[Randallw]

Um well you say your ARE capturing planets so you might know what strategies youe need but I'll explain because I had the same problem when I started.

First your transport carrying the troops must have a strategy to drop troops. This is a standard strategy called Capture Planet. This is just for the individual troop ship so the system knows, this is a ship that is built to drop troops it will then use the troops on board to drop on the planet.
That troop ship must be part of a fleet that also has the strategy to capture planets. So the same strategy, Capture Planet, for individual troop ship and fleet. You say satellites destroy the planet once you capture it. Are you using a fleet with warships to destroy the planets defenses?. If the fleet has the order to capture planet, the warships will shoot the planet and defenses until the planet is helpless, then they will stop if you have the troop ship set to capture the planet. The Troop ship has been staying clear of the fighting until now. As the defenses are destroyed the troop ship will then fly over to the defenceless planet and drop the troops. Whether they succeed or not is up to size of planet population, their physical toughness and the size of your troop contingent and toughness. I can say that the troop ship waits for the weapon platforms to die. I am sorry but I can't guarantee that it waits for the satellites to die as well, I just don't know about that bit. Try it and find out.

Edit. As for designs, use PD and guns to kill satellites. You can still use shielded transports if you want to capture the defenses along with the planet. I assume if the ship has shields it will risk the defenses.

[ March 06, 2004, 09:52: Message edited by: Randallw ]