The AI also gets Protector Starships and Lightning Torpedo Frigates. Though I don't mind the first one, (I get to hack for them and the AI never builds modules) the second COULD be an issue. But I still just hack for those too and laugh. Have I mentioned I LOVE hacking? Going against an Artillery AI and suddenly all those deadly long range nuke ships can either be shut down, or better yet, give me the ability to make them even if they are not normally available. AI has got Z-Bombards? Now so do I. I also back mine up with Spire Blade Spawners, Lightning Torpedo Frigates, Ninezul Enclave Starships, and Ninezul Railpods, and Moblile Space Docks. (Which for some reason are now decloaking when building things. I thought part of the point was that they could build while stealthed?)
I go into a system and unless it has an Eye, or a Superfortress, I don't even have to care. Even the Hunter plot SF doesn't really counter that. And only Nuclear Eyes or Superfortresses really hard counter it. Plasma Eyes can be a bit brutal, but with so much target saturation the Plasma Eyes cant focus hard enough to really stop it. The Parasite Eyes can only get the Z-bombards, the rest is immune to reclamation and cant be fired upon. I leave them behind and the rest of the gang mops up. Superfortresses destroy anything that isn't the Enclaves (Go go Gadget Radar Dampening) and have so much firepower that I don't even thing a full MK I - MK IV set, even with double caps from 2 HWs, can take them out in a reasonable time. And with even the bare minimum of backup that thing can't be touched by them at all. As for Nuclear Eyes, well I am using mostly automated weapons. I drop them in system and let them clear it without doing much more than giving move orders. I supposed it is quite possible to clear a system like that in 30 seconds, but it's so unlikely that I've never bothered to try it.
