Originally posted by "Sotris". You know, it would be great if we had a strategic choice between nuking a planet and occupying it. Nuking would be much easier and faster, but result in a planet with zero infrastructure anf pop, and extremely low growth rates- mking it a burden to colonize and maintain. Strategic conquest, on the other hand would take more time and resources, but result in a planet with only diminished health and population (or even a level of infrastructure intact). It would make us choose between a "scortched earth" policy, and a slow advance while upgrading your economy.

As for how it could be done.... I'm not sure. Perhaps with a special ability for siege frigates, that deconstructs them while applying damage in planet health and pop (somewhat like the Migrator ability that turns it into a starbase constructor). i'm not sure whether it's possible to flip a planet's allegiance without getting its health and population to zero, though. End Quote.

Yes it would be nice to be able to capture planets. I think there needs to be balance between capturing a planet and nuking/rebuilding one. The former needs to take significant resources in terms of troop ships and time involved in a capture to balance out more time consuming and expensive nuke rebuilding effort.

But having this option would add significant depth to this game. Can it be done with the current tools?