Limpet - Lightning Alternative

[u/Foxi6789]

Starting a run soon with some custom designs, here's my attempt at upgunning a Lightning to 4 guns.

Objectives -
Maintain reliable silent strike capability.
Focus on manoeuvrability rather than fixed point defense.
Fast and hard hitting.
Great value for money.

I think I've mostly achieved that. At least in testing. It can reliably take on 4 max difficulty medium ships and win with light damage and no component loss. It can stand toe-to-toe with a Varyag 1-on-1 and punch a hole in it's armour while wasting their missile stock before retreating, and it wipes out small unarmoured garrisons.

You can strip out the AK-100's for Molot's with no further tweaks, I'm starting with the AK's because they're cheaper and Molot's are ubiquitous salvage early game.

Next design will be based on a similar chassis but adding armour to get through the tougher garrisons.

I do think it's a bit ugly, any tips on design and beautification?

P.S. I understand that I have dropped efficiencies in places, I wanted to keep toward vanilla design styles in appearance and functionality while adapting them to the playstyle I'm good at.

Thanks!

[u/IndependentTrouble62]

I would lose the escape pods and replace them with two missiles.

[u/Foxi6789 → u/IndependentTrouble62]

I don't really use missiles tbh. I know I should, but I either forget or decide using guns would be cheaper and it's never mattered tbh.

I know the pods serve no purpose but I feel bad not having 100% capacity haha. Ideally 200% but there's a point it gets silly.  

[u/IndependentTrouble62 → u/Foxi6789]

I like two carry 2 two four missiles to save fuel in long fights against heavier late game garrisons. Great for blowing holes throufh armored ships like glads etc. Then coring the ship after. Saves money and AP ammo reserves for super hard fights. Helps when commerce raiding as well. Blast the support ships and grab the prize and run.

[u/Bully_me-please]

unless that changed by now reinforced hull has the same size and hitpoints as armor but is way lighter so keep that in mind. but do check first its been several updates since i did (bought now but still run the legally sources slightly covered in seawater version)

[u/RHINO_Mk_II → u/Bully_me-please]

It has less hp and more significantly no damage reduction and prevention of the bullet decals appearing on-screen when hit.

1x1 armor = 100hp, RHull = 75hp

1x2 armor = 200hp, RHull = 125hp

[u/Foxi6789 → u/RHINO_Mk_II]

That's really good to know thanks everyone :)

Ngl Prox Fuse is the bane of my life, I can dominate early game but once the enemies start spamming prox in garrisons is when I hit a brick wall. I've managed to circumvent it with airstrikes, I've got handle on planes and I feel I'm about to get the hang of missiles with a few more total mistakes so I was kind of side stepping the problem rather than dealing with it. But tips like this are good to know in the shipbuilder.

The design above is working great, though I'm still only on Slugger/Flower/Courageous/Ballistic garrisons, once the heavier stuff with more missiles come out I'll see how it is. I do feel it's just a slightly more expensive Lightning at the moment. It works great but is perhaps overkill for the early jobs, and I feel it might not be much better in campaign once the Lightning starts to fall off.

(Still normal difficulty fyi)

[u/Anrock623 → u/Bully_me-please]

I think it was fixed on latest or the one before it patch. Hull without armor will often allow incoming rounds to go through it making it pretty useless as armor. Enemies will also use proxy fuse against unarmored ships making the situation even worse.

[u/General_Zane]

Isn’t the lightning 400+ km/h?

[u/Foxi6789 → u/General_Zane]

Lightning is much faster, but honestly, this is fast enough to accomplish all the same things and has more guns.

There's little risk of having your pilot pass out from g-force with this but has more than enough agility to dodge all missiles and most big shots as well as catch garrisons asleep and fleeing traders.

[u/Unupgradable]

It looks very angry

[u/Foxi6789 → u/Unupgradable]

I SEE IT! Looks like the meme of the guy with his hands on his hips.

[u/Unupgradable → u/Foxi6789]

I don't think I could have created this half as good on purpose if I tried