Asteaeus

Maybe it could be reasonably simple in some way, but with the current UI system there would be an unavoidably large lag between giving the load command, waiting for units to wonder over to the orbital launcher (probably need an area command to allow multiple launchers) waiting for them to one by one to produce an asters, get into the astreuas get launched and sit there waiting for this to repeat its self 100x, until your invasion fleet is finally ready. Any return trip would be the same again.

Portals are, place two portals, click, wait for units to plod through, wait till they're through, select units then attack, and even that could be streamlined, so they automatically path through portals, and dont need to wait to regroup.

Orbital does have that going for it, at least if you launch an asters to a specific point on a planet, it'll make its way there automatically.

Actually, writing this makes me understand why unit cannons could be tricky, the UI for them could be problematic in the current system.

I support an Ork Rok kind of transport.

Alphasite, your assuming the Astraeus was intended for mass transport, which I don't think was ever intended.

Imagine if the Astraeus was only for the Commander?

Mike

The Astraeus is odd as it is. A single unit transporter that is being shot into orbit just to circle slowly down to the ground to pick up a single unit. Most of the time it is better, easier and faster just to use a fabber and get a teleporter up.

A one way Astraeus would be a cheap and fast transporter... and a T2 Astraeus could also transport many units to establish a beach head... sometimes you cannot just send fabbers in to build a gate...

The unit cannon is supposed to work from low gravity to high gravity... shooting from a moon in orbit onto a planet or on the planet to another location on the same...

So, a unit canon, a one way transporter and a gate would fill different roles.

Exactly!

Mike

It feels like thats the role they're trying considering for it, since they lowered its cost again. But you're right, if it was solely for commanders, i can see why you like the idea. But they are trying to shoe horn it into the role of the unit cannon, but running into issues where you can't balance the astraeus for both roles simultaneously (i think, since a cheap astraeus becomes an amazing scout and an expensive one, leaves a massive issue with orbital assaults).

The "shoe-horning" is a very likely explanation for what's going on and it applies across many aspects on the game IMO, in particular with orbital, teleporters and the Astraeus.

Mike