucles** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 17:31

Missiles are not very effective against ships without overwhelming numbers. That's why wasps and typhoons are such great missiles, because they come in a swarm package.

There are ways to trick capital ships into ignoring missiles (long range, front arc), but the best torpedo targets are other stations by far. They are immobile, defenseless, and have very large health reserves. It's no match for a missile barrage.

The only downside of missile ships (M8, M7M) is that the galaxy has NOWHERE near enough missiles to keep them even modestly armed.

pja · Post by **pja** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 18:06

Bobucles wrote:The only downside of missile ships (M8, M7M) is that the galaxy has NOWHERE near enough missiles to keep them even modestly armed.

This is why M7M owners build missile complexes, which does turn them into something of a mid to late game rich players toy.

Reimu Hakurei · Post by **Reimu Hakurei** » Mon, 5. Apr 10, 18:52

While trying out the improved races script, I saved my industrial sector with my Claymore... which really points out my military arm's lack of organisation. The way I fly it, it's more of a pleasure cruise yacht than a bomber.

I find they're more of a novelty unit than anything, fun to find unorthodox uses for. They're great for assassinations and convoy destruction missions provided you attack from a frontal direction (bloody defence turrets...).

X3TC-Spieler · Post by **X3TC-Spieler** » Tue, 6. Apr 10, 12:47

use CODEA
with four M8's you can kill every big ship
and it also looks very nice, when 20 missles destroy a hole armada of enemies. And the shielding is, when you use the M8 good, not so bad, as it looks like
so I only can say: they are more better for figthing than for selling wares

Risky · Post by **Risky** » Wed, 7. Apr 10, 02:27

OK I've got my free Caymore and upgraded it at the Torus and it's currently wanderingaround Terran space collecting Phantoms.

If I understand correctly it's the idea option if I want to zap a base off the map, but currently it's more likely it could be called in when I'm stuck with annoying M2 in a sector without decent defence.

Isit advisable to pilot it yourself or can you just jump it in an give it a fire barrage order before parking it? And is this most effective if you've disposed of any <=M3 escorts first?

robot297 · Post by **robot297** » Wed, 5. May 10, 05:25

Usually if I have to escort any ship (example my frigate) through any Xenon Sector I have a bomber (which I pilot) sweep in and take out any Xenon frigates, and I usually have 2 fighter escorts backing me up because of how terrible it is against fighters.

Personally I think they're pretty fun ships but are just limited to taking out the really big stuff, I cleaned out a whole Xenon sector that was full of Q's and my frigate safely made it through.

Eventually I would like to get a missile frigate and start taking things out from a distance, and boarding parties would be great too.

lotm · Post by **lotm** » Wed, 5. May 10, 05:34

The one drawback of M8 that make me never use them: They do not fit in M1/M7 or the Hyperion.

garv222 · Post by **garv222** » Wed, 5. May 10, 06:21

lotm wrote:The one drawback of M8 that make me never use them: They do not fit in M1/M7 or the Hyperion.

If only they could! The reason that a M* can't dock in a hangar is the main reason I don't use them! Can't we have like a M8-? Half the Cargo space and shielding and generator so the damn thing can fit inside a m7?

EnderIII · Post by **EnderIII** » Wed, 5. May 10, 06:41

garv222 wrote:If only they could! The reason that a M* can't dock in a hangar is the main reason I don't use them! Can't we have like a M8-? Half the Cargo space and shielding and generator so the damn thing can fit inside a m7?

Hell make them as fragile as an M5, as long as it can fit in a docking bay

Kor'ah · Post by **Kor'ah** » Wed, 5. May 10, 09:20

M8s can't physically fit into the landing bays, or launch bays. Only the Aran has bays large enough to launch/recover these ships. With the M8's large cargo space and the auto resupply system these ships are never more than one jump away when needed. Just homebase them to the missile produceing complex and embrace their explosive goodness.

When I'm flying the Springblossem, or XShuttle, remote controled M8s are my big stick to use against capitals in missions. For the price these ships just can't be beat in this role.

paul1290 · Post by **paul1290** » Wed, 5. May 10, 10:19

I always keep a couple M8s stocked with missiles and e-cells for jumping.

When you're flying around in your fighter or corvette and run into hostile M1s or M2s it's very nice to have an M8 on speed dial.
Just jump them into the sector and use the missile barrage command to launch a few volleys at anything big that you need gone.

Even when I do have my own destroyers in the sector I always have an M8 standing by so I can bring in the extra firepower easily whenever I need it.

lotm · Post by **lotm** » Wed, 5. May 10, 10:25

If I have to call in ships from other sectors for more Firepower anyway, than I call an M7M.

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[TC] are M8s actually good for anything?

are M8s actually good for anything?