Alliance: Ship Vision vs. Planet Vision.

Any real difference?

from Sins Forums
Checking out the alliance options, I came across two that seemed so... identical. The ship vision and the planet vision alliances seem to offer little difference between each other. Wherever you have planets you have ships. If you have ships out on missions, I suppose you'd get to see a bit more. Is there some distinction between these two treaties that makes the difference at all worth it?
15,107 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
If you can see where the ally's ships are, then you don't really need to see what their planets have. You can probably have a good guess that they won't have anything there. So I don't see the point between them.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Wherever you have planets you have ships.
End of quote


But this is not always true :P
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Does the ship vision extend to the small ships that builds things in your planetary system or does it only convey ship vision for combat ships? I'm at work and can't check.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
It doesn't work on construction frigates :P
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Aye, so there is the difference. Thanks Annatar!

So planet vision not only conveys where the planets are, which is helpful, but will also show what is built there, which is critical when you are about to break your alliance and drop bombs on their heads ;)
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Sure, the difference is subtle. But knowing the ship data or the planet data gives a decisive tactical advantage, either way. Either you know where his fleet is, so you can hit the weak point, or you can see if he has any defenses at home... so you can hit the weak point.

If there is a single factory in the back, then any ship produced will give up to date info on the territory. Or, a roving scout will do it. If his planets are under attack, chances are there will be ships there to provide you vision anyway. I find it hard to believe that you can have a vision alliance without also having a cease fire which lets scouts through.

Vision is vision, and both are pretty much tactically equal for the purposes of backstabbing. Surely they're split up for a good reason, so are there any vital differences, for a serious game?
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Well, on larger maps (which is what I tend to play), ship vision is only going to show you my border worlds. As my empire expands so too does my ship-building capacity. After the early game, I won't be producing any more ships at any of my core worlds (unless something catastrophic happens at one of my border worlds). As I expand I plop down a frigate factory (or two or three).

So ship vision would not grant planet vision of my core worlds after my initial expansion. And if I'm on the hunt, and don't have any standing fleets at my own worlds, won't provide any planetary visions at all.

The difference is subtle. Is it a game-winner or game-breaker? I don't think so.