I would like to propose a possible solution to this predicament, and I hope to be able to elaborate on why I think this is a viable solution to the "problem".
First of all, I got this idea from how the planet stats are currently affecting the player. A player has to have at least double (in base power) for the same stat as the planet gives a bonus to in order to receive the full bonus. For example, if a player has a planet that adds to their strike action (SA) by exactly 1 billion, and they have a base SA of 2 billion, that player would get the full bonus of the planet. However, if their SA was only 1 billion, the bonus given from the same planet would only be 500 million.
Now as to my suggestion itself, I would like to propose that fleet power can only be used at its full potential if the player’s mothership (MS) has at least double the fleet strength in its offensive weaponry (or shields, or both, I just picked one that made sense to me). A player’s MS that has an offensive strength of 1 billion can only use fleets at a maximum power of 500 million, for example.
Why I think this is a viable solution to being able to “destroy” fleets (or rather, Planet Hunters):
1. It requires Planet Hunters to build a bit more than just hangars and fleets. This means they have to spend more naq on maintaining and upgrading their MS than before. More money spent elsewhere means less money goes into increasing fleet strength, and hindering Planet Hunters somewhat. To keep their MS offensive weapons safe they would also need to install MS shields. The naq keeps dwindling away
2. MS weapons can be massed. When the attack power of the MS drops below 200% of the fleet strength, the fleets begin to lose power. The weapons would then have to be replaced if the Planet Hunter wishes to perform at full capacity again, which of course drains more naq.
3. MS weapons cannot be sold. Because shields and weapons cannot be sold, a Planet Hunter would have to sit and suffer the losses, take a PPT, or go on vacation (which is very limiting now, I hear).
Things that would need to change if this was implemented, however:
1. Players would not be able to send out their MS to search for planets for 24 hours after a successful planet capture. This would prevent Planet Hunters from keeping their MS “immune” for 24 hours after a capture.
2. Some numbers. Basically fleet strength would need to be scaled upwards significantly so that the numbers are comparable with the rest of your MS weapons. If kept the way it is currently, it wouldn’t take many weapons at all to stay at full power with your fleets. Of course defense for planets would have to be scaled upwards at the same rate that fleets are.
On another note, this does allow Planet Hunters such as myself to go about what they have been doing for awhile now, albeit with much more risk. I personally love this game-style much more than general stat-building and raiding that the majority of players have been sucked into (as I had been as well, for far too long), and would hate to see it removed entirely. But I also feel that the current set-up is not acceptable. Fleets should not be immune from the wrath of an enemy.
Please correct me if my facts are skewed or even out-right wrong.
