Core Shield Generators?

[MrGenius]

I just bought this game a couple days ago (yes I'm a noob) and I'm playing through my first campaign.  I was doing great until I tried to take a planet with an A-Prime Core Shield Generator.

I was destroying everything in my path when I went to attack the command station.  At first I couldn't figure out why I couldn't attack it, but then I saw the generator.  I noticed it said that I couldn't destroy a command station until I destroyed it, so I went to attack it only to discover I couldn't.  Confused, I noticed that it says I can't destroy it until I control the planet it is on.  But, correct me if I'm wrong, you can't take over a planet without destroying it's command station can you?  So I don't understand how it's possible to destroy it.

I noticed it said that if you destroy all the A-Prime generators, the final one will self-destruct, but how can I destroy them if I can't control the planets they are on??!!?

Can someone please give me a simple explanation for how these work? I tried looking up descriptions online and stuff, but I still don't get it.

Thanks.

[keith.lamothe]

Welcome to the forums

Core Shield Generators only protect the AI Home Command Stations (and the guard posts on the planets with the AI Home Command Stations).  To destroy a Core Shield Generator you must first destroy the _local_ command station on that planet (it's not a home command station), claim the planet yourself, and then fire on the generator.

There are a couple different types of guard posts that provide external invincibility for their local command station, too, so if the planet in question has one of those you'll need to take it down, then the command station, then plant your own command station, then take out the core shield generator.

The AI is sometimes a bit thorough, you see

[MrGenius]

Ah.  Now I understand. The Shield Generators only affect the Home Command Stations and have nothing to do with the local.

I misread the description and was under the impression that the Shield Generator protected the LOCAL command station.  I couldn't understand how it was possible to destroy the LOCAL command station to allow me to take over the planet and destroy the Shield Generator, when I have to destroy the Shield Generator to be able to attack the local command station.  That's a paradox!!!

It turns out the planet also had a guard post that was shielding the local command center.  So I had to destroy the guard post to allow me to destroy the local command center to allow me to destroy the Shield Generator.

Thanks for the help.

[keith.lamothe]

Yea, when in doubt, keep blowing things up

[TechSY730]

Yea, when in doubt, keep blowing things up

Woa, easy with the over generalizations there. You of all people should know that blindly following that tactic is a sure fire way to lose.

[Garthor]

Yea, when in doubt, keep blowing things up

Woa, easy with the over generalizations there. You of all people should know that blindly following that tactic is a sure fire way to lose.

If you never stop blowing things up, there shouldn't be a problem.  Things only become an issue when you are unable to blow things up fast enough... which is really more of a personal failing.

[Red Spot]

Yea, when in doubt, keep blowing things up

Woa, easy with the over generalizations there. You of all people should know that blindly following that tactic is a sure fire way to lose.

If you never stop blowing things up, there shouldn't be a problem.  Things only become an issue when you are unable to blow things up fast enough... which is really more of a personal failing.

So not being able to stand tall vs a CPA because before and after waves hit, Hybirds nuke your CCs and most planets surrounding you have little harvesters ..  is your own personal failing?  
I am glad I look differently at it, if not, I would now be playing difficulty 4 AIs without Hybrids, instead of 8.6 with Hybrids
Often mistakes may lead to losing a game, but in general it mostly is just bad luck in the timing/randomnes part of the game .. in most of my lost games at least.

[snip]
The AI is sometimes a bit thorough, you see

You forgat to mention to nuke the Co-proccessor(if present), else he may still not be able to build anything on the planet