Talk:Interplanetary Ballistic Missiles

Rewording

The part about needing a level 9 silo full of IBMs to blast through a level 4 silo full of ABMs is a bit misleading. All you really need is 9 total levels of silo full of IBMs. That could be one lvl 9, 9 level 1s, or a 5 and two 2s. It doesn't matter, so long as you have at least 41 missiles. (Coincidentally, 9 level 1 silos is insignificantly more expensive than a single level 4 silo.) I just can't think of a good way to word it right now. Unless, of course, I'm completely misunderstanding how IPMs work, and you can't launch then from multiple planets. But that would be silly. --Rob 14:20, 10 November 2009 (UTC)

-This would not be true as you need a minimum of level 4 to be able to construct ABMs, so you would either need 3x Level 4 silos or 1x Level 4 and 1x Level 5 as a minimum. Also, 9x Level 1 would cost less than 1x Level 4 as each level doubles in cost (so cumulatively, level 4 would be equivalent to 15x Level 1s) --Andrew 13:42, 28 February 2010 (UTC)

Launching IBMs from multiple planets at the same time

Is it possible to launch IBMs from multiple planets against 1 target simultaneously?

yes--Jermoe 03:08, 24 February 2010 (UTC)

You can have any number of IBM missiles in flight at the same time since they do not take up a fleet slot. You can launch IBMs from multiple planets at the same target, provided that the target is within range of the launching planets. You can launch multiple IBMs from multiple planets nearly simultaneously... The actual launch must be done by clicking one icon at a time. You can time the launching of your missiles so that they hit your target in a nearly simultaneous wave.

Additional Rewording Necessary

Another problem with this section is that there is an assumption that the level 4 missile silos on the defending planet would be full of ABMs. They could be full of IBMs meaning that it would take 1 IBM to get through. Another possibility is that it could have 30 ABMs and 5 IBMs meaning it would take 31 IBMs or level 7 missile silo. Then again if the missile silo level is 0, then it would take ONE (1) IBM to destroy the planet's defenses.

Robert Ruff, 07:05, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

Can these be attacked and destroyed in normal combat? Or are they safe within the missile silos? Same with the anti ballistic missiles?

Do these count in a debris field? Same with the ABM, are they counted as a part of the debris field?

Neither IBM nor ABM can be destroyed in a battle. They sit in the missile silo until you use them, missiles target them, or you decide to remove them so you can build different missiles.

Neither ABM or IBM ever count in a debris field. They are defenses, and they target only defenses. Defenses produce no debris when destroyed.

Tetsuo86, 16:34, 15 December 2009 (UTC)

Can we get a redesign on these? As designed I see them as completely pointless.

When I first read the wiki I saw they were only good in your galaxy and would not cross galaxy. This is fine based on their engines though a bit disappointing. The bigger issue is range within the galaxy is limited to (engine*5)-1. This says if you are lucky enough to be in the center of your galaxy (250) you will need an engine strength of 50 to reach the entire galaxy if I am understanding correctly.

If I am understanding this can we get an improvement to the IBM or can someone please correct me.

So, you can't threaten an entire galaxy from a single missile silo located in the center of the galaxy? Oh darn! As far as I'm concerned, the limited range is a good thing. It keeps large alliances with many members from being able to use all their members spread across an entire galaxy to each send one missile, and swamp any defender completely. These things are *very* powerful when used properly. Extending their range to cover nearly entire galaxies would make them extremely overpowered. --Rob 13:09, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

"Splash" damage?

Could somebody clarify what is meant by "splash" damage?

I haven't built these yet, I'm wondering if it's worth it - how many IBMs would you need to eliminate let's say a defense of 20xMissile Battery, 30xLaser Cannon, 5xPulse, 2xParticle, 1xGauss, 1xDecoy??

Thanks :)

Splash Damage: Let's say your missile does 24,000 damage (i.e. Weapons Tech level 10) You fire it at a defender's plasma cannon, which has a hull of 18,000 (Armor Tech Level 8). The missile destroys the plasma, with 6,000 damage left over. This 6,000 is called "splash" damage. It is allocated to the rest of the defenses, starting with the cheapest defenses (i.e. Missile Batteries). At Armor 8 the MBs have 360 hull. So the 6,000 splash damage would take out 16 missile batteries.

The number of missiles required to destroy any given set of defenses depends on the attacker's weapons tech level and the defenders armor tech level. It could be a widely varying number with large numbers of defenses. A Weapons 12 IPBM does 26,400 damage, but a Weapons 6 IPBM only does 19,200. An Armor 5 decoy has 3,000 hull, but an Armor 11 Decoy has 4,200 hull. Given your numbers, using Weapons 10 against Armor 10, 2 IPBMs would do it with a bit of room to spare, assuming no defending ABMs. --Rob 13:27, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

"Splash Damage" is damage dealt to defenses other than what you targeted. When initiating a missile strike, you have the option of targeting a specific type of defense. Damage not used to destroy the primary target "splashes" to the lowest existing defense on the build list: Missile batteries get splash first. If there are no missile batteries, Laser Cannons get splash. If there are lo laser cannons, space mines get splash, etc. Assuming that your weapons' tech level is equal to your opponent's hull tech level, a single IBM (Attack 12,000, ignores shield, targeted at Gauss will wipe out the gauss cannon (Hull 3,500,) leaving 8,500 "splash" damage, which then targets the Missile batteries (20, at Hull 200 each. This leaves 4,500 splash damage to target Laser cannons, which also have hull 200, wiping out 22 Laser Cannons. A single IBM targeted at the decoy (Not the Large Decoy) will then have 10,000 splash damage. Since the missiles are gone, and 18 laser cannons are left, the splash damage wipes out all the laser cannons, leaving 6,400 splash damage to target Pulse cannons (Hull 3,600) destroying one of them. A third IBM targeted at the particle cannon (Hull 800) would easily wipe them out, and remove the remaining pulse cannons. Of course... if the opponent had 3 or more ABMs, you would have to launch one IBM to wipe out each ABM before you could destroy any of the actual defenses.

Clarification

Does an attack with IBM count as an attack for bashing purposes, or is it the same as espionage not counting towards bashing? High Plains Drifter

I have the same question.. Does anyone know for sure?

• I believe it does not. This is what I saw on the forum, anyway, and no one refuted it. Jesus Saves 19:08, 23 March 2010 (UTC)
• agreed. I just sent 3 attacks, and 3 missile strikes, and I am still able to attack again

Missile strikes do not count as attacks as they can not raid any resources, and involve no ships.