Economic Command Stations

[Wingflier]

I was wondering what the consensus is on these nowadays.  I know for awhile we were asking for a buff on them, but that kind of disappeared, and if I'm not mistaken they were called overpowered again recently?

In any case, the level 1 versions now give only 8 more metal and crystal per tick than their Military and Economic Counterparts (and 2,000 energy).  Considering all the bonuses the other 2 types give, I rarely can see a scenario where this would be worth it.  Even the extra response time allotted by the Logistical Stations, or the immunity to blade/damage bonus of the Military Station on inner planets seems much more important to me than the measly 8 resources.

However, the T2 + T3 Economic Resource Stations may be worth it, giving roughly 60% more resources than their counterparts, and also a miniscule amount of energy as well. 

I guess I'm wondering why the T1 Economic Station isn't also 60% more as well, instead of 25%?

[Faulty Logic]

I would definitely support an Econ station buff. Too often harvesters/other station is a better way to go.

[chemical_art]

It varies on play style.

If you are someone who routinuely thinks the econ is easy to begin with and regularly has 999k resources, then econ isn't beneficial at all.

If you are someone who has a larger empire, and has many "safe-ish" planets, and very rarely gets 999k resources, then investing in econ with mk I military stations borders is still viable.

I think giving military stations the econ benefit of logistic stations threw the whole system out of whack. It isn't that econ stations need a buff, its that military stations should be weakest econ wise for the greatest durability, with econ stations providing the greatest econ buff but being very weak, and logistic stations being a hybrid of both.

[Kahuna]

If planet has 6 or more resource asteroids harvesters are better. (MarkIII EconStation vs MarkIII Harvesters)
If I have home planet + 3 planets and resource asteroids: (12+3+6+5)/4=6,5. Harvesters win. Harvesters almost always win.

[Wanderer]

Keep in mind the reason the harvesters got boosted was because econs were far too obviously the way to go.

I'm not against some tension between econ stations and harvesters, but please don't lose sight of why the harvesters got their boost.

[Fluffiest]

Also keep in mind that the weapons of the military station and the boost/slow effect of the log station don't actually help 100% of the time, only in certain circumstances. The cash and energy boost of the mk I econ station is a constant advantage.

[Winge]

Also keep in mind that the weapons of the military station and the boost/slow effect of the log station don't actually help 100% of the time, only in certain circumstances. The cash and energy boost of the mk I econ station is a constant advantage.

The energy generation of the Economic stations is very low though:  only 2,000/Mk, less than you need to even power a Starship.  Actually, that would probably be an excellent way to buff them, and would still be in line with their 'role'.  That would make the decision between Mk III stations for a small empire more difficult to make, which is a good thing.

[Wanderer]

Also keep in mind that the weapons of the military station and the boost/slow effect of the log station don't actually help 100% of the time, only in certain circumstances. The cash and energy boost of the mk I econ station is a constant advantage.

The energy generation of the Economic stations is very low though:  only 2,000/Mk, less than you need to even power a Starship.  Actually, that would probably be an excellent way to buff them, and would still be in line with their 'role'.  That would make the decision between Mk III stations for a small empire more difficult to make, which is a good thing.

I like the idea of beefing up the power generation on the econ stations, personally.  20k/mark or something like that wouldn't be horribly outrageous, or maybe a non-linear progression of 10k/30k/60k.

[Wingflier]

Also keep in mind that the weapons of the military station and the boost/slow effect of the log station don't actually help 100% of the time, only in certain circumstances. The cash and energy boost of the mk I econ station is a constant advantage.

Not really, it's only an advantage until you hit max resources (which tends to happen a lot for me with MKIII Harvesters).

Also, it doesn't have to be a constant advantage for it to be extremely important.

Your seatbelt in a car probably only comes into use maybe once every few years, but when it does come in handy, you'll sure be glad you had it on huh?