The planet defenses.

[JetJaguar2000]

Well we're definitely discussing things internally, but I'll say one thing here: If somebody shows up with 40 cruisers and you only have 20, why shouldn't the attacker be able to one-shot the defender ? How is it fair that we say to the attacker, sorry, although you had double or triple the ATK to destroy the defenders, you have to lose 1/3 of your ships anyway.

Dummy rounds might be a possible solution. I'm also looking into some kind of early warning system that would alert the defenders when the attacker initially gives the order to fire.

I don't understand your argument. If you show up with 40 cruisers and I have 20, I shouldn't expect to inflict at least SOME damage on your fleet? Because my fleet is half yours, it's value is actually zero? That doesn't make any sense. I've never played a strategy game that works that way.

EDIT: In fact, that view is exactly why the game is screwed up now. You amass a big enough fleet, and you can just waltz through someone's empire obliterating all of their defenses without your attack force weakening it all. Not only have you taken all of their assets, but you have reduced their defensive capabilities to zero. How is that in any way sensical? Instead of deciding how many attacks you can muster before your fleet takes enough casualties to retreat, you just get to take everything. Absurd.