Other than Natural Disasters I didn't think it was possible to destroy a system's natural resources (other than using the Death Star). But I just did it, unintentionally though. Playing as the Empire (virgin version, no RebEd mods), I sent a fleet to Yavin to raze the planet and teach neutral systems and empty systems a lesson if supporting the Rebellion. I used the General Bombardment to destroy all structures off the face of the planet (very Empire like I think ). When all was said & done, I noticed the system energy and raw materials status bars had become "shorter". I didn't see anything like this mentioned in the manual. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Yes this is what a general bombardment does in addition to destroying buildings. I rarely use general bombardments for this reason.-Grand Moff Conway

The trick to avoid this is simply to only use the military bombardement.

Thanks. I rarely use "general bombardment", and never in the inner core (too much negative feedback with loyalty). Usually I'll target military only, and then use sabotage to take out everything else as necessary.

Sometimes the military bombardment still resorts in collateral damage. Personally I mostly use assaults, unless a planet is dual shielded.

A technic i sometimes use is an SSD full of Commandos with which i blockade and sabotage the system.

I blockade the planet of my choice with three combat/espionage characters aboard my fleet. I use them to sabotage any planetary defenses (1 mission, 1 decoy, the third a backup incase one of the others is captured). After the defenses are down, I use military bombardment to destroy the troops. If the troops are two or less, I sabotage them instead of bombardment.

And some of you have the nerve to call yourselves imperials! General and Civilian bombardment are the way to go. There is consequence in sacrificing the general public, this is war! Besides it makes for more interesting games.

But from a strategic point of view that is a rather bad move.

I know Mad, I'm just messing around.

Sadly some imperial officres have been knowen to do it

Actually, it's a way to win the game very easily. All you need is a few fleets (preferably with a good hunk of VSDs).

 

Then, you go to the outer rim, go planet by planet and reduce them to zero energy. Who cares if they join the Alliance, they're worthless planets. The important thing is that you know 100% the headquarters can never be there, nor can anything else. Repeat over and over, devestate the entire outer rim save for a few really nice planets you like. Eventually you'll find the HQ, if it escapes, they have a lot lot less places to run. It doesn't matter that you're not colonizing the rim, becuase you're making sure they can't either.

True, but the Outer Rim is an extremely vital part of the game. You need to colonize the Outer Rim sectors to produce more mines and refineries so you can build up massive fleets with SSDs and the dreaded Death Star!!!

Pft, the game is easy enough as is without using tactics to make it easier. Scrapping stuff at the begining of the game and rebuilding makes it interesting sometimes, but it's really just a way of prolonging your victory...

Actually in all of my games as the Empire I rarely had a need to colonize and take planets in the outer rim.

But you need to colonize the Outer Rim sectors to so that you can start a massive shipyard planet and produce the Death Star II...

The outer rim really takes all its importance in Multiplayer.

Agreed. The Outer Rim is extremely essential.

Keep your opponent occupied while you build up a gigantic fleet in the outer rim... AND THEN POUNCE!!!

Yes, when playing with the computer it's really pointless since it knows where you are. When you're in an MP game, you can hide virtually anywhere as either side and amass an armada.

Thats where the game becomes really fun

Well the nice thing about an Outer Rim planet, provided you can take a planet that had a construction yard is that you can usually colonize a planet there and decide right off the bat if you should make it a mining or refining planet or a shipyard world.

 

The one thing though that irritates me to no end is the blasted hyperspace travel times if you send a building between sectors...takes forever.

I typically send a new construction yard and then let it build up 2 or 3 more advanced CY's. Then use that facility to build in that sector, in this way you only have the first big wait.-Grand Moff Conway

I agree with the Moff. I always have one huge construction yard per sector, which shaves off a lot of "shipping time". But I usually have several shipyards per sector, to help build up fleets faster...

If i can per sector I have:

1 large constuction yard

1 large shyipyard

1 large training center

and 1 or 2 fleets to defend the lot. (if i can one fleet per important planet)