Empire Defense

Your colonies are thriving, your technology is unparalleled, and virtually the entire galaxy holds you in high regard, but skimping on defenses has been the downfall of many empires.

Overview

This article discusses the various means to protect your empire from enemies. We will not delve into strategy and tactics — you will have your own thoughts on those subjects. Instead, this article will focus on available tools and the mechanics of using them.

Space Defenses

Ships

The main force defending your empire could be a single ship or a fleet of many ships. Ships (or fleets) have two defensive commands that, when used, will take them out of the automatic reminder system—so do not forget about those ships! The commands are:

• Guard – This command is identified with a shield symbol. A ship set to guard stays at the current location, providing a platform for scanning (primarily as an early warning system). Ships on guard will not engage other fleets.
• Block – This command is represented by a triangular symbol. A ship set to block acts the same as a ship set to guard, except that the blocking ship will attack enemy fleets at its location. This also prevents an enemy fleet from moving past your blocking ship. Blocked fleets must either attack the blocking ships, remain where they are, or retreat.

Note: Scout ships may only guard, they cannot block since they carry no weapons.

Factory Ships

These highly specialized ships have a number of functions including constructing Military Outposts and Space Surveillance Systems.

• Military Outpost – These defensive stations are constructed at wormholes as a first line of defense. These stations automatically have the Block command on at all times. These stations take multiple turns to build and until fully constructed provide no defensive benefit.
• Space Surveillance Systems – These platforms have no weapons and are permanently set on Guard. Their main advantage over Battle Stations is they are quick to construct and cheap to maintain. They provide an early warning system as their scanners can detect ships out to several parsecs.

System-Wide Defenses

At very high technology levels you can research a variety of system-wide defensive units. These defenses include:

• Jump Gate – A Jump Gate is built in orbit around a planet; only one may be built per system. This structure allows fleets to travel instantly between any of your other Jump Gates. The ability to shift fleets quickly within an empire has a huge defensive benefit.
• Warp Interdictor – This structure generates a destabilizing warp field with a radius of several parsecs. This destabilizing field causes enemy fleets to slow to a crawl—a movement rate of one parsec per turn. This can buy you valuable time to beef up defenses.

Planetary Defenses

Orbital Defenses

Your orbital defense will include your Star Base as well as ships defending the planet. A planet without any form of orbital defense will be quickly invaded or destroyed by an enemy fleet. Your Star Base and upgrades are briefly described below:

• Star Base – This unit is an armed orbital station. It is required for battleship construction. Your home planet begins the game with a Star Base already in orbit.
• Battle Station – Upgrades the Star Base into a more heavily armed platform. Scanner range is also increased.
• Star Fortress – The ultimate upgrade of either a Star Base or Battle Station. This leviathan of orbital defenses is the defensive equivalent of a Doom Star.

Ground Defenses

On the planet’s surface you may construct numerous defensive structures. Some are useful only against planetary invasion by ground troops while others can fight enemy ships in orbit. A few advanced technologies provide planetary shielding that will prevent planetary assault or orbital bombardment until the shield collapses. Some structures that can be built include:

• Marine Barracks – The basic ground defense unit used to defend against a planetary assault.
• Armor Barracks – Allows a colony to train and maintain tank battalions.
• Fighter Garrison – Initially equipped with interceptors, the garrison automatically upgrades with heavy fighters once these are researched.
• Space Academy – A specialized training facility. Although it provides no defense on its own, the advanced training it provides boosts the effectiveness of Marines.

Ground-To-Orbit (GTO)

A few structures are able to aid in orbital battles or at least provide some defense against an enemy fleet. Until the enemy can clear your skies of orbital defense units, GTO structures may fire without fear of orbital bombardment or ground assault. GTO units can include:

• Missile Base – Equipped with your most advanced missiles, these bases automatically fire on an enemy fleet in orbit. They augment your fleets and orbiting bases or, if no such units are available, they will engage as best they can until destroyed.
• Planetary Shields – These shields come in various strengths, with the most advanced blocking all orbital bombardment from impacting the surface as well as preventing planetary landings. Such a shield must be collapsed through continuous bombardment.

Diplomatic Defenses

In your dealings with the other star-faring races, you have various diplomatic options that can prevent hostilities from breaking out, bring fighting to an end, or bring allies to help your cause. Once an embassy is established, treaties that aid in defense include:

• Non-Aggression Pact – Each party agrees to not attack each other. While this does not provide free access to each other’s empires it does ensure that your ships will pass each other safely. A non-aggression pact is also the means by which a war is ended – provided the other race agrees to talk to you.
• Declare War On – You may request a treaty with another race to declare war on a third race. Defensively you may be able to get help if the other leader believes such an act can aid them as well. Sometimes the offer of a BC “advance” can help tip a wavering leader into agreeing to this declaration.

Additionally, when you manage to elevate your Disposition with a race—that race’s overall opinion of you—to a high level, an Alliance becomes possible. One benefit of this treaty is mutual aid in time of war.

 

Disclaimer: This article is based on a "work-in-progress" build of Master of Orion and the information and screenshots included are subject to change.