Orphaned structures

from Sins Forums

A small change I would like to see in sins is for structures (and possibly other objects) to slowly lose HP after their "parent" has been destroyed. It would work something like strike craft that have their host destroyed in which about every second or two they loose a percent of their HP.
This could be explained away as supply, repairs, and maintenance have slowed or stopped and as a result the machines slowly breakdown.
An example that has happened to me -  I have taken a planet but do not want to waste the time clearing the remaining buildings out (as I am trying to chase down a fleet), I would like these buildings in my new grav well to slowly die.

Another scenario could be to let the above happen but if these enemy structures exist within the enemy's starbase area of effect this building could be said to have taken control of these other structure and is now the "parent" and the slow decay of the structure doesn’t occur.

Yet another option could be letting the construction frigates have a deconstruction ability to dismantle the buildings or take them over.

23,194 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

I find that these are very useful, as when the enemy takes over a planet of mine and doesn't blow up the buildings, I can still see into the gravity well.  if they're too lazy to free up those slots, then they should pay the price in the intelligence.

although this can be annoying when you grab an ally's planet just after it was razed, witht their structures still up, as you can't destroy them or use those slots.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Structures cost a substantial amount of money.  It's quite common for a planet to have more money expended in its structures than in the planet itself.  They aren't that hard to destroy, so frankly I don't think they should just disappear (even slowly) if the planet is lost.  I know people are in love with fighters, but this is what bombers are for.  Ever seen what half a dozen bombers do to structures?  Great if only for quickly destroying repair bays.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

hm... i dont agree with the structures slowly dieing, tough  a decomission ability on construction frigates would make sense

tough it is fine as it is now... this option is entirely optional

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Well, you'd still get the planet vision with ferang's suggestion, Orodum.  It just wouldn't be indefinite.  And, that's all you have to sacrifice to be able to get rid of allies' structures when you take over a planet they lost on their own.  If you just wait, their structures will just go poof.  Minus the idea of "surrogate parenting" anyway.  I'd say the only way the "surrogacy" trait should apply is when the structures are also taken over by your forces.  So, not only would you need a parent asset in the grav well, but you'd have to claim the remaining ships and structures also...otherwise they continue to degrade.  If you got no economic benefit for maintaining these items, that would simply be parasitism.

In which case, Orodum, if you were simply aquired the structures and ships, would you really spend resources to replace things you got for free?

I think that'd solve both issues.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

i like the idea of the buildings being cut off from supplies, and from that maybe the people running the buildings starve, and the buildings "die off" from lack of supplies. pretty realistic. if a base is being cut off from supplies, its going to be considerably weakened, and if the "blockade" lasted long enough, the base would be so weakened it would be easier to just kill yourselves and end it. rather a dark thought once i look back on it...but these are presumably a highly trained military group (whichever race you play) and i guess they could self destruct once things get so bad to stop the enemy from stealing their technology. technology of construction design would account for any normal buildings, research stations would blow up to protect the sacred advances they want to keep from the enemy, defense structures...would not disappear, i think. doesnt make sense. anyway, im just rambling, but i like the idea a lot. definitely something to look into.

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

at the very least i would like to see structures and ships that are cut off from a continuous supply line to have a penalty against them.

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Orodum, reply 1
I find that these are very useful, as when the enemy takes over a planet of mine and doesn't blow up the buildings, I can still see into the gravity well.  if they're too lazy to free up those slots, then they should pay the price in the intelligence.

although this can be annoying when you grab an ally's planet just after it was razed, witht their structures still up, as you can't destroy them or use those slots.
End of Orodum's quote

I agree--the game is fine as it is.  If you don't want enemy structures in the gravity well of a planet you just captured--blast them apart.

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting CenturionJixra, reply 7

I agree--the game is fine as it is.  If you don't want enemy structures in the gravity well of a planet you just captured--blast them apart.
End of CenturionJixra's quote

I'm pretty sure everyone's fine with the game as it is, but the slow dying of abandonded structures would be interesting.

As for the enemy structures in your territory...you're right...but I think the person who mentioned that was referring more to allied structures (which you can't blow up), than enemy ones (which of course you can blow up and therefore aren't a problem).  If allies are already taking up slots in a grav well you can't do anything about them as it is unless you break the alliance.