I'm pretty new to Sins. I've played a little bit when it first came out, but the expansion actually made me pay for the base game and the expansion as well. Carriers seem... Well, I've been trying them out and they do seem quite powerful given their speed and durability, combined with the problems Flak units have dealing with the squadrons.

Are they really unbalanced though? I browsed the thread and didn't see anyone showing that X supply worth of flak units could beat X supply worth of carrier units, but even that wouldn't be too good. The build rate penalty seems alright, but instead of having the penalty if an enemy unit is in the same system [A single scout triggers it for me], why not set it so the unit gets the penalty when they have their fighter/bombers deployed? Could also give the unit a speed penalty when it has its squadrons deployed as well so they can't kite as well [The AI at least is kind of dim, their frigates often overshoot the 3-4 carriers I was using].

I dunno. Gonna watch that replay now.

Over powered carrieres won't scare newbs from playing the game online,  this thread will.  haha

pfft,  what's wrong with Dr. Gregory Freeman?

Considering I don't play half-life, I know nothing about him, other than he looks like a nerd.

so after some inital testing i can't say that carriers are overpowerd against flak frigs.

in some labs tests i have done you need around 2 flaks per carrier to keep the squads down and have enough firepower left over after killing the inital squads, but killing the carriers takes a bit

that is a bit less cash/metal/ore as the carriers cost but far less fleet supply (~50%), if that is balanced is another question.

sure i have lost some flaks to the bombers but less then 10%.

i think it is a problem that the flaks target fighters first but should go after the bombers.

they work best in thight packs and if they are the primary target, so setting them up as a fleet with tight fleet cohesion helps.

that flaks are easily killed by other stuff is another problem, but they are very capable of killing and keeping the squads down and kill the carriers after that.

all tests have been done in a custom map, with spawned ships, so no tech or other ships involved.

Finally - Someone saying the same thing as the "pros". They have done some research and this cannot be discounted with the "but a pro will win any battle regardless since they are a pro" argument....

If you have a replay handy, post it. It will help prove this once and for all

As I have been telling people for ages - you have to take your licks before you get good at Sins. You learn more by losing to a good player who educates you then comp stomping. Look at step-a-nich. He is very good. Why? He was tutored by one of the best players that was around in the 1.05 days...

wont work tht way, the strenght of carriers is they big HP, you can retreat them in time and the fact that strike crafte are still free and fairly replasable.

Pure numbers, as you sugjest, wont work with players...

 (____o____)  your ass     <=====my dick===3

It's like a car crash with Siddy. You know you shouldn't look, but you can't help yourself!!!!

im not back, im using t3h internets... from army. 

Astax, while I agree you can still win by not building carriers, you really should have a few, if for nothing else than fighter coverage.  Flak vs Bombers just doesn't work.  Flak vs Vasari SC also doesn't work extremely well.  Also, in the end game, where you have already won, I usually spam the living daylights out of carriers equipped with bombers to make cleanup go quicker.