I have been thinkin recently, why is the only way to capture a plant, by bombing the heck out of it. I would think that after sending huge asteroid like missles to the surface, you would also destroy the planets population, geographic surface and natural resources, leavin the planet basically useless (Like when the covenent glassed the human colonies, leavin none alive in Halo.)
So i came up with the idea, "Why not make ships, that can send infantry, like ODST's, to the surface of the planet to kill the population and claim it. " In realy life, we dont just bomb the heck out of a country we are at war with, we also invade and take control forcibly, so why not make it for SINs.
I was personally thinking that we could make troop transports for each race, that you could send to the surface of and enemy planet/asteroid, which would engage in ground battles, decreasing the population. Of course, then there should also be some way to counter act such invasions, either by stationing ur own troops on the planet, or having the population turn into a militia, or, having a planet upgrade, like a military base. Then when an enemy invades the planet, he would need to have enough invading men to kill the militia/soldiers and then secure the planet for emidiate colonizate, while bombing the planet by capital ship, which would be faster of course then invading, would make it so colonization would be stunted, or create a timer clock until the planet can be colonized.
Personally, i think this idea will add extra gameplay and excitment, because while battleing the ships in orbit, u would also have to watch the planet on the ground, and make sure your forces can defend the planet.
For details on the Transport ships themselves, i think they should be like a Colonizer Vessle, with very low attack, but the difference i think should be that they are faster, but have weaker health, (like a bomber but not as faster, and a bit stronger) so you (as an invader) will have to distract the enemies planetary, orbital defences, while your transports make a mad dash for the surface. As a defender, with some simple microing and use of strike craft/(Interceptors if the idea makes it to the next expansion) or frigates. Of course, transport vessles should also be a one time affair, making it so once after they drop there load, they either make it so that they must go back to a carrier(if thats what they would be) or that u see them go off the planet, and dissapear, while the infantry remain on the ground battlin it out.
So baically as an overview, Unit Invasion Transports. They are like strikecraft(like bombers), but with no really attack or strength, they are a bit stronger than a bomber, but also pretty much slower. They go to the planet, and invade, slowly killin the population and colonizing the planet once all ground population is destroyed. Then, i think they sould making the planet bombing go much faster than invading, but also put a timer clock on when again the planet can be claimed, (say, 3-5 mins). Of course, the population on the planet sould beable to fight back, wether it be by infantry you have to garrison, by planet upgrade, or by the population turin into a militia, making it so the the invading troops loose there numbers as well say at a scale of mabey 3-5 millitia men to every 1 invader. So, if u have enough infantry invading, you should be able to take any planet, unless they have upgraded like infantry defense on the ground which would make it 1 invader to every 1 defender + the 1 invader to every 3-5 militia/population.
So, tell me what you think, good idea ? Bad, i wish Stardock would add this, it would be amazing, mabey for just even a mod)
(Mabey we could even make transports invade enemy capital ships or firigates, like in starwars and Halo, but that just could be with with my ranting and dreaming )