PS. Also I have to wonder... Can you really stop an Onslaught or three with a fleet of frigates? (And I mean a realistic fleet, not 10 hyperions).
One Onslaught, no problem. You may lose a ship due to AI stupidity. Three, doable, but casualties are almost a given. This is a fight where capitals shine, but they are rare. Fighting one Paragon is nasty for frigate swarms, probably on par with two Onslaughts.
[/quote]Yep, I tested an onslaught vs 8 tempest and it got wrecked. It's lack of manoeuvrability kills it. Now an Onslaught with a fleet to defend it from frigates... :/
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Sandbox games meant to have progression. Lets look at greatest sandbox game for example: Minecraft
[/quote]I disagree. GTA is a good example. It doesn't have much in the way of progression (compared to Minecraft) and yet is an amazing sandbox game. Also, Minecraft isn't that good. It masks it's flaws with it's progression system.
Also, Starsector is a STRATEGY game. GTA and Minecraft aren't.
I'm using a single cruiser to take on the heavier pirate fleets. My deployable fleet is 2 thunders, a mining pod squad, a piranha squad, a tempest, 2 condors, a Hammerhead and a Dominator. The dominator lets me take out the pirate fleets with their own dominaters or numerous destroyers with ease. I also have support ships of 3 Oxs and 2 freighters. I'm absolutely rolling in cash (got 300k) and supplies.
The destructor power of a Dominator just can't be matched by puny frigates. Admittedly, my Dominator is extremely weak to fighters and frigates, which is why I have my own to defend it. If CR wasn't in, I might have just spammed tempest again, since without CR they are the best ship in the game hands down.