How do I intercept a ship in a warp well?

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92 days, 6 hours, 28 minutes ago

remus 187

How do I intercept a ship in a warp well?

How do I intercept a ship in a warp well?

92 days, 6 hours, 17 minutes ago

skyliner

RE: How do I intercept a ship in a warp well?

Use 3 ships. 1 going warp 9, and the other 2 going warp 1.

92 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes ago

renathras

RE: How do I intercept a ship in a warp well?

If you're traveling faster than Warp 1 (so ANY other Warp speed, 2-9) and your planet lands ANYWHERE in a warp well, it will fall into the planet due to its gravity pull.

Any ship can travel at Warp 1 within a warp well and NOT be pulled into the planet (think of it like precision targeting/driving).

The only way to be sure to intercept a ship in a warp well is to have two ships. One you set to Warp 9 and to intercept the ship, the other you set to Warp 1 and have intercept the ship. If the ship moves about in the well at Warp 1, your slower ship will track it and chase it as best it can, hopefully pinning it in a corner of the well. If it leaves the well (either by going faster than Warp 1 and running away, or just being on the edge of a well and exiting), then your Warp 9 ship will track it down. If it runs at Warp 9, your Warp 9 ship will probably be just behind it, but still hot on its tail. If it's going slower, Warp 2-8, your Warp 9 ship will catch it.

It should be noted that if it cloaks or Hyperjumps off, your ship will lose it.

It should further be noted that an exception to the "faster travel into a well causes you to end up on the planet" is that if you hyperjump into a warp well at specific spots, you WON'T be pulled into the planet (but I think other spots will pull you in - I remember seeing a picture once, but I don't have it handy.)

The warp well is shaped like this:

_ _ _ X _ _ _
_ A A A A A _
_ A A A A A _
X A A P A A X
_ A A A A A _
_ A A A A A _
_ _ _ X _ _ _

P = Planet
A = Warp well within 2 ly of the planet (a 5x5 block centered on P)
X = Warp well block exactly 3 ly of planet (7 points end to end)

I think HYP landing at X will not be pulled into the planet but HYP landing at A will be pulled into the planet.

Warping anywhere with an A (or P, of course) will take you to the planet, unless you're at Warp 1.

...hope that makes sense and my explanation isn't too bad...

92 days, 6 hours, 7 minutes ago

RE: How do I intercept a ship in a warp well?

You need lots of ships. Some to come from the planet. Some from outside the planet. And one to intercept at warp 9. Best do it with cloaking ships. All moving to cover all angles.

92 days, 5 hours, 57 minutes ago

renathras

RE: How do I intercept a ship in a warp well?

I think you can do it with near-certainty with just two ships, as I described above. That works unless it moves directly away from the planet at Warp 9 exactly (or if your faster ship is going slower than Warp 9 and it is going faster than your faster ship; e.g. your faster ship is going Warp 7 and the enemy ship is going Warp 9).

The only way to ABSOLUTELY catch it (again, assuming it doesn't (a) cloak, (b) hyperjump away, or (c) isn't a Rebel ship with the "Hide in Warp Well" ability) is to also have a ship at Warp 9 that is outside of the warp well, but in the same sector of the warp well that the enemy ship is in.

For example, if the enemy ship is in the top left corner of the warp well, if you have a ship 5 ly out in that direction at Warp 9 set to intercept it, then if it books it in that direction at Warp 9, your ship will be able to catch it, having a head start. The one problem with this is if it stays in the well, the ship will fall to the planet.

So you need a total of FIVE ships to absolute catch. Two on the planet (Warp 1 and Warp 9; the Warp 1 one will subsequently be in the warp well, chasing the enemy ship around), one outside of the warp well in the same quadrant as the enemy ship set to intercept it at Warp 9, and then two other ships in the same position NOT set to intercept.

...the reason for this is that if the enemy stays in the well, that ship will be at the planet next turn. You will then move it back to the starting position (at Warp 9) while having the OTHER ship that was stationary there be the interceptor this turn. You will have those two ships continue to trade places (and move around the planet as the enemy does, being careful to stay in the same arc/area/side/quadrant as it does) until the enemy either gives up or runs for it.

.

Oh, one FINAL two exceptions: If the enemy ship is a Privateer ship with a Gravatonic Accelerator...good luck. If it's running around like that it's either (a) out of fuel and moving on fumes or (b) toying with you (since all GA ships can cloak at will) to distract you - so watch for Privateer sneakiness afoot!

The other is a Cyborg Firecloud, as it might be planning some Chunnel shenanegans, so be aleart for that, too.