Plasma starships vs non-combat stuff.. cloaked, under forcefields.

[Lancefighter]

Turns out, plasma starships are really good at blowing up things. The problem seems to be however, that a mk1 plasma starship can, in a couple of shots, destroy completely inconsequential, yet very important things that are both under forcefields and cloaked. I'm mostly talking about scout starships. A fleets basically only way to protect against snipers (which are FAR too good against starships in my opinion).

Anyway, this problem unfortunately extends to engineers, research ships, remains rebuilders, space docks, starship constructors(edit: Spire civilian leaders).. Basically, anything that can go under a forcefield and has less than 1 million health or so is liable to die the moment a plasma siege enters the system.

I feel like non-combat things should not instantly die to plasma siege (while under a forcefield and cloaked). I dont know if the solution to that is remove plasma siege's forcefield aoe(personal favorite option), make them immune to aoe, or give them higher health - But I feel something really needs to be done. Also maybe you should mix in bomber starships sometimes in place of plasma siege in waves.

also, can spirecraft ships rotate their icons? They look kinda weird next to everything else

[Qatu]

 When I play 8.6 difficulty games I always take protector starships and keep the mk1 with my bases to eat some plasma bombs because I get so super annoyed at having to rebuild all my low hp stuff. It has a pretty negative effect on my entertainment since I always have to go check on the smallest AI incusrions in my territorry because the plasma starships might have broken important stuff, even if I easily repelled the attack.

[Lancefighter]

Just lost a spire civilian leader under ~100m of forcefields because forcefields are useless against plasma siege. Am i going to have to just unlock more fighters and station them under forcefields as damage soaks? Maybe have hundreds of science ships everywhere?

[Kahuna]

AI Plasma Siege Starships can indeed be very infuriating. I like to use them myself though. They're really good.

[Histidine]

I like the uniqueness and role of the plasma siege effect on forcefields, but a general rule "if unarmed and doesn't drop remains, immune to plasma siege forcefield effect" would be nice.

[Wingflier]

I like the uniqueness and role of the plasma siege effect on forcefields, but a general rule "if unarmed and doesn't drop remains, immune to plasma siege forcefield effect" would be nice.

agree with this

[Aklyon]

I'd also agree with it. Though wouldn't that mean guardposts wouldn't be effected?

[Arc-3N-4B]

Agreed. This would also prevent "Oh, hey, plasma siege in the first wa-oh, you lost because of the splash." Which is just annoying...

I'd also agree with it. Though wouldn't that mean guardposts wouldn't be effected?

"Unarmed"

[Winge]

Is the Human Home Command Station immune to Plasma Siege splash.  I thought it was changed to be immune, but I could be wrong.  Or is the loss from the Energy Collector being destroyed?

[Draco18s]

Or is the loss from the Energy Collector being destroyed?

^ That.  Losing an energy collector early game will ruin you.
Not to mention the AIP increase / resource loss from the irreplaceable human habs.

Losing ship production also hurts, as you can't build ships to take care of the problem, can't build engineers, and can't rebuild the spacedock.

[Faulty Logic]

I like the uniqueness and role of the plasma siege effect on forcefields, but a general rule "if unarmed and doesn't drop remains, immune to plasma siege forcefield effect" would be nice.

I disagree. The AI should have ways to kill your space docks, energy collectors, science labs, etc. The plasma siege is an effective, while still counterable part of the AI arsenal, and I think the game is better for it.

[DrFranknfurter]

My thought: would it be more fun if things were injured but couldn't die from that damage source? It would make them vulnerable without insta-killing everything or having the odd situation where somethings are completely unscathed by massive lethal energy blasts.

[Lancefighter]

Even better idea - An unlockable unit type with infinite caps and tons of hp, that does literally nothing. Drop it under forcefields and itll soak up plasma siege aoe! Good old ablative armor..

Or maybe hardened forcefields prevent aoe damage from bleeding through them. That also sounds pretty reasonable.

[Histidine]

Or is the loss from the Energy Collector being destroyed?

^ That.  Losing an energy collector early game will ruin you.
Not to mention the AIP increase / resource loss from the irreplaceable human habs.

IIRC habs and cryo pods are immune, but the Home Command Station is not.

[Faulty Logic]

Or maybe hardened forcefields prevent aoe damage from bleeding through them. That also sounds pretty reasonable.

Sold!