Poll: What should be done with special forces?

[Faulty Logic]

Many people are unhappy with the current state of the special forces. This is to determine how to improve them (if a change is wanted).

You can select any number of options, each is relatively independent of the others.

Discussion is welcome.

[Martyn van Buren]

I voted for most of the buff options besides "special abilities" and "special forces waves."  I like them as a very basic, uncomplicated mechanic, but they certainly need a bit more room to mess with the player.  I think I like the idea of them being able to look for trouble within a limited range --- say, rushing to aid defense but only having a range of one or two jumps; it should be possible to manage them by eliminating special forces posts.

EXTRA IDEA: If I understand rightly, the Special Forces Alarm Post causes them to attack human worlds when alerted --- how about a defensively oriented version that instead summons them to aid defense on that world?  It would need to be able to cancel the call if the human fleet leaves.

[Faulty Logic]

Would you like me to add that?

[Lancefighter]

I think they possibly could be repurposed into hybrid spawners? Maybe not hybrids.. but.. A special forces fleet. I think it would be kinda interesting if they spawned a small force of starships with some fleet ship escorts, given an attack order similarly to hybrids.

I'm not really sure if this is a good idea or not, but I think this is my general idea. Kinda like a hybrids-light version. Does that make any sense?

[Sunshine!]

I like Lancefighter's suggestion.  Special Forces posts will still retain their interplanetary patrols, but on alerted planets will spawn small attack groups with different attack logic that will have them look for targets of opportunity.  They'll try to bypass defenses by cruising through neutral planets to hit under protected backwater planets for example, will cause as much damage as possible (i.e. shooting whatever isn't under forcefields first), and will retreat and choose new targets when forces are brought against them.

[Lancefighter]

Theres always the inevitable probability of cloaker starships, neinzul enclave starships, and favorite, ai missiles. I think the base logic for being unpowered unless detected still stands... Surprise starships in your homeworld!

[Faulty Logic]

Added "advanced pathfinding (via neutral worlds)".
Added "raiding behavior (attack, retreat, annoy)"
Added "form starship/escort fleets"

Theres always the inevitable probability of cloaker starships, neinzul enclave starships, and favorite, ai missiles. I think the base logic for being unpowered unless detected still stands... Surprise starships in your homeworld!

That would fall under "unique (for the AI) abilites."

[Lancefighter]

Unique? Pfft. The word youre looking for is *awesome*

[Faulty Logic]

ARGH. Forum UI again, can't seem to set it so you can change your votes. Grumblegrumble. Sorry, Keith might drop by and show mercy though.

Unique? Pfft. The word youre looking for is *awesome*

Yes, I like that particular option as well.

[Martyn van Buren]

Would you like me to add that?

I think mine falls under "aid in defense"; it's an implementation.

[keith.lamothe]

ARGH. Forum UI again, can't seem to set it so you can change your votes.

Set now

[Faulty Logic]

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Thank you.

[Bossman]

I think the problem with special forces is the rate at which new special forces units are added. It tends to be either a trickle, or none at all. Once the initial spawn is destroyed, they're a non-factor. Spawning at reinforcing planets with SFGPs doesn't amount to much since not every planet has one, and the player could be removing them from their border planets. Additionally, because of the way the reinforcement budget works, an SFGP might not get any units if the AI has a low-cap bonus ship and has been buying it for the command stations and other guard posts.

So why not give the special forces a seperate reinforcement budget based on the total number of SFGPs currently in the galaxy? The more posts there are, the bigger the area the special forces will need to cover, meaning more units needed for patrols. The player will need to make a choice between reducing the rate of special forces growth and avoiding an AIP increase.  I'm not sure what this will do to a Special Forces Captain, maybe the posts also need to be a cap on total number of special forces units?

[Diazo]

Okay, I think there's a more basic question that needs to be answered.

What role are special forces supposed to have?

I'm thinking they need a pretty big overhaul as the changes to the threat mechanic has stolen most of the special forces spotlight.

That of being ships which can attack the player without warning.

So, what should special forces do?

D.

[Draco18s]

What role are special forces supposed to have?

So, what should special forces do?

Anything.  Anything at all.

Because, honestly, I treat special forces guard posts as being "Wave - Reinforce Only" structures that cause negligible AIP upon destruction.  I have never once noticed the special forces do anything that mattered.  Hell, even a special forces alarm post is meaningless and trivial when it goes off.

Sure, it angers all the special forces in the galaxy, and guess what?  You get a medium sized CPA for it...just like any other CPA, thus it goes unnoticed.