waves make it impossible to advance?

[oddlaurence]

I pressume this has sth to do with latest beta patches and AI mechanics updates, but i think it was overdid honestly. How much is AI progress supposed to influence size of waves and its frequencies? I know it sounds like a complaint, but actually i'm a bit frustrated right now - i got in situation where advancing in game seems impossible, because i'm constantly being rammed by 1k+ waves in about every 2 mins or so (2 AI's diff 7, 40 planets, current progress about 350). Sure, i have established some insane defense with 120 spider turrets, radar jam mark2 and bazillion of other turrets capable of holding up to 2k of enemy ships at single wormhole, but it just won't stop. i have 8 secure planets, so all attacks are incoming directly to my home planet, but that i intended from very begining. I managed to capture some adjusted planets next to it, untill crazy constant waves started pouring in and those got wiped out, leaving me at homeplanet again. basically, i have a threat of about 2k all the time due to those cleared planets and AI ships roaming towards me and i cant move my all fleet because my defenses are not suited for melle ships, so it would be dangerous to leave turrets only. I predict AI homeworlds being about 5 planets away from my last clearing, but theres simply no way i'd be able to set up a beachead on one desired planet with advanced factory and just keep pushing, because there's no way i'd hold that planet even with all my sjips. Note that i'm playing on normal caps, so constant 1k+ waves isnt always a cakewalk if it hit other planet than my home one. Really, i dont remember choosing survival game, so was the AI progress intended to change things so dramatically, or is it because of betas?
 P.S some possible bug i noticed  - lighthing warheads have decreasing range mark wise, so mark 3 has a range of 250, while mark 1 about 1,2k

[x4000]

Wow, that's a wall of text.  The two main things I'm able to get out of that:

1. If you're seeing waves every 2 minutes, you're probably parked near a raid engine.  You need to kill it, that's your problem.

2. Yes, lightning warheads are supposed to have decreasing range to go with their increasing damage -- it makes them more focused damage versus more AOE.

[oddlaurence]

oh, sorry if i posted this in wrong category... And not sure if i understand what you are saying... Raid engine? - first time i hear about it and i dont remember reading about it in update list... can you explain please?

[x4000]

It's a ship that the AI has, which can cause constant waves against you if you take a planet next to it.  It's been in there for about a year, but they are not always very common.  You always have to scout well, because if you take a planet next to something like this, it can really bring the pain (as you see).  If that doesn't seem to be it, if you post a save we can look and see what's going on, but with that sort of frequency that seems highly likely.

[oddlaurence]

Wow, i'm really suprised to hear about it, since i have never encoutered such problem before - i'll look into more carefully, because  only things i usually focus while scouting are main structures and guardposts... will let you know if i found it  

[x4000]

No worries. There's a lot of rare stuff out there that you only run into sometimes. 

[oddlaurence]

well, it's just like you said - after some carefull consideration found the raid engine - 'small' thingie that cost me some nerves  Anyway, thanks for your help - will breathe eassier after that raid engine is destroyed, because my 'impenetrable' defense almsot got overrun by 2k melle ships 

[x4000]

Glad that was it!  Yeah, once that thing is dead you should be able to advance again -- it's very tough to withstand such an onslaught for long, and it sounds like you did for quite some time.  Awesome work!

[HitmanN]

I'm yet to encounter a raid engine myself, but I've heard of it enough to be on constant lookout for one.

[x4000]

Interplanetary Munitions Boosters are even more rare, but also quite deadly. 

[Tharrick]

AI Eyes are also right buggers. In a MP game, other player dumped a 4000+ fleet right into a planet with one of those on by mistake.

We actually managed to survive the ensuing 2500+ ship counterattack...just.

[superking]

Interplanetary Munitions Boosters are even more rare, but also quite deadly. 

and for some crazy reason not capturable 

[Frozen Critical]

i'd Pretty much Run at the sight of a Interplanetary munitions booster , i mean , that things a NIGHTMARE , munitions booster ships already give me enough trouble for a week , not to even mention a INTERPLANETARY munitions booster

Also , MAEK INTERPLANETARY MUNITIONS BOOSTERS CAPTURABLE THANKS

[zebramatt]

Interplanetary Munitions Boosters are even more rare, but also quite deadly. 

and for some crazy reason not capturable 

No way! Why the devil have I left this thing lying around, then??

[orzelek]

Interplanetary Munitions Boosters are even more rare, but also quite deadly. 

and for some crazy reason not capturable 

No way! Why the devil have I left this thing lying around, then??

To make your defensive efforts more "interesting" ?