Nuclear too early, too cheap or too strong?

I just started another round of galactic war, enjoying somehow that it actually makes fun, i had a super game against the 2. strongest AI, we started on 2 different planets which orbitted (is this even a word?) a bigger planet. My setup on his planet for a Portal failed, so i went for the big planet and the ressources on him, he did the same.
I was able to beat him on the big planet square n fair, we both had portals but in the end i destroyed his outpost and set up my own one.
Then, the nuclear launches started. Every minute another one incoming, and i had no choice but to see my mainplanet go to ruins. All the work for the bigger planet was useless, because i had nothing anymore to back it up, alone being able to protect it from nuclear missles.
It is okay when i lose because of stuff like this in general, but it felt like everything i archieved before in the game became useless, and i wondered if there is even a reason NOT to sit on the one planet i have and just nuking everything out of my enemy. It looks simpler, promises more effect and a lucky hit can straight forward win the game.
Building and launching nukes in general is easier than defend against them. Building those anti nuke thingies before the enemies has nukes are wasted resources, when he starts launching its too laute, and when i scout, see the launcher and start building its too late as well.
Maybe it is a mistake in my picture, and the game wants me to build anti nuke launcher the moment the first fabber comes out of my factory, to start having a solid anti nuke defense, but id be quiet surprised by that.
peace,

I really hate the nuclear weapon mechanic.

But other then that, it's only the cards that can actually make nukes OP, as they currently are, they are far too expensive to bother really using.

Halleys/catalysts cost 39k.
Nukes cost 60k.

yeah, but it changes nothing, since u need way more catalysts and halleys for start dealing dmg, while u can straight up launch the nuclear the moment its ready, and they have no weakpoints. With Halleys you sacrafice a planet, and Catalysts cant be placed anywhere, making it easier to take them out.

Hallys and catalysts annihilate at least half, and up to entire worlds with no countermeasures.

You're right on that one, but so far i have actually never seen a planet exploding, at least not in my multiplayergames, while i have nuclear missles directed at me in almost every single one

In your multiplayer games?

if people are nuking you in MP, then you really need to keep a eye out for the construction sites.

It's still too expensive.

I remember when nukes were viable in 1v1, disregarding all the huge changes in balance. They should cost at most 40k

When i play multiplayergames it is an FFA over multiple planets, not such a huge fan of 1v1s, since stategies by humans are cheesy for the most part. Some kind of comm snipe or something of that sort, just no fun playing against humans.

u wot m8.

I do not respect folks who yell cheese at folks who beat them on a consistent basis. We all do it occasionally, but saying that every player here is cheese? It's the meta. Get with the meta.

Nukes are so incredibly expensive, it's much much cheaper to build an anti-nuke.

You should probably scout more to check if they have one before starting up production on an anti-nuke. Scout often. They're cheap and fast.

I always thought that nukes are too expensive and too easily countered. If it's interplanetary, enemy can even build anti from scratch while nuke is in travel.

Y u no build antinuke?

...over every major production point every minute.

Stay cool bro, i said nothing wrong. Human enemies will abuse game mechanics in a way that is not fun to play against. You may call it some kind of strategy or meta, but in the end it is no fun to play against for me. When i play against AI, i get excactly what i want and hoped for this game - multiple fights over multiple planets.
Ofc there are maybe "normal" folks out there, who are willing to play this game how it meant to be played, but if i have the choice to play 10 games and hope for one decent one, or play 10 games and have 7+ decent ones, i choose the later.

We have different goals, then. I usually look for a challenge over the AWESOME factor.

Mhh, playing against humans is not necessary a challenge, neither is playing against AI no challenge. At least for a PA newb as i am. For example, i play SC2 online against other player only, because thats all what SC2 is about. I always thought PA is more about giving an epic feeling and providing awesome pictures, leading to nice scenarios.
I mean its okay, im just a fan of fast paced pvp games, and i would need stuff like a ranked ladder,mms, and reworked orbital to be interested.

There is also the question if the nuke is less expensive than the stuff it hits, so you don't need that many anti-nukes. The opponent is willing to hurt himself? No point in stopping him.

Agreed, too many cheesy strategies. I wish there was game mode other than commander assassination and no superweapons. But then game really needs some working tools for invasion.

Would a human player not have done the exactly same thing? Would he not have done it earlier and with much better focus on killing your commander/factories?
Starting with Hard the AI will build Nukes within the first 30 minutes of a game.
Normal will also build nukes/Anti-nukes if it is alone on a planet (allied humans seem to break that check).

Yes, Nuking the enemy is often easier then trying invasions against AI. Supporting a Allied AI via teleporter + land assault however is still slightly easier then Nuke Spam.

Even with the Eco-imbalance (A-nukes cost 1/3 of nukes) I find it so much easier then invasions. And I got the T2 fabbers for the Anti-nuke anyway, so I might as well use it.

There is no price to high to not loose. The best point to figure out when to build a Anti-Nuke is to look at the Sim Time.

No, you do not (and can not) build the nuke on the First T1 engie.
But my first T2 engie usualyl goes: T2 generators to power then T2 engies, Anti Nuke, Nuke. With the commander and some engies busy restocking the anti-nukes as they get build.