I was playing a match last night and it seemed virtually impossible to counter the orbital fighters, ION base does not seem to work. So I tried to build 4 orbital launchers as the opponent had 4 orbital frigs, tried to launch them into space only to have them shot down during flight time into orbit space. How does one counter orbital units if you can't launch anything pass the orbital fighters?
remember that the orbital layer is the newest and that it isn't finished nor is it balanced yet. Don't worry it will get better.
In theory it would be the umbrella, but if it's not working effectively then it just needs to be tweaked until it does. Think of this like your opponent having air dominance and flying over your base (picking off planes as they are built). Only way to counter this is with stationary AA.
I've been in games where orbital fighters won't attack anything even if sitting next to an enemy sat. Perhaps you had the same problem...? I'm guessing that these things just need to get ironed out. Over the next week or so I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of smoothing out of these systems.
I actually was in a game last night where my orbital fighters refused to attack anything. Lost because I had control of the entire planet but my opponent kept send orbtial fighters, radars, and orbital lasers. The fighters wouldn't attack anything even when I manually targeted them and the umbrella seemed useless randomly destoying targets without any indication that it was even shooting them. This is very much a first pass and will be ironed out. Probably sooner rather than later in the beta (but after crashes and major performance deops are ironed out) because of the new emphasis on orbital and interplanetary gameplay.
First, there should be an earlier tier orbital launcher. Second, orbital fighters should be that tier, as well as basic orbital radar to scout to new planets with. Third, umbrella should have antinuke radius. Forth, anti air should be able to target orbital fighters, orbital fighters should be air units that can attack ground, attack air, attack orbital, but be attacked by anti air. This way, any player even if behind can establish orbital foothold. Clear orbital fighters, create ownership of territory, build orbital fighters, build orbitals. Orbitals have more free roam of the land than orbital fighters, but orbital fighters can be established to defend orbitals and to take other orbitals and fighters down, while you can also take orbital fighters down with air and land.
No. Honestly, orbital cannot even be targeted or otherwise hit by 80% of units. This being said, why does orbital need high health? They can be fragile. That being said, why can't orbital fighters do really low damage? We are talking barely being a threat against aa and having the same health as air. In kerbal, this would be the concept of a space plane, though i was thinking more of a planetary combat ship the closest thing you will have to star trek style ship.
