Mixed-Tech Analysis
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Borg Mixed Tech Vessels
V-15 Dreadnought
Just to see this vessel on the battlefield instills terror in your opponent’s forces, but wait until they see its six Tetryon torpedo launchers unloading. Although the cost of this vessel may seem exorbitant, in actuality, for its firepower and shielding, it is quite cheap.
With the ability to polarize its hull once, it can paralyze nearby enemy forces for eight seconds. As it is armed with mainly torpedoes, it is best to use this vessel against stations and battleships. Due to the strength of this vessel’s shields, you can easily send it into the midst of your opponent’s forces without fear, in order to use its special ability effectively. Likewise, you can use this ability in conjunction with the Hyperspace Artillery, as the V-15 Dreadnought can draw vessels in and effortlessly withstand the assault. This vessel is a must for both avatars.
S-2 Escort Cruiser
This vessel comes equipped with the ability to be fitted with Gamma Ketracel White, which is a superior version of Alpha Ketracel White. There are no crew casualties associated with this drug, and the period of time over which it acts is greatly increased. Thus, if need be you can set this vessel’s special ability to high or medium weapons autonomy without fear of losing crew unnecessarily. The vessel also gains a modest increase in all its values with a very small increase in resource cost. The starship, like all mixed technology vessels, also does not require a prototype to be built. Hence, it is wise to skip the prototype for the normal S-2, and instead concentrate on building more A-20 Attack Destroyers, C-11 Interception Destroyers, or A-26 Bombers from your Construction Yard. For both avatars, this vessel is of the utmost importance.
T-15 Heavy Cruiser
The Assault passive ability of this starship has been changed to allow the Heavy Cruiser to fire a Tetryon torpedo at long range. This greatly increases the durability of this vessel, as you will not have to move it in close to get that additional firepower. Despite being pulse armed, the Heavy Cruiser will remain useful later game due to this long range torpedo. Likewise, the cruiser gains an increase in all statistics by 2. Of course, the mixed-technology T-15 also gets a large hike in cost. Despite this sizeable increase, the fact that you will be building this facility to get access to the V-15 Dreadnought (at the very least), and the cost of the Large Construction Yard is not conducive to this action, building T-15’s from the mixed-technology facility is much advised. Not only will you be saving time and resources early on by not building the expensive main yard, but later in the game you can continue producing T-15’s at this yard to counter destroyers and cruisers, while building heavier vessels at the Large Construction Yard.
Romulan Mixed Tech Vessels
V-15 Dreadnought
Again, we witness the appearance of this mighty battleship. However, contrary to common belief, the Romulans do not believe in superior firepower, and have instead gone for enhanced system value. Thus this ship is armed with a sole Tetryon torpedo as well as its standard polaron beam weaponry. Everything else about this vessel is roughly the same as the Borg mixed-technology Dreadnought except that this starship is also armed with the Hyperspace Disruptor, which deals double damage to buildings.
However, with the huge system value, this vessel has the ability to polarize its hull twice in quick succession. As its weaponry is well distributed between beam and torpedo weaponry, it can be used against medium and large targets more readily. Again, this vessel is a must for both avatars.
C-11 Interception Destroyer
For a small increase in tritanium costs, instead of its normal third level ability Cascade Feedback, the C-11 gains the ability to recharge a friendly vessels shields. Although this ability requires research at the Technology Lab, once again, no prototype is required.
Although Cascade Feedback is quite handy, it is suggested that you build C-11s throughout the game from the mixed-technology yard, as it will grant your units incredible shield durability. Likewise, as the C-11 is quite fast and small, you can easily fly this ship into combat, recharge shields, and escape without much fear of losing these vessels. The vessel gets an appropriate increase in system value.
T-15 Heavy Cruiser
This vessel gains the ability to be refitted with a long range polaron beam. Although there are large cost increases associated with producing the un-refitted T-15 (with only plus 2 to the system value) once the vessel is refitted, it gains a significant increase of 6 in offense and 3 in defense for a little more than 100 extra dilithium than the normal cruiser.
