Planetary defense measures.
 

Large WP's seem all the rage and understandably so but what about a Battle Station? Worthwhile or better for choke points?

What about Planetary Shield? Waste of time? Maybe it prevents troop drops?

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Yes, WP's are probably best because they have all the range bonuses of bases (at least in Gold they do) without the upkeep cost. Then again, you might enjoy mines... personally, I don't use them, but some people like them. You don't get quite as heavy mounts with WP's as with bases but I think the maintenance-free aspect makes WP's better (as well as the fact that they're NEVER on the "wrong side" of the planet! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif )

The Massive Planetary Shield as it stands in the unmodded game is probably a waste of time - it's so darn expensive! AFAIK it doesn't prevent troop drops - maybe it should! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Some mods have other planetary shields, though, that might be worthwhile...

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

The big drawback to WP's is obviously the size of them. Unless you are talking about a non-domed huge world you are going to need more than just WP's to fight off a fleet that wants to do your planet harm. If it's a critical planet and you don't have the cargo room then bases make more sense. It all depends on the situation.

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

WPs are certainly best because they are ON the planet. But satellites are still useful, especially if you use missile satellites with PDC on them. The missiles have good enough range to be useful even if they're on the 'wrong' side of the planet, hit just as hard if they come from a sat or a WP. But putting them in the sats saves planet space for the direct-fire weapons using highly advantageous WP mounts. PDC above the planet also adds a lot to defense against long-range missile attack. Your WPs still ought to have some PDC of their own, of course. And the WP weapons are good defense against attempts to take out the missile sats. A deadly combination!

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Gentlemen,

Versus the computer I use a defense-in-depth for my shoke point systems. Not only to I use numerous WP's on my planets and moons, but I place Defensive stations in orbit, as well as drones and satellites.

Furthermore, the CPU must break into these systems by first crushing my warp point defenses, which include Stats, Bases, Mines and mobile units.

If a fleet reaches a planet, I do my best to make sure it has been beaten to hell first.

Cheers!

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Quite often a large or huge world will have a moon or two around it. I use these moon as military bases.
I will put a cargo facility on them, then add WP and fighters on them and put Sat's in orbit. Add in a defence base or two and you have a difficult planet to attack.

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Frankly I have often wondered how it is even possible to defend a planet without a fleet. I'm taking about a game at around turn 100. By this point in the game the bad guy will have a fleet that can clear over 100 mines. So with a planet with non breathable atmosphere is it even possible to defend?? Bear in mind i'm talking around turn 100 when the fun really starts and you'l face for example a fleet of 6 or 7 attack battle ships (or quite easily more) with thier assorted support craft.

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Early on, anything goes with protecting individual planets. You are taking out individual ships. Once the mid-game comes, frankly, I think the best planetary defense is to never let their fleets get into your systems in the first place. Marauding Groups of ships can be stopped only by other Groups of ships.

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

What do folks think of trying to push to a definable border with a low number of choke points, and investing those resources into bases on the warp point -- prevent the AI from ever even entering your systems, let alone threatening your colonies ...

Granted, high maintenance aptitude, and/or Crystalline technology (for the Restructuring facility) would make this more economically feasible ...

... but, bankrupt idea against humans, or just an expensive-but-effective idea?

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Choke points are good, but bases are no replacement for WPs. You have to pay mantaince on bases, and need Cruiser tech before you can build choke-point bases.

That and if someone has better cloak than you have scanners, you're screwed..with close-in defense your planets are still defended. Close-in defense, though, practiclly screams "Defeat in Detail"

Phoenix-D

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Pax, there are some serious flaws with using bases as warp point defense.

The first thing to keep in mind is which side of the warp point you are on, your side or theirs.

If you are on your side then you are going to give up one of the major advantages a base has - range. The enemy will pop out from the warp point at close range and be able to do damage. So even if you destroy them if you don't have some means of repair you're in trouble if they attack again.

If you are on their side of the warp point then you should be able to out-range them. If your weapons are good you'll be able to hold off small fleets for a while. The problem comes in when your enemy starts to use swarm tactics. They'll swamp you by having more ships than you have guns. As soon as they start doing damage you're in trouble. A human player can be even more creative. Lets say that you've got the absolute best bases that can be built. Nothing can get by them, right? Wrong. I'll just change my fleet orders to "Don't Get Hurt" and sit in the corner for 30 combat turns. The next game turn I'm on the warp point and can give the order to move on through, with no losses! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Now all of this assumes that bases are the only defenses you put up. Add in mines and sats and this will be a whole different ballgame. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Planetary defense measures.
 

Personally, I'd have said that the best defence is a superior fleet: any fixed defence can be beaten, even by the AI - and a Human player, well, all sorts of ways!

We're talking about the un-modded game, yes? In (for example) Proportions, you can put up some stunningly effective defence, although it can still be defeated - sometimes it can result in a 'siege' though as you batter your way beyond the shields, particularly on Homeworlds, in order to do some real damage. If the defence includes any reasonable number of PDC it can take a LOT of missiles!

In the end, though, the superior fleet is going to win - all defences can buy you is /time/. In the un-modded game, generally not a lot of it!

My opinion only - YMMV.
Steve