[Minor Suggestion] Anti-Clutter Lobby Settings

[Shrugging Khan]

Really small thing, but might be all the easier to include in exchange.

Would it be possible to include a lobby setting that disables distributions nodes and Zenith caches? I never ever use them, and all they do is use up interface space and provide something I might accidentally click and bite my arse over.

Similar thing might go for Super Terminals (not as error-prone, but I still never use them -> wasted space), maybe Spire Archives, and any other fully optional AIP-increasing structures I forgot about, although that should probably be a separate setting.

Co-Processors should be mandatory, since their prevent-supply mechanism makes them an integral part of the AI's defence. And everybody likes data centres, so no point in making those optional

Anyone else think this is a worthwhile idea, or is it only me?

[Nodor]

Umm.

Zenith Reserves and distribution nodes are "panic buttons".    In both cases, you have ships or resources available for when things go badly.

Your fleet got smashed and you need some spare units to throw in the way of that wave that just popped up? -  Crack open the zenith reserve.

You ran out of resources rebuilding and need to finish that fort before the exo-galactic strike hits?  - Crack open the distribution node.  (As resources cannot go negative, the "worst case" scenario for me is oftern losing 1500 metal/crystal.)

Like getting rid of data centers, removing these would make the game harder. 

[zoutzakje]

... it's probably just you
Sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't. But If I don't, I never make the mistake of accidentally clicking on them. I save all the distribution nodes and zenith caches in case I really need them.
If you don't want to accidentally click on them, just be careful

[Catma]

Sorry, gotta go with "it's just you". But I can see how it would be annoying to have them around if you're never gonna use them. Maybe you can pretend they're an AI defense mechanism - "player annoyance doohickies" - designed to irritate you until you quit (or give up AIP to get rid of them!)

[HellishFiend]

I also agree with the sentiments of the above posts, and I might also add that if you never, ever have to use a distribution node, its possible you're playing on a difficulty below your skill level. That's fine, as long as you're having fun, just be careful you dont get bored of the game too soon due to lack of challenge. =)

[keith.lamothe]

I also agree with the sentiments of the above posts, and I might also add that if you never, ever have to use a distribution node, its possible you're playing on a difficulty below your skill level. That's fine, as long as you're having fun, just be careful you dont get bored of the game too soon due to lack of challenge. =)

I'm pretty sure he plays on "10 Doom" or "10.6 Rommel".

[Nodor]

9.1+ is not the same game.  At that point your margin of error is so low you cannot open Zenith Reserves.. or distribution nodes.  The AI progress cost becomes excessive due to the multipliers. 

So the term clutter makes then sense.

[HellishFiend]

I see. I've never played on a difficulty that high, so I wouldnt know.

[Hearteater]

I wish the Distribution Nodes had a non-AIP penalty instead.  Maybe they freed ships randomly when opened.  Say AIP / 10 * difficulty.  No special restriction on mark, so it is always possible a Mark V from the homeworld gets freed.  I'd feel a whole lot better about using them if the cost wasn't something so permanent.

[Wanderer]

9.1+ is not the same game.  At that point your margin of error is so low you cannot open Zenith Reserves.. or distribution nodes.  The AI progress cost becomes excessive due to the multipliers. 

So the term clutter makes then sense.

Agreed.  I don't dare open a zenith reserve in my games.  Ever.  It is never worth the AIP gain.  Ever.  I wouldn't turn off distribution nodes (though I curse, LOUDLY, when I get +1 AIP on a trojan) because I usually pop two in the VERY early game and then ignore them, but I'd love to remove the reserves.  +20 AIP for a set of MK IV ships that are irreplaceable?  Oh god no.  +5 for a set of MK Is?  PAH!  Are you SERIOUS?  Half the worlds out there are MK III/IV.  The AI would smell those out and laugh at me.  Even in the early game when they might be useful I'm certainly not going to trade that over popping a warp gate if I've got +5 AIP worth of manevuerability.

They are clutter, so are a few other things.  You want to cry, try playing 9.3+ against Entrenched homeworlder with all those lovely +100 AIP Human Colonies hanging around on half the worlds you want to take.  GAAAAAAHHHHHH..... Cry.  Now, THERE'S some clutter!

[Shrugging Khan]

I play 10.6 "Rommel" and 3?.F "No save-scumming, scum!", correct

Well, it just hurts my eyes a bit every time I wasted a few precious nanoseconds to check out that object over there, only to find out it's completely useless to me because I so religiousley don't use them, I wouldn't even crack them open even if it might in fact save me 

[TechSY730]

Captive settlements could use a good buff, or at least an AIP on death reduction. I understand that they are supposed to be a burden and a factor to consider when taking a planet, but right now its so much of a burden with so little in return it is just annoying.

Zenith Stashes could definitely use a buff with how many ships the spit out, or at least a severe AIP cost reduction, probably both. Especially with the nerf Z viral shredders got (which I still think was a bit too severe)

Zenith reserves are mostly good, thoug the whole Trojan thing still promotes save scumming.

[zoutzakje]

nothing wrong with a good savescum now and then I don't savescum for a distribution node though. I simply always wait till my resources are pretty much drained before i pop one of them. Having a somewhat more random amount of resources from the nodes would be more fun, but besides that I think they are good the way they are now.
Zenith reserves could use some love though yes. When playing on a 7/7 game I usually just pop them all, because I know I can easily handle the AIP penalty. But on a current 9/9 game I avoid them like the plague. Distribution nodes are still useful. Zenith reserves are not.
Reserve mk I costs 5 AIP, a single node costs 1 AIP. With the resources I get from 5 distribution nodes (even if I find one or 2 trojans), I can build waaaaaay more ships than the Reserve gives me.
I suggest either a significant AIP decrease or receiving a lot more ships in return when opening a Zenith Reserve.