Weapon Platform Bombardment

I don;'t know how it can be done, but I do like the idea of weapons especially made to target weapon platforms. (Should be bombs and warheads I guess?)

~Myrath

IIRC the target weapon platforms only is only used in ground combat, in space combat you have to fire on the whole planet. Then there are damage types that only target spaceyards for instance...
Also, what weapons are you using? IMHO the only weapons really effective against a planet should be the ones in the Planet Bombardment research branch...

I don't see the possibility to damage only weapon platforms, but I see a way to damage only planetary cargo:

Damage Type Name := Planet cargo only
Description := Damages only planetary cargo.
Picture Number := 1
Cannot Penetrate Any Kind Of Shields := FALSE
Cannot Penetrate Any Kind Of Armor := FALSE
Number Of Vehicle Types := 0
Number of Shield Types := 0
Number of Armor Types := 0
Internal Damage Percent := 100
Facility Damage Percent := 0
Population Amount Killed Per Damage Point := 0
Crew Amount Killed Per Damage Point := 0
Is Viral Weapon := FALSE
Number Of Special Effects := 0
Number Of Requirements := 0
Number Of Abilities := 0

I did not test it, but this should avoid destroying facilities and killing population, if you give the corresponding weapon, that uses this new damage type, the only allowed target "planets".

I disagree that only planetary bombardment weapons should affect planets. Massive weapons such as the wave motion gun are, by definition, intended for massive targets.

Should beams have reduced effect on planets, yes. (due to diffusing effect of atmosphere - IF there is an atmosphere) But a beam weapon that can do several K of damage to a ship should still get some of that through to the surface, and it doesn't take much to make your typical downtown core a disaster area.

Since most colony worlds would likely be a single settlement clustered around a launchpad, with a few outlying buildings like farms and mines, it isn't too far of a stretch to consider such a massive weapon taking out a good sized chunk of the infrastructure.

Most of the small towns I've driven through, if a half dozen key buildings were blasted to rubble the town would quickly devolve into chaos. Population doesn't need to be killed to be rendered incapacitated. Without the public services a modern civilization relies on so heavily, many would starve or become so sick/malnourished as to be unproductive drags on their society rather than productive contributors. That doesn't even count the riots and other anarchy.

Without outside help, a colony in that situation may well be unable to recover or defend itself, which in game terms is the same as being wiped out. It's not like a few busloads of relief workers and a few trucks of supplies can just drive from one space colony to another. Even a little damage is serious if it can't be repaired locally.