The only thing that would prevent noob stomping is to simply not allow it, then you're stuck with trying to figure out where to draw the line. If that's where you want to go, I have no issue with it, I would rather find more interesting solutions though.
If it's the big gun you're worried about why don't we give it some trade offs like a longer charge up time. Starkiller Base took about 20 minutes to charge, the Deathstar about 3 minutes I think. We could have our capital weapons take a few seconds to a minute or more depending on the strength. Heavier weapons would also require massive power to operate and fitting one on the ship would come as a serious trade off to some other things like speed and maneuverability.
I'm thinking that if a noob with a starter planet is being attacked it's either a neighbor stretching their new found wings or they were unfortunate enough to spawn too close to a belligerent larger neighbor, or there is a large expansionist empire eating it's way thru the sector. The first scenario is hard to guard against as it's usually random. But in the other two there is the assumption that one or more nearby systems have already been taken by them. Maybe we could have the noob get visited by some refugees who happen to have a fully stocked colony ship who are offering to take them somewhere else.
The tutorial could be expanded to teach players the importance of building different defenses and having reliable power to run it all and how command structures can multiply it's effectiveness. Then at least the newbie can start with something they can build on.
If I were to weigh in on the morale debate I'd say bring it back, then we can use espionage to manipulate it.
If it's the big gun you're worried about why don't we give it some trade offs like a longer charge up time. Starkiller Base took about 20 minutes to charge, the Deathstar about 3 minutes I think. We could have our capital weapons take a few seconds to a minute or more depending on the strength. Heavier weapons would also require massive power to operate and fitting one on the ship would come as a serious trade off to some other things like speed and maneuverability.
I'm thinking that if a noob with a starter planet is being attacked it's either a neighbor stretching their new found wings or they were unfortunate enough to spawn too close to a belligerent larger neighbor, or there is a large expansionist empire eating it's way thru the sector. The first scenario is hard to guard against as it's usually random. But in the other two there is the assumption that one or more nearby systems have already been taken by them. Maybe we could have the noob get visited by some refugees who happen to have a fully stocked colony ship who are offering to take them somewhere else.
The tutorial could be expanded to teach players the importance of building different defenses and having reliable power to run it all and how command structures can multiply it's effectiveness. Then at least the newbie can start with something they can build on.
If I were to weigh in on the morale debate I'd say bring it back, then we can use espionage to manipulate it.
I plan on living forever ..so far so good!