[SUGGESTION] How to balance teleporters *spoilers*

[angelocire]

So, I've seen tons of comments to the effect of how important teleporters are, or at least how powerful a tool they can be- especially compared to other systems of the same cost.

Look at the final boss.

TP 2 guys into the 3-missile room, and BAM, he loses his most powerful weapon. Remove all but the crewman powering the 3-laser gun in the first battle, and it's dunzo for him.

And you can teleport them in AS SOON AS THE BATTLE STARTS. No waiting for systems to charge.

Compare that ability to, for instance, a Pegasus. IIRC it costs more than the teleporter from the get-go, and to fire it immediately you need the pre-igniter. Easily several hundred scrap total.

Now, I also see the already in-place balancing aspects- I know you use your own very limited crew to fight, and that if they're lost they're gone, unlike your endless missile stock by the final battle. Also, if you aren't careful you can lose them to the enemy ship warping out.

I still don't, however, believe they are currently balanced, and I believe I have a suggestion to remedy this-

[SUGGESTION]
ONLY ALLOW CREW TO TELEPORT IN-AND-OUT OF A SHIP WHILE THE SHIELDS OF BOTH SHIPS ARE DOWN. THIS GOES FOR BOTH ENEMIES AND YOU.

Alternately, you could simply make it so that the shields of the ship being boarded must be down.

This would add a more tactical approach to battles, as you'd have to time teleports the same way you time beam weapons, and ultimately make the system FAR more balanced.

Just a thought.

[Darthcaboose]

I think Justin's talked about teleporters and shields being down before. It seems like that just was not a lot of fun and the intention for teleporters were a means for bypassing the shields (kind of like with missiles and bombs). The boss's super shield from Phase 3 does prevent boarder action, and Justin has mentioned that he'd like to see more ships with a super shield mechanic.

Additionally, enemy drone ships don't have oxygen, which can restrict the effectiveness of boarders!