I was having a discussion with Spud (5X Author) and Vaaish (Tactical mod author) to find a solution for static defences blueprints (star-bases, orbital batteries...).

The goal is to make them having most front-facing weapons, and fewer "sides + back"-facing weapons as we do for ships. It gives interesting strategic choices to attack/defend a planet.
But for now, the downside is that defences cannot turn-around. So if you get around the map, out-of-range of beams, and go behind defences, you receive way less damages, and it feels "too easy" without effort.

To handle it, it would be great if static defences could turn around (turning speed > 0), but still not move (speed=0).

Originally posted by Spud Dastardly:

I tried to get a drive on those defenses that would let them turn. Something about them being structures locks them off from any movement even if you do. If someone could get it working, I'd include slow turning for defenses.

Making this possible, your fleet wouldn't be able to go around the map, attacking from behind easily.
The orbital-battery would be able to lock a target at long range, but would still have trouble to lock a blitz-fleet at low range (making it strategically interesting).

Could it be done easily (as removing an "if" in the source-code), or would it be complicated ?