Metal planets need bit more stuff

Those metal worlds are ancients weapons of the past.

But should't it also include some ancient units that you can reactivate?

Maybe like 10 ancient units from those who made the metal world.


Like Halo with the drones and the monitors etc.

Those metal planets require some efford as they mean a completly new game mechanic. They don't only act as a source of metal you can harvest, but at the same time also as a large building (or a collection of structures) which is serverly damaged and can be repaired (instead of harvesting!, partial or as whole) to make use of the acient structures like death beams, ultra efficient assembly lines or experimental grade energy reactors. It's your choice as a player if you exploit the space station (= the structures on it) for its metal or if you choose to reactivate the structures instead.

I am perfectly happy if metal planets are just this when damaged ...



... turned into this when repaired ...



... without the planet destroying capability of course.

That doesn't seem worth the 200k though, so I imagine there may be other 'death star' varieties and sizes.

Also, the thrusters initially seemed to only function to move things into or around other things. With metal 'planets', there'd be work on this feature so that the player could dictate exactly how the planet moves and where it goes, like one supermassive unit in space that orbits other bodies.

Then there's the lava planets, which could offer some unique elements themselves, again requiring more work.

EDIT

That's a good point as well. You not only get the space station, you also get the opportunity to use everything on it as well.

They could also implement some self defense systems, like units or defensive buildings of the ancient race, which reactivate themselves when you try to gain control of the station.
It would be another way to make it harder to control such a station, instead of just making it expensive to repair it.

Don't think of the whole station as a single unit. You would need to repair every piece of equipment up there before using it, part of the equipment might fit your strategie and might be worth it, other parts may not so you just harvest them for metal.

And if you have bad luck, you encounter still active defense points.

Most important question:

Can we build Metal Planets in game?

I must say I hope not. If we are that advanced, why do we still build armies and not just spam those from another system.

Also, They should be properly rare.

:idea: What if the units found on the metal planets were TA units......?

Love this!

Oh man to think being able to reactivate a few Pee-Wees...

:geek: They were my favorite unit.

I get the feeling that the CORE would be more into metal worlds.

That said, it'd be cool to re-activate a battalion of long-forgotten robo-tanks or robo-infantry as part of a defensive trap against an invader.

It doesn't just need to be units. I imagine an array of Intimidators/Berthas would be pretty sweet as well to bring back into action. Although, you'd think the current technology would have had long enough to become perfect, making the 'ancient' technology useless.

But then again, we're not shooting for realism, we're shooting for awesome.

All of this stuff sounds really one-time, and really gimmicky.

I would like seeing some wrecks of TA units as an homage, though all you could do is reclaim them for metal.