Quad Nomad Energy Cannons + twin Wyrm IIs + (until I find a better turret) Wyrm I turret work like a charm - blasts a Hammerhead to bits in a single head-on pass.
Nomad weaponry uses no energy hence always ready to use, and Wyrm IIs are the only decent cannons of 9th Class synchronised with Nomad's on a firing rate (3.03).
I can't remember seeing Wyrm's for sale but they drop off Outcast's Sabre's quite a lot, collect a few for spares as well on the odd chance you'll lose a wing or two (armament goes with it!). THEN get friendly with Outcasts, get a Sabre (you'd need a Titan to begin with - Zoners sell those - to even think of going against Sabres, although Eagle might work too) and go hunting into the unmarked jump hole in Omicron Beta - it's an empty world with a star, radiation damage (moderate) and Nomad fighter patrols (usually come in 4s).
They drop either Blasters or Cannons - the former do less damage but rate of fire is higher (8.33). Not every fighter drops a weapon after dying though - so be prepared for a 3-4 fights. Do not get greedy, get a few and clear off back to Outcast's base to get repaired. Radiation damage in Nomad's space is moderate but it does eat up your hull and wings - I lost a wing once just going into cruise! With 2 Wyrm IIs attached...
Few odd thoughts:
All Codename Class 10s seem to require enormous amounts of energy rendering them useless in a fight while Nomad guns just keep on going and the engine supplies enough juice for a couple of Class 9s to fire indefinitely...
You can carry spare weaponry, it doesn't seem to take any space although you can't replace/change the guns while in space...
You can go hunting for Nomads without being friendly with Outcasts but fighting through 2 systems just to get into a fight in a third? And then fight all the way back out? With no shield batteries left? Oh well, maybe I was just being lazy
A Sabre looks better then a Titan (IMHO) and although it carries less armour and nanobots etc it has got a 360 degrees firing Class 10 turret (which I'm still looking for...) giving it a definite edge in both head-on fights and chases...
Syncronised (firing rate/projectile speed) guns seem to work better since when they hit the target they hit altogether...
Mines and missiles seem to be just a waste of money... but maybe it's just me
Hope it helps
Wed Jun 18, 2003 5:53 pm