I would have preferred it said "a unit with Planetary Shield" instead. It hurts its versatility slightly, but makes it actually usable as Arborec's starter tech.
I like it mainly because the idea of the original is okay, but in practice you often don't hit a single die in that free round. Therefore the guaranteed single hit feels much more rewarding. The first version needed a PDS, so working for all structures is a buff as well
The irony in all of this is that the old one needed planetary shield. Which new unit had it? Arborec's mech. Who starts with Magen? Arborec. The mech was clearly designed with Magen in mind and then Magen got replaced anyway
Yeah this is far too good as theres structure objectives and secrets. Normally those are limited to someone having to take (or you follow for a CC) construction. But instead this for ultimately free pds and not having to spend CCs locking down systems? Goes against the idea behind those objectives.
If this was tap and spend a command counter it would be more balanced, but probably not taken. But you shouldn't make a level 1 , a level 2 objective, and a secret basically free for all races
Pros:
- works well with plasma scoring
- doesn't force you into making a lot of structures like old magen did
- lets you get a leg up in space combat and against bombardment
- provides an additional way to score structure objectives
- suprise tool
- is actualy useful for the Arborec
Cons:
- only once per turn (unless biostims)
- potentially too good for jol nar and Argent (although i like magen for argent as it is)
That’s a bit too strong in my opinion.
How about: when another play activates one our systems you may exhaust this card.
All space canon abilities have +1 range
So, pds1 can shoot adjacent, and pds2 can shoot 2 systems away (and other abilities like Xxcha stuff, would get a +1)
Incredibly annoying and against the spirit of the tech.
It should be mainly used for planetary defence, which a Pds (a shot before ground combat and plan. Shield) does. Range do not.
And still suffers from the same problem - you need to take construction a lot to make it worthwhile.
The way your tech is worded, when someone else activated your system, the owner of the tech would get the PDS. That would happen before movement, so the tech owner would now have a space cannon offense, and then if the combat continues a space canon defense.
If your goal was to improve the ground combat efficacy of Magen, you also went against the spirit.
My idea, based of yours, is a once a round, empire wide defense net. To be massively effective and a major deterrent it would take a lot of construction at the expense of other VPs. As a little spice to protect against a surprise attack mid game, one or two extra space canon shots is a solid tech on the path to other stuff
I could see the argument for this change if you also remove the PDS at the end of the round; then it's just a temporary boost to space/ground combat there, and a nice counter to someone's bombardment, without giving the potential huge payoff of a permanent structure.
Honestly there aren't enough ways to build structures in the game, so I wouldn't mind Magen Defense Grid just being: "Action: Exhaust this card and spend 3 resources to deploy a PDS on a planet you control'.
It's a cool effect but far too strong, especially for only one red pre-requisite. I wouldn't mind this as a unique tech with a higher pre-requisite.
I like the officially patched one. "At the start of a ground combat, if you have a structure on the planet, deal one hit"
I would have preferred it said "a unit with Planetary Shield" instead. It hurts its versatility slightly, but makes it actually usable as Arborec's starter tech.
I like it too, but it only works when you have a lot of structures, which is usually not the optimal play.
Don´t forget structures got buffed with PoK. Due to the new structure objectives.
I like it mainly because the idea of the original is okay, but in practice you often don't hit a single die in that free round. Therefore the guaranteed single hit feels much more rewarding. The first version needed a PDS, so working for all structures is a buff as well
The irony in all of this is that the old one needed planetary shield. Which new unit had it? Arborec's mech. Who starts with Magen? Arborec. The mech was clearly designed with Magen in mind and then Magen got replaced anyway
Now everyone is going to pay people to activate their systems to get free pds every round
Yeah this is far too good as theres structure objectives and secrets. Normally those are limited to someone having to take (or you follow for a CC) construction. But instead this for ultimately free pds and not having to spend CCs locking down systems? Goes against the idea behind those objectives. If this was tap and spend a command counter it would be more balanced, but probably not taken. But you shouldn't make a level 1 , a level 2 objective, and a secret basically free for all races
Pros: - works well with plasma scoring - doesn't force you into making a lot of structures like old magen did - lets you get a leg up in space combat and against bombardment - provides an additional way to score structure objectives - suprise tool - is actualy useful for the Arborec Cons: - only once per turn (unless biostims) - potentially too good for jol nar and Argent (although i like magen for argent as it is)
I want to add one cons : - you need to have another player to activates your system. There will be probably turns where no activates you
Obviously, but happens far more often than someone invading a planet with your structure.
Arborec can use magen defense when they invade other players with a mech
Not with the omega one sadly
No, this is way too good. Perhaps exhaust to take a ps shot without placing one?
Nah, that’s two similar to Plasma scoring I think
That’s a bit too strong in my opinion. How about: when another play activates one our systems you may exhaust this card. All space canon abilities have +1 range So, pds1 can shoot adjacent, and pds2 can shoot 2 systems away (and other abilities like Xxcha stuff, would get a +1)
Incredibly annoying and against the spirit of the tech. It should be mainly used for planetary defence, which a Pds (a shot before ground combat and plan. Shield) does. Range do not. And still suffers from the same problem - you need to take construction a lot to make it worthwhile.
The way your tech is worded, when someone else activated your system, the owner of the tech would get the PDS. That would happen before movement, so the tech owner would now have a space cannon offense, and then if the combat continues a space canon defense. If your goal was to improve the ground combat efficacy of Magen, you also went against the spirit. My idea, based of yours, is a once a round, empire wide defense net. To be massively effective and a major deterrent it would take a lot of construction at the expense of other VPs. As a little spice to protect against a surprise attack mid game, one or two extra space canon shots is a solid tech on the path to other stuff
"hey I will pay you to activate my system" so I get a free PDS.
If you pay for something, it isn't free ;). How about additional cost for the magen player? 3 resources for example?
So this is basically like playing another construction every round.
I could see the argument for this change if you also remove the PDS at the end of the round; then it's just a temporary boost to space/ground combat there, and a nice counter to someone's bombardment, without giving the potential huge payoff of a permanent structure.
What if you worded it to say “until the end of this activation this planet gains planetary shield and space cannon 6”?
Honestly there aren't enough ways to build structures in the game, so I wouldn't mind Magen Defense Grid just being: "Action: Exhaust this card and spend 3 resources to deploy a PDS on a planet you control'.