Why can't we use others' wormhole stations?

[scaper12123]

The Problem is warfare. I just recently ran a Wormhole only game and I noticed the issue. Let us asume 3 Empires: A, B and C.

A and C both are a peace with B. But A and C are at war.
A and C share access to B's Wormhole stations.
Either side now has a set of Wormhole stations that can not be destroyed. Destructible stations is a core balance idea behind Wormhole.

That is why we do not share access with others:
We would either create undistructible stations, wich is a balance issue for Wormhole.
Or get our stations destroyed as part of a war we are not part of.

And that is before we consider stuff like another fleet having a station in use when we wanted to use it.

This is actually something that's worth thinking about, and I think at the core the aspect of A and C being at war but using B's wormhole stations as a medium of transport is a pretty good circumstance.

Think of it this way: B willingly, voluntarily gave wormhole access to A and C. As a consequence, it allowed itself to become a vector through which warfare happens. This is actually an interesting situation that adds some real depth to this idea. Yes, those wormhole stations can't be destroyed, but that issue goes both ways: you can't stop your enemy from traveling to your space now, but they can't stop you either. This is really not very different from how hyperspace and warp travel work anyhow albeit with the consideration of where they're coming from (which was still an issue anyhow).

 

[The Founder]

Yes, those wormhole stations can't be destroyed, but that issue goes both ways: you can't stop your enemy from traveling to your space now, but they can't stop you either.

What if A is not a Womrhole empire? Only B and C are?
C would have a workaround for a intentional, core limitation of it's drive System. As fundamental as Warp without Spindown or hyperlane not needing to worry about lanes.

And of course, the AI can not do a meaningfull decision for or against it either.

 

[scaper12123]

What if A is not a Womrhole empire? Only B and C are?
C would have a workaround for a intentional, core limitation of it's drive System. As fundamental as Warp without Spindown or hyperlane not needing to worry about lanes.

And of course, the AI can not do a meaningfull decision for or against it either.

It's also true that one empire in the mix could lack wormhole drives to take advantage of their ally's system, but you need to consider that this would factor into any decision over whether to engage in war. If you didn't think you could handle an enemy when they could use their ally's wormhole network to get to you, you'd have to account for that, or you might not even know and then get screwed because you didn't investigate your enemy's resources well enough. Or it could be the other way around and you could screw an opponent over because YOU'RE the one with the borrowed wormhole network, ect ect ect.

 

[The Founder]

It's also true that one empire in the mix could lack wormhole drives to take advantage of their ally's system, but you need to consider that this would factor into any decision over whether to engage in war. If you didn't think you could handle an enemy when they could use their ally's wormhole network to get to you, you'd have to account for that, or you might not even know and then get screwed because you didn't investigate your enemy's resources well enough. Or it could be the other way around and you could screw an opponent over because YOU'RE the one with the borrowed wormhole network, ect ect ect.

That was specific for your "it will even out" example.
If the other guy was an ally, they would be dragged into the war and thier stations would be destructible. This was about case of him not being an ally of the other side.
With Federations it might be possible.
Defense pacts will still run into the issue as they can be a meshed net (where you end up fighting wars against your Defense Pact allies).

And it still has this problem:
"And that is before we consider stuff like another fleet having a station in use when we wanted to use it."
Beside everything else mentioned in this thread.

 

[Bryartuck]

Because I am not stupid enough to make the password for using the Wormhole Stations simple be "password".

Especially of your password is: password.

No. The correct password is 12345.