You might have guessed from the title that I am not happy with the current state of the game as it pertains to Starbases.
I as generally happy with the game play in GalCiv2 in almost all ways except for Starbase abilities and management. My big hope was for a major improvement in Starbases, their construction, abilities, usefulness and versatility. To say I am disappointed would be an understatement.
Pros:
- They are slightly easier manage
Cons:
- Military Starbases are a complete waste of time
- The exclusion zone in combination with the requirement that Starbases specialise only serves to limit the number of Starbases, without addressing the actual reason why you might want/need more than one in close proximity.
I think Starbases:
- Should be able to build any and all modules for which the appropriate tech has been unlocked
- Should incorporate space docks as an option (yes, they should be able to build their own modules)
- Should deploy a zone of control and an ability to attack any ship that enters that zone. The zone size (i.e. number of surrounding hexes) should depend on the modules incorporated into the Starbase. This would give a Starbase the ability to defend a planet.
But I ain't gonna get any of the above so I will go play SoaSE or Endless Space and wait for Gal Civ 4 