Strategic Combat is a game mode in which fights are resolved automatically. Ship designs are also generated automatically according to available tech. The only choice the player has is how many ships and how large ships to build. This makes game more of an economic strategy. Very few people tried this mode, so little is know on its playability.

From the original manual:

The combat takes place without requiring your
input or attention, and the result is announced
immediately thereafter. The losing side suffers
100% casualties. The winning fleet might also be
damaged, but at least one ship (or monster)
always survives.

Combat Rules

The exact rules are currently unknown, but from code it goes something like this:

  • several rounds of mutual missile attacks

  • continue with beams and special weapon keep using torpedoes

It has been noted that missiles are generally stronger in this mode.

TODO exact algorithm including how special weapons works;

Ship Designs

Due to the different combat rules, the usefulness of weapons, specials, and generally any tech differs in strategic mode. So a number of tables have parameters applied only in strategic mode:

  • hull table:

    • strat_beam

    • strat_missile

    • strat_special

    • strat_bomb

    • strat_def_bonus

    • strat_hits

  • weapon table:

    • strategic_minimum_damage

    • strategic_maximum_damage

  • special X strategic — a flag, marks special X as usable in strategic mode,

  • megafluxers_strategic_bonus

  • strategic_xp_bonus

  • tech X in_strategic — a flag, marks tech X as usable in strategic mode,