I think yes. At least as soon as starbases being built (which would be late game anyway). But then you might need to modify your fleet to crack this thing (providing you can't jump around this bottleneck). Or you'll have to reroute your attacks.

IMHO, if you play online/LAN long enough to build starbases the additional amount of time needed to complete a game doesn't matter anymore

Frankly my dear I don't give a damn.

As long as it adds defensive deapth to the game. Makes for a more complete space rts experiance.

Just for you short gamers. It's not going anywhere. The short game will still be around only more interesting. So need not worry eh!

The new defenses might lengthen games -- or the ability to free up ships and resources to the offensive might help shorten it, by making it more difficult for 'underdogs' to dig their way out of a hole.

Hey!

Stay on topic you silly lot  

how do you get all your kostura cannons to fire at once?

Good question...

Also, would all Entrenchment elements be part of the "late game" so to speak or will we be able to use some or most of expansion pack add-ons from the start?

But anyway - main question still remains!!!

Will Entrenchment make online MP games even longer as they are now???

I feel like bit of a Hamlet over here - but hey

Sure...

But how about mines and other stuff?

And I would really LOVE to hear word from either IC or SD in regards to game length... 

What are initial tests showing in lets say classic 2v2 - 1 star - 20 planets scenario... Rough average on map like this is about hour and half or there about (at least according to my experience) will we be looking at any difference in regards to this average time?

In balanced game where both sides end up with star bases and other defensive stuff will this push average game length to some obscure numbers or perhaps not...

I find this rather important to be honest!

i would like to hope that at least some of the defensive upgrades would be available ealry and mid game and not just late game... like you could upgrade your factories and basic defenses right near the start or atleast upgrade them a bit and then upgrade more as you progress through the game.... but we'll just have to wait and see i guess...

I would not think it would extend the length of games. you would pour as many resources into a starbase as a sizeable defence fleet, so not much new there. So, you might have The Bloody Death Star in your back yard but in order to do that, thats one less fleet you have working for you, meaning your chances to expand and redeploy to defend your fringe worlds diminishes.

yes, games will be longer, unless you're playing a 1v1 and the other player lrm or assailant spams you.

Entrenchment will make it nearly impossible for anyone to rush a person and live to tell the tale. The starbases force players to build supermassive fleets to take down a planet/gravwell and their starbase. This brings turtling back to the table and will allow for epicly decisive ship-to-ship or ship-to-base battles. of course, they might have to change the firepower of most ships to make it so that a massive fleet could actually stand up to a starbase with defenses.

TEC will pwn!!

Can't say much about the duration of games. A lot will come down to how the beta goes. We'll adapt based on feedback. However, in reference to other comments: the Kostura Cannon has been redesigned and IMO is much cooler and useful.

-Blair

I started a map that had a whole bunch of reasearch station already under player control when I started the game. The game progressed extreamly fast. That would decreace game time dramatically on most games played.