Likewise, for the same reasons that a Borg mixed technology T-15 was useful, the fact that you will be building this facility to get access to the V-15 Dreadnought (at the very least), and the cost of the Large Construction Yard is not conducive to this action, building T-15’s from the mixed-technology facility is much advised for both avatars.
Federation Mixed Tech Vessels
V-15 Dreadnought
Again, we witness the appearance of this mighty ... hmm, I think I’ve said this before. As you might have realized by now, every faction gives the Dominion access to the almighty Dreadnought. The Federation’s version is armed with a sole Tetryon torpedo, as well as its standard polaron beam weaponry.
Like all things Federation, upon promotion this vessel gains large boons in shield strength. Everything else about this vessel is roughly the same as the Borg mixed-technology Dreadnought except that this starship is also armed with the Hyperspace Disruptor, which deals double damage to buildings. As system value is considerably less than the Borg’s version, this V-15 is forced to wait a rather long time before polarizing its hull a second time. As its weaponry is well distributed between beam and torpedo weaponry, it can be used against medium and large targets more readily. Again, this vessel is a must for both avatars.
B-5 Battle Cruiser
This vessel gains the Double Layered Shields passive ability, which gives it greatly increased defensive value (especially upon leveling up). Again, it is a fighter carrier, but sadly its weaponry is short ranged. This starship gets a tiny increase in costs, and although it lacks the offensive power that both avatar vessels have, it does not require a prototype. As a consequence, this vessel is quite worth it for both avatars.
C-17 Siege Cruiser
In addition to its normal abilities, this cruiser can shut down the engines of its targets for 12 seconds at artillery range. For a small increase in resource costs this vessel gains a slightly improved defensive value. Once again, as no prototype is required for construction of this vessel, this starship becomes quite attractive for both avatars. Obviously you should be maintaining production of Large Construction Yard T-15s or V-13s while producing the Siege Cruiser at your mixed-technology facility.
Klingon Mixed Tech Vessels
V-15 Dreadnought
Like all things Klingon, the V-15 gained from pillaging Klingon construction ship technology grants you an armament composed of 6 Tetryon torpedo launchers. As to be expected, the shields on this behemoth are a bit… lacking, coming in at around 86 defensive value.
Everything else about this vessel is roughly the same as the Borg mixed-technology Dreadnought. As system value is considerably less than the Borg’s version, this V-15 is forced to wait a rather long time before polarizing its hull a second time. As it is armed with mainly torpedoes, it is best to use this vessel against stations and battleships. Again, this vessel is a must for both avatars.
A-20 Attack Destroyer
Even though normally the early game aspect of the game would have ended and destroyers would have been phased out by the time you have constructed a mixed technology yard, the Dominion’s strength relies on these so-called bug ships for much of the battle. Likewise, unlike most mixed tech vessels which are more expensive than their normal counterparts, the Klingons have kindly countersigned for the insurance for these vessels (or perhaps due to poor manufacturing), and thus they are available a bit more cheaply than normal. Likewise, the A-20 Attack Destroyer gains an increase in one to offensive value, and deals increased damage against your opponent’s destroyers. This vessel thus becomes a must have for both avatars.
A-26 Bomber
The Tetryon-Photon Torpedo is replaced by Compound Tetryon-Photon Torpedo, which independently targets two vessels and deals triple the damage to enemy structures. Sadly, the Klingons do not favor cowardly artillery range strikes, and thus the special is limited to long range only.
This vessel is available without need for a prototype, and has the same statistics as the Breen avatar version of the Bomber (with a small increase in cost). Against all factions and possibly even the Borg, this vessel is appropriate as you will likely be building them later in the game to punish the structures and battleships your opponents have been building (which will not be missed by the normal torpedo attack). Against the Borg, however, the decrease in firing range for the special could prove slightly dangerous, as it allows long range Assimilators and Diamonds to target your Bombers more easily. Likewise, since you will need A-20 Bombers early against the Borg, you will likely have to still build a prototype and only be able to supplement (rather than replace) your existing Bomber forces with these mixed-tech destroyers. Regardless, for both avatars, this vessel is quite worth it.
