Quoting MayallCommunion, reply 54I think they should add a warning time of four seconds. Put it in the infopanel where it will say "Wail of the Sacrificed is being used". If you zoom out to see all the planets, maybe the planet with Wail can have a purple glow(ping?) around it. This would give the TEC time to react with Armistice. So far the known counters to wail are.
Armistice, Novalith for the TEC. Thats not to unreasonable. And then the other counters are for the Vasari(I only theory Crafted this I have no idea) the Kostura Cannon would allow you to phase jump towards the planet that has the Temple of Communion(assuming it is not connected to another High Pop. world). Also has anyone tested to see how armor/shield mitigation works against Wail.
You really think that in four seconds you can:
A: Target the planet with the temple about to fire of WotS
B: Kostura that planet
C: Phase jump to that planet
D: Take out the Temple
All in four seconds? You'd need 5 minutes! And the heck with giving ya'll 5 min warnings!
End of Fyrstar2002's quote
You misunderstood mayal's post. The 4 second warnign would only be to turn armistice into a valid counter.
Kostura is already a valid counter, albiet one that requires you to anticipate the danger of Wail. Kostura can disable the orbital structures around a planet for 3 minute- that means even if you don't send a fleet you can use it to prevent a planet from Wailing for 3 minutes. The idea is it's a preventative counter if you plan ahead- not one that would make the opponent sacrifice their population for no benefit because of the 4 second proposed warning.
Also keep in mind that a planet's Wail doesn't damage enemy ships "at ground zero" in the planet's own well(It only damages ships in adjacent wells). This means Kostura can be used to jump past the threatened area directly to the high pop world which may then be invaded. Of course this only works if there isn't a second adjacent high population world.