Why you do dis

[BlackUmbrellas]

Barely. The Devs whole justification for having them be automatically open was so that it didn't impede exploration or in-progress quest-lines once the player inevitably finds themselves boxed in by their neighbors.

Well... That's kind of a pointless gesture when you can't discover any anomalies, including the variety that many in-progress questlines require for completion, in space owned by another player anyway. The problem is almost exactly the same as before.

Not really?

I've had plenty of cases where I went through a neighbour to explore empty space on the other side of 'em.

 

[gathomas88]

Not really?

I've had plenty of cases where I went through a neighbour to explore empty space on the other side of 'em.

OP's dilemma is a pretty blatant demonstration of why that's insufficient to actually address the gameplay issues the Devs claimed they wanted to fix.

 

[GloatingSwine]

There are downsides in these specific cases, but it's hyperbole to say that it makes open borders "useless". (OP's case wasn't even open borders, it was solved with a good old fashioned war, and would have been fine if he'd left the scan for after the war.)

It does impact auto explore though, because the auto explore does not know about this and will happily drive into occupied space to scan planets for no anomalies.

 

[gathomas88]

There are downsides in these specific cases, but it's hyperbole to say that it makes open borders "useless". (OP's case wasn't even open borders, it was solved with a good old fashioned war, and would have been fine if he'd left the scan for after the war.)

It does impact auto explore though, because the auto explore does not know about this and will happily drive into occupied space to scan planets for no anomalies.

I'll grant you that there are some minor strategic uses to open borders. However, the fact of the matter is that the current model with regards to anomalies just doesn't even make sense. If you have access to an area of space, you should be able to fully explore what's there.

I mean... Really, the fact that it needs to be explained that you actually CAN'T do that (as it was to the OP) really speaks volumes in this regard. It's simply counter-intuitive and illogically "gamey."

In real life, after all, American scientists can study phenomena in Japanese or European waters, and vice-versa. There's no reason why it shouldn't be the same here.

Hell! It'd even lend credance to those events which pop up every once in a while where the AI closes its borders to the player because they're worried about your scientists "stealing secrets."

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

Ill grant you that there are some minor strategic uses to open borders.

Researching anomalies is probably one of the least tactically useful thing about open borders- having open borders