Killing it earns you Deckert's trust and ofcourse the Lamplighter Archcannon.
Saving it ensures you thr Gem Of Sacrifice which will do the job for you to kill the Iocrym command ship.
What is better ? Killing CSC Antarctica or saving It?
The rewards for saving the Antarctica (Aquila loot, Gem of Sacrifice, extra mission in Heretic) are far more powerful than the reward for destroying it (Lamplighter, measly Antarctica loot). Gem of Sacrifice plus Circle of Wrath and/or Shatter instakills the final boss. Lamplighter is overshadowed by other level X weapons.
If I were roleplaying the Antarctica encounter, I would destroy it. The powergamer in me tells me to save the Antarctica.
If I were roleplaying the Antarctica encounter, I would destroy it. The powergamer in me tells me to save the Antarctica.
Download and Play in 1.9 beta 1...
Drake Technologies (Alpha): More hardware for combat in parts 1 and 2!
Star Castle Arcade: Play a classic arcade game adventure, with or without more features (like powerups)!
Playership Drones: Buy or restore exotic ships to command!
Other playable mods from 1.8 and 1.7, waiting to be updated...
Godmode v3 (WIP): Dev/cheat tool compatible with D&O parts 1 or 2.
Drake Technologies (Alpha): More hardware for combat in parts 1 and 2!
Star Castle Arcade: Play a classic arcade game adventure, with or without more features (like powerups)!
Playership Drones: Buy or restore exotic ships to command!
Other playable mods from 1.8 and 1.7, waiting to be updated...
Godmode v3 (WIP): Dev/cheat tool compatible with D&O parts 1 or 2.
I've never destroyed the Antarctica when I've found it. I'm usually not worried about the Aquila loot since I tend to shatter most of the Aquilas, and I'd rather have peace between Earthicans and Ares. The Fleet can keep their silly antimatter weapon.
I tend to ignore it. Gem of Sacrifice was a big deal before 1.0, but now it's worthless because the final boss is the easy part of Heretic. Lamplighter isn't necessary and can't be enhanced. The difference between +150% and +20% that's the best you can do with Domina or +25% equivalent that the optimizer Rom gets you is worth a couple levels. Lamplighter is level XI balanced at level X, but any level IX weapon that takes longzhus or non-rare enhancers (so you can order 3 per trading post) can also be level XI equivalent. A level X that takes longzhus is going to beat it up and take its lunch money.
Literally is the new Figuratively