I never used a golem before the changes to their AIP penalties. Considering golems were a major part of the expansion I hated to see them be so inaccessible and so rarely useful. I like the changes.
I just used the botnet golem for the first time, and it's lots of fun, but not as effective as I would have though. I believe the ships it captures are at half health, despite what the description says?
The AI reinforcement penalties for having them are pretty sever too. Just by having the golem present the scales are upped so high that a mid size fleet is negligible, but despite my troubles I have captured every system I've brought it against, so that says something. It's kind of nice to use on defense. Keep it in a pocket were waves are not possible, and the wave penalties will not harm you. Also, the dyson sphere provides a great parking lot, since no waves go against the unowned planet, and the dysons keep your parked golems safe.
A few questions:
How much energy does each golem required? I noticed they each seem to take different amounts, and the artillery takes an absurd 600,000.
Can the cursed golem be repaired? The wiki says no, but the wiki also says that a golem dying raises AIP.
Thanks.