Master of Orion 2

[Delance]

Stellar Convertors are a great normal weapon. And have a cool name, too.

About blowing up and rebuilding, it depends on the game. If you are on a hard game on a huge galaxy but completely outnumbered on a small corner by larger empires, you might want to maximise whatever resources you have. One neat thing about MOO2 is that the worse you are going on a game, the more fun the game is, for as long as you are not simply being wiped out.

 

[hurleybird]

While true that it's not just "snap your fingers and *poof* instantly developed planet", and that if you've survived to SC tech you're probably not that far from winning outright, it is a nice option for absolutely and completely burying an opponent. (The animation of the planet kill is amusing, too. )

As for being wasted as a normal weapon, not so, in my experience. SCs do wonders for punching out planetary defenses quickly (especially important when your opponent has an SC of his own installed on the assaulted planet), or knock out a Titan or lower (though somewhat overkill below titan) in one shot, if the target planet is lacking defenses it's vital to kill quickly (really, a fighter base is not that big a worry, even if they have particle cannon tech). A doomstar with an SC and some other, normal weapons will cover a lot of territory.

Yeah, SC's are good for anti-planet but that's about it IMHO. There are far, far better anti ship weapons.

 

[Delance]

Yeah, SC's are good for anti-planet but that's about it IMHO. There are far, far better anti ship weapons.

Stellar Converters have some great advantages. They have unlimited range, 360o fire arc, no dissipation, and are enveloping. And since they are not beam weapons, they avoid defenses like the displacement device.

And it allows the player to show up with a few dozen behemoths on downtown Antares.

 

[Zelvik]

Sure but for breaking up a massive fleet of enemy ships loads of Disruptors or Plasmas just give you the decisive punch you miss out with SCs. No need for envelopement when your first shot just fries their frontshield and shreds the ship apart.