Planet Exploded

[Aeraeni]

So, I've played a game previously and conquered a dozen or so planets, but decided to start a new game when steam updated my copy and a bunch of mechanics and the gfx changed. Thought I'd start afresh to get to grips with the new things.

Anyhow, launched an invasion into an adjacent system with 8 lovely resource sites to get me started. Blasted through a few guard posts after the entry defences and then went straight for the orbital command and warp gate. Blew the gate and then the cmd. However just as I did, the planet exploded.

Yeah... that was kinda weird...

So I deploy my command center and realise it claims there is no supply 'since you are more than one hop from a planet you own' - which ironically, isn't true, since this is next door to my homeworld.

The map also suddenly shows the system offering 0 crystal or metal sites.

So, not to be deterred by randomly exploding planets, I withdraw my navy, build back to a healthy 500 man fleet, and set off to another planet adjacent to my homeworld. Rinse and repeat, we blast our way in, nail a few troublesome sites and then go for the orbital command, while a colony ship follows in with a guard force to protect the cmd construction. The fleet reaches the AI orbital cmd and does what comes naturally.

Then the planet exploded...

...

It really needs to stop doing that...

Thinking the steam update brought some new mechanic in I missed somewhere, I return to the tutorials. Run through the planet capture tutorial again, and it does sod all different to my own assaults just now.

So, what am I doing wrong?

[carlosjuero]

Heh - you got the paranoid AI type (forget the exact name). When they die they self destruct their command station, it is equal to a Nuke going off. Nuked planets cannot receive supply and the resource nodes are also taken out.

[Lancefighter]

Scorched earth. Ouch.

[Aeraeni]

Aaaaaaah.... Scorched Earth... right... yeah I went for a Random Harder AI rather than Moderate this time.

Ofc...

Cheers. Time to restart *sigh*

[carlosjuero]

It can be exciting and frustrating at the same time wondering what AI you will be up against. I hit the frustration in a new game when i found out my start system (2 wormhole access) was surronded by Counter Spy's. Thankfully the Scout Starship is useful in those situations, sadly there is no true counterpoint for Scorched Earth.

[x4000]

For the scorched earth, generally you only are facing one out of the two as that.  So for capturing planets, it would all be the color of AI planet that is not all explodey.  If you are facing TWO scorched earths, though... that's quite much to take on.

[NickAragua]

Can we get some sort of "Bomb Defusal Squad" unit?

[x4000]

Can we get some sort of "Bomb Defusal Squad" unit?

That would pretty much make the Scorched Earth AI pointless except adding extra micro for you, eh?

[Kjara]

Depends on the bomb diffusal cost/time:  If it took a hour of it sitting next to the enemy command center(while you have to defend the disabling drone), and cost a significant chunk of energy or resources, then theres a cost other than micro (not that I'm that in favor of it since its in some sense a counter to a single ai type).

[x4000]

Depends on the bomb diffusal cost/time:  If it took a hour of it sitting next to the enemy command center(while you have to defend the disabling drone), and cost a significant chunk of energy or resources, then theres a cost other than micro (not that I'm that in favor of it since its in some sense a counter to a single ai type).

See, and this is why having an active community is cool.  That's a whole other avenue of thought that hadn't occurred to me.  I agree with you, I don't think that would be a good fit as it is too specific, but that sort of mechanic might well see some form of appearance in the game in general later on.  Hey, PermaMines can now be cleaned up -- anything can happen, maybe this will allow for some sort of bloodless conversion of AI command stations in general, or something.  A whole lot of new rules would have to crop up to govern that, but it could provide an interesting new mechanic.  Maybe it turns the AI on that planet into an ally of some sort, or something -- almost a diplomatic option against the AI.  I don't know, but cool ideas for down the line, potentially.

[Oewyn]

Do the command stations still give you your base resources when you plop it down on the planet?  Could be interesting if they did.  Go straight for MK III command stations.  Double scorched earth would be interesting with only 12k knowledge start (plus whatever you could gleam off of adjacent planets before you 'splode them.  Maybe if you're luck 18k knowledge.  That could get you MK III command stations, and 3 MK IIs or 1 MK III and 2k change.

I wonder if you could take out the enemy homeworld with that?

[Oewyn]

Nope, doesn't look like it, but a strange thing happens when you build a command station (MK III at least) on a planet w/ no supply.  I went from positive energy to massive negative energy when it completed.

Unfortunately I don't have a save, but it looks like it may be double-subtracting 60k energy from the pool when in fact the MK III station only provides 30k energy.

[Spikey00]

*Love the Russian Winter.*

[x4000]

*Love the Russian Winter.*

That's exactly what I was thinking of when I made that mechanic.  I had a 10th grade Russian History class that I will always remember because the teacher -- I forget her name now, it's been 10 years -- loved, loved to emphasize "If there's one thing you learn from this class let it be this: Don't invade Russia in the winter!"  Students were rather bemused, but I found it funnier and perhaps more insightful than most.  It's a lesson that a lot of powerful people have failed to learn over time, despite numerous past examples.

[Duski]

... Had to laugh to this post, had so similar story myself and looking for help here. I wished that was something I could prevent, tough luck.

And that planet was so nice too.