Did a quick search before I posted, but didnt go all the way back so please bear with me if I happen to be repeating something someone else has said before.
With the new patch, and the mechanics that come with it, such as clear orbital stations and fleets that stick around in a planets orbit to do whatever, I was wondering what the community thought about having a different - not widely different - kind of battle that would take place within a certain distance of a planet, such as the radius at which fleets currently orbit or something like that.
The thing I noticed is that, when engaging these fleets or similar fast pickets and stuff as you approach a planet, it becomes a little weird. Suddenly there are these nebula out of nowhere that somehow pop up in high-orbit, slowing your ships and stuff, and communications relays, sensor bouys, and nav points that arent in any particular ownership. It strikes me that, above Jangala, for example, the Hegemony forces don't bother to deploy some of their own sensor relays or whatever that can clearly be seen in battle. Also, asteroids. Why are there asteroids?
My thought was that perhaps there could be some mechanic where fighting in the orbit of the planet would have different effects on ones ships. Instead of nebulas, it could be that the planet's atmosphere (though I do believe there isnt actually an effect when you're that high up), shortens the range of weapons, or dampens lateral motion like the nebulas do. Instead of asteroids, it could be random space junk that has accumulated over the years, especially over industrialised planets. Perhaps the planetary guns or orbital station defenses could play a role in the battle, especially when fighting faction fleets. Perhaps the specific characteristics of the planet could change the battle, like how fighting when over an asteroid field does.
I'm not quite sure how difficult this would be to implement, but I just thought I'd post my thoughts. Also, I hate nebulas.
