PlanetWars attack
Contents
Attacking and Defending
A large part of PlanetWars is attacking and defending planets by playing 2v2 or 3v3 Zero-K battles. A successful attack brings the attacking faction closer to gaining control of the planet.
Initiating an Attack
There is a tab in Chobby called Planetwars. Initially you are presented with a choice of two planets to attack. These planets are automatically recommended but are not necessarily the best targets. If you want to attack a particular planet click on the planet on the main page and click the "ATTACK PLANET" link. This link will add a button to attack that planet to the PlanetWars tab and automatically sign you up for the battle. Any adjacent planet or planet with dropships can be targeted for an attack in this way.
Each button in the Planetwars tab contains the name of a planet, an indication of how many players have signed up to attack that planet and the required number of players to start the battle. Click a button to sign up for a battle to attack that planet.
After enough players have signed up, the tab will show the time in which the other factions's players need to sign up to defend the planet (see below).
Players are able to sign up to attack or defend while already in a game but will be kicked from their current game when the battle that they signed up for begins. So be warned, do not sign up for a game and then play another if you do not want your game to end abruptly.
Responding to a Challenge
A battle requires players from both the attacking and defending factions. The attacking players are determined by the process of initiating the attack the defenders are determined by responding to the challenge that attack creates. Signing up to defend is much like attacking. The battle begins when the required number of defenders sign up.
Players of the defending faction have a specific time to sign up for defense and the remaining time is shown in the tab. If by the end of this time, the defending team has one player less than the required number of players a battle will start with uneven teams. This can cause 2v1 or 3v2 battles to occur. In this case one player on the defending team will receive two commanders.
If the defending team has more than one player less than required, the battle is automatically lost.
For more details on Influence and capturing planets see the [ManualPlanetWarsInfluence Influence page]. For turn and initiative mechanics see the [ManualPlanetWarsTurn turn page].
Fighting the Battle
For the most part the battle is an ordinary Zero-K game. There are no bonuses at the galactic level which give one side of the battle any advantage. The difference between normal Zero-K games and PlanetWars battles is in the optional objectives.
Each side has a Command Center. These structures affect how much Influence the attackers will gain from the battle. If you lose a battle but manage to destroy your opponents Command Center then the outcome is better than if you had just lost. Similarly if you are win a battle then it is much better to win with your Command Center intact. It is a good strategy to try to kill your opponent's Command Center just in case you lose.
Battles can contain more than just the Command Centers. Most of the infrastructure present on a planet will appear in the battle as well. Any infrastructure destroyed in a battle will be disabled for several turns. If the attacker wins the battle then all infrastructure is automatically disabled. So, as an attacker, consider destroying infrastructure if it looks like you may lose and if defending make sure to defend or evacuate vital assets.