by ParticleMan
I like this a lot, but I don't like the debt idea. Is it REALLY necessary?2 dreads with 4x Plasma Missile, 2x Positron Comp or 1x Gluon, and any upgraded source should get in about 13 hits, and even 2 init fires first against the only missile ancient. You could apply 4-5 hits to the point defense ship to take it out, and also take out 7-8 regular ancient ships in that volley, assuming it gets in 1 point defense hit. That would leave 13-14 regular ancients along with the rest of the cruisers & dread for a total of 29-30 subsequent plasma missile hits required. So, 3 waves of dreads total followed by a couple cruisers should usually do it? ~60 mats required then, and you'd need to start sending in dreads by round 7. 60 seems like a lot, but with artifact key and advanced mining always available, and no need for defense, it doesn't seem like a problem.
The dreads above have an efficiency of 5 normal ancients killed per 6 materials spent. Cruisers with 3 Plasma Missiles and 1 Gluon Computer (and not even requiring upgraded source) get almost as much, an efficiency of 4 normal ancients killed per 5 materials spent. Shielded ancients shouldn't matter since you'll get some 5's and 6's in there.
You'll have to establish a priority for the point-defense ancient, as to which ship it will protect in given rolling circumstances. Maybe it should try to protect itself if possible, then save the highest-hulled ancient(s) possible.
