Attacking Planets (or trying not to)

[Dan C.]

I think they will. The Planet checkbox likely refers to the planet itself..so without weapon platforms they will ignore the planet

I think that might be it. I have a saved Version of the game at that point, and there are 7 WP with missiles. However the fighters leave behind a nearby BC and CA with lots of weapons at the half-way point to go after the planet. (The near parameter should have kicked in)
As well they obviously keep attacking the planet after the WP are gone (and the ships are near-by attacking) as the population drops from 4000 to 3344, the 53 fighters who are left at the end can only do 1060 max points of damage a round (106 pop) so there has to be at least 4 rounds of firing after the WP are gone.
This would explain why when the second fleet arrives they seem to ignore the planet correctly.