We're discussing alternatives for the 1 scout defense over on the
Google Group. My two ideas:
1. If in the course of invading a system, an attackers fleet wipes out a defending fleet, they should immediately get to begin planetary assault during the same COMBAT turn. That way there is no guarantee of victory by either the invader (who still has to get the system to capitulate) or the defender (who can still use each turn they're alive to build more ships, send in reinforcements, activate planetary defense, etc).
OR
2. Rather than counting a system's defending fleets and the planetary bombardment as separate battles (which doesn't make much sense anyway), count them as ONE big battle in which the Invader pitches his fleets against the defender's fleets & planetary defenses. Defending fleets lower the capitulation chance (the stronger the fleet, the lower the chance) for the system to capitulate. Or maybe the capitulation should be lowered to 0% (or halved?) while the planet has active fleets defending it.
Which one do you prefer?