A few questons about darkfog

[Frost]

Does darkfog hive attack:

- Resource ships between planets?
- Rockets on the way to my dyson sphere?
- Sails orbiting
- The dyson Sphere itself?

I'm getting the impression if any of these are yes, then I'm almost forced to destroy a darkfog hive in a solar system so I can start doing the interplanetary work in that system and it not get destroyed? (and If so I get the impression I can't destroy it until I get to later science? I'm at yellow now).

Thank you in advance.

[dhitch89]

As of now, the answer to all is "No"; the only things they'll attack are Icarus, and explicit ground/space forces, if they get too close (or attack first, or the threat meter fills).

Though do be warned, if any sails/parts of a sphere are already complete, the Dark Fog hive will steal some of its energy for itself just by existing in-system.

[josmith7]

Slight clarification -- if the hive's threat meter spikes they will sent ships to attack one of the planets with either Icarus OR any ground facilities on it. That orbital bombardment is not limited purely to ground forces (at least not in the meaning of military forces/defenses) -- it'll also shoot up your miners, factory, etc.

But dhitch89 is correct that they won't attack any of the things you listed.
They also won't ever attack orbital collectors on a gas/ice giant.


(Note: it's possible that this all may change once the space/vehicle update finally gets released)

[josmith7]

Originally posted by dhitch89:

Though do be warned, if any sails/parts of a sphere are already complete, the Dark Fog hive will steal some of its energy for itself just by existing in-system.

A further warning -- while sails/parts of a sphere are already complete exist they will cause a slow but steady increase in the local space hive's threat level.

So beginning construction of a swarm or sphere will start triggered the hive to dispatch fleets to attack the planet(s) you're using in the system (triggered each time the threat level maxes out; then when the fleet finishes its attack the threat level resets to 0 and the increase begins again)

[Shiroe]

Yep, Dark Fog hasn't read up on U-boats attacking USA -> UK ships/convoys (yet)...

[Frost]

Thank you for the replies.

So if you do not destroy the hive, I assume the attacks will get worse and worse and become a bit much so you'll almost have to destroy the hive in a particular solar system you're building your sphere in?

[ThreadCarefully]

Originally posted by Shiroe:

Yep, Dark Fog hasn't read up on U-boats attacking USA -> UK ships/convoys (yet)...

The problem with this is that it would be asymmetrical, because as of now, I can't automate patrols or fleets to harass and attack hives/relays in space.

'Area denial' in DSP is implemented only on/near planets.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-access/area_denial

[Shiroe]

Originally posted by Frost:

Thank you for the replies.

So if you do not destroy the hive, I assume the attacks will get worse and worse and become a bit much so you'll almost have to destroy the hive in a particular solar system you're building your sphere in?

Yesn't?
Hive depends on bases for its matter to build with, bases depend on hive for its energy to build with. So if neither is flowing to the other side through the relays, they can only shake their fist angrily at you, since they have no club to hit with. ;)

[josmith7]

In fact one way to cripple the hive and sidestep the massive fight that killing one normally is is to
a) starve it -- by wiping out every ground base in the system and putting up shields and/or defenses to prevent them starting new ones.
b) put up anti-space defenses on each planet (missile turrets and/or plasma turrets
c) start building your sphere
d) wait for it to throw its ships away piecemeal attacking your planets

The Hive relies on ground bases (via their orbital relays) to send it the material it needs to expand and to build / replace its fleets. Without access to replacement resources it is forced to rely on its (large, but finite) stockpile of materials. So each time it has to replace a ship it uses up some of that (now) irreplaceable stockpile -- which eventually will run out.

And by starting your sphere you're forcing it to periodically send out small fractions of its fleets against your planets -- bringing them within range of your powerful turrets; which can fairly easily wipe them out.

Eventually this pattern repeats until the hive has exhausted its stockpile and then thrown away nearly all its ships against your planetary defenses -- at which point it's trivial to wipe out. (Oh, and because the planets remain protected against landing new bases even if/when a seed shows up to form a new hive that hive will remain tiny and virtually defenseless because it can't get any resources to use to grow itself or build any fleets)