Planetary assault and bombardament suggestions

from Stardock Forums
I have some suggestions about star system assault.
For example I have noticed that the AI tends to send the troop transports alone (even at the infamous "incredible" level) with the result that they fall prey of light vessels that pop out from the systems under siege. The combat transport is able to defend itself quite well, but it isn't enought against the capital ships. As a result I see often that advanced empires employ months to conquer a minor civilization that have only one star system and obsolete vessels that are still capable of destroying the incoming troop transport. Imho if the AI is istructed to assemble a defensive capital ship and a transport in little fleets it would be a lot more difficult to stop them and the game would be more challenging.
Regarding the bombardament I read that there will be a special vessel for this task, but imho it would be more interesting if even the capital ships from the battleship and above can strike the planets, but in a limited way decreasing a little the population.
An interesting way to enlarge the role of the anti matter missiles would be to permit them to strike unguarded star system causing massive damage but dramatically lowering the planet quality as well. Much like a nuclear missile in a Civ game but with more permanent side effect that prevent the conquest or the recolonization of the targeted star system.
Tnx for the constant updates and sorry for the bad english :)

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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I've found that some races (Drengin for example) don't escort their transports while the Altarians do. I suppose some might consider people expendable while others take care to minimise losses... ;)
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Others like the Arcaens tends to send all their non combat vessel in the most dangerous zones of the galaxy. It's almost a rule of thumb in a total war that the first things that blown up are the Arcaens transport, frigates and constructors :D




Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
On the higher levels of AI intelligence, they do get escorted.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I make a test modding the bonus of the party to have a full sensor coverage in 4 different games. I set the difficult on incredible level for a race at time and I observed the invasion tactics implemented by the AI. The response was that the Drengin, the Yor and the Arcaens didn't escort at all their trasports. If another unit was with them it was merely a coincidence since the next turn the combat vessel detatched from the transport heading for his real target. I got the impression that in the advanced difficult level the AI is good at built advanced ships in good numbers, but observing their movement they are too chaotic a overall they lack coordination. The Altarians are far more organized but in a war against the Alexians they loose 5 transport and the conquered them in 12 months even tought that their star system was in an sector adiacent at their homeplanet. A standard escort routine for the transport is needed imho.
Regarding the AM missiles I think that a decrease from 2 to 4 point in planet quality (for balancing the idea they would strike a single planet and not the entire star system)and damages on the population and the improvement would be the ideal.
Nowhere near to the power of a Terror Star and still too costly to be abused but a good trump card for a last resort.