v2.2 Orbital Upgrade Balance Review

This is discussing orbital upgrades. Much of my review is from previous versions that I was holding on to see if anything changed with them in v2.2.

I will use a simple scale

S - Critical building, often the crux of a strategy. Might be OP.
A - Solid building, the ideal balance level.
C - Niche building but it has a time and a place.
F - Weak building, hard to make good use of it.

• Recruiting Station - S.
  • The growth here is massive, should be an immediate use for all core worlds.
• Logistics Array - S.
  • This literally doubles your early control. The fact that this is obscured from new players can be a big impact to their play.
• Defensive Matrix - F.
  • I don't find the benefit really changes anything on the invasion side. Not worth the slot.
• Space Elevator - A.
• Orbital Research Lab - A.
• Climate Control - F.
  • 1 farm does more than this, not worth the slot.
• Colonization Station - F.
  • Not worth the slot after you have the recruitment center.
• Atmospheric Cleanser - A.
  • This one was recently buffed in 2.2, and its now rock solid.
• Sensor Array  - F.
  • Sensor's are for Starbases, and the range on this is garbage.
• Planetary Beacon - F.
  • Even for influence plays, this is just too low a bonus to be worth the slot.
• Orbital Market - C.
  • Has its uses, but can take a surprisingly long time to pay off. the loss of the central bank I felt hurt this one.
• Orbital Prison - A.
  • If you do have a crime problem this can often nip it in the bud.
• Orbital Farm - F.
  • More food is already worthless, and the cost on this thing is INSANE.

Orbital Academy and Upgrades

• Orbital Academy - S.
  • +50% HP is game changing.
• Top Gun Academy - SSS.
  • +200% HP is game warping, and its weirdly cheap for how good this is.
• Institution of War - A.
  • Solid overall bonuses, but nothing crazy.
• Conquest Center - C.
  • Its a decent bonus, but I never find conquest boosts are what I need in real wars.
• Tactical Center - C.
  • Its ok enough.