Yikes! What a difference an update makes!

[CautiousChaos]

I just updated to 1.012 and have gotten my space hat handed to me in my most recent game. 

In this game I was playing against level 6 AI's and had the highest score, six planets in a 60 planet galaxy, with an AI counter of 181.  The waves that were getting sent against me were frankly nothing more than a minor annoyance.  My biggest issue was that I tipped the AI off early of my presence so neighboring systems had 1,200+ ships/turrets compared to my smaller maximum fleet size. 

Frankly I wasn't looking too forward to having to chip away at these planets (launch 800+ units, destroy off some percentage of the opposing fleet, rinse and repeat) in order to proceed.  In other words a somewhat tedious process.  I had worried that I would be in big trouble considering that neighboring planets had this high a unit count, but since the waves sent against me were so small I eventually didn't worry much about planetary defense. 

Then I updated to 1.012 and within minutes found in invasion force of 582 ships arrive at one of my peripheral systems easily trouncing the meager forces I had stashed there for planetary defense (which before the update were easily sufficient).  After I lost that planet ( the first time I ever lost a planet ) my home world was attacked.  The AI was using starships, the first time I've seen any.   And within minutes, I lost. 

This new update significantly changes the dynamic of the game and puts an emphasis on defense, moreso than ever before.  It's a welcomed change as it adds tension to the game that I found lacking sometimes.  I also like the buffs that were given to starships making them much more purposeful as part of a fleet. 

Net net - bravo!  Great update!  I'm looking forward to my next game!

-cc

[eRe4s3r]

Yeah , I had exactly the same experience, i played 1.09 before and it was a breeze at DIF 6 - suddenly the patch came and about 400 teleport stations appeared next to my human settlement, within 1 second i was 220 progress points up and one less planet to go, what before was a stable situation now as a slugfest with multi 1k fleets incoming (my progression was 600+ then ,p)

The patches for this game bring about immense changes - Nice formational movement - Even more formidable AI and all my favorite AI exploits fixed ;/

Now i have always at least 1 starship and 100 ships in a sector and LOTS of tractor turrets (if you want to protect your command station you can plant tractor turrets midway between wormhole and command station to give you some more time to respond. Usually the ai will go for harvesters anyway - giving you even more time to put tractors down. Found these things are great helpers anywhere, now i have at least 15 next to each wormhole and always at least 10 of those under a shield. But that still only protects against 65-100 ships

With 600 ships i'd be shocked as well - if you are really worried about defending this, use lightning missiles on that fleet (helps to always have at least one in any of your sectors).

Generally, the price of 1 lightning missile is always better to pay than loosing your command station (much less progression too).

But to quote X "The Score is a very misleading factor" as i had to experience myself after the patches many times.

[Revenantus]

Agreed, the cross-planet attacks are an immense improvement.

Generally, the price of 1 lightning missile is always better to pay than loosing your command station (much less progression too).

Note that the AI Progress level only increases when AI controlled Command Stations are destroyed. The Progress won't increase if the AI destroys one of the player's Command Stations.

The exception to this rule is Multiplayer, in which the AI Progress will increase if the AI destroys one of the players' Home Command Stations (+30).

[eRe4s3r]

What!!!  

Oy, i didn't know that, so AI ONLY means that the penalty only applies if its an AI Building?

(I thought AI Only means the penalty only applies if the AI destroys it, vs the player scrapping it.. silly me!)

[Revenantus]

What!!!  

Oy, i didn't know that, so AI ONLY means that the penalty only applies if its an AI Building?

(I thought AI Only means the penalty only applies if the AI destroys it, vs the player scrapping it.. silly me!)

Yep, X actually introduced the AI ONLY text string in response to players asking about issues like this.

You're not the first player to make that assumption.

[x4000]

Glad the update is a hit!  I think the cross-planet attacks really do add a lot of welcome complexity and difficulty, and I look forward to finding more AI rules that will similarly improve the experience.  Next on my list for that:  tactical retreats for the AI.