I'm not to certain the ion cannon needs a huge boost either, but I'm not certain it doesn't, either.
I do think it would be interesting to ask the following questions, just as a point of context to the discussions.
- What difficulty do you usually play on?
- Do you often play against harder AI types?
- Do you play with superweapons? Yours or the AI doesn't matter, just their existence.
- Do you play with multiple homeworlds?
My answers
- 7-8
- Nope, medium/easier random
- I play with superweapons around 50-75% of the time.
- No, excepting co-op
From my recent aip memo games, I've found Ion Cannons tactically significant yet not game-changers. I try to take them about 10% of the time because of map layout. If the scaling of AIP and systems does take that theoretical 2/3s rule, I might possibly even find them mattering against a pair of offensive AIs, not just the defensive ones.
From my recent AI starship, player fleetship focused games, I've found Ion Cannons tactically insignificant especially with the cost of repairing them (frequent plasma siege starships bypassing FF, though perhaps engine damage might be the solution to that...).
Simply speaking, at a 'standard game' setting, the ion cannons seem to be in a decent position, where the cost of taking them isn't often worthwhile, but when taking out the command early is an option, it seems to help considerably if I'm not being hammered with huge waves at one central location. When I am investing heavily into a single chokepoint, such as in co-op, I see some of the issues, especially when carriers start to be involved, but I'm running a heavy engine damage defense strategy at the moment.
Are ion cannons fundamentally flawed, or is it merely a question of scaling? On the other hand, I do clearly remember the days when Ion Cannons were quite dramatic, and not merely functional. If Ion Cannons power up once again, it is worth considering the improved guard posts in the equation, and whether or not even raid starships would be able to help against a defensive AI and the right roll of the RNG in the overlap of defensive structures.