Weapon platforms don't deter sieges - they thing they're supposed to do.
They do deter standard gameplay - the thing they're not supposed to do.
In an ideal world with an engine we had the source code to, there are probably better solutions than removing them outright. Presently, I'm not convinced there are. Going to drop some facts in this thread:
- A single fighter set to cruise in a circle around a POB can completely disrupt the platforms as long as they're all aggro'd first before the battleships arrive. We currently do not have hook level access to weight target selection so that heavier ship classes are prioritized.
- AoE Solutions such as cruise disruptor platforms would affect all parties, including the defenders.
- Switching them over to pulse weapons that would be less disruptive to typical gameplay around POBs would restore the powercore of the sieging battleships via the pulse bug, effectively assisting the attackers instead.
- While it still wouldn't make them immune to their fire being drawn, balance magicking the platforms so that they can only harm caps would at least cause them to interfere less with regular gameplay, right? Wrong. Balance magic does not function on NPC weapons.
I really don't see a better solution than removing them entirely at this time, especially with the potential benefits to server load. No weapon platforms have ever impeded a concerted siege effort, but they have caused a lot of grief over the years.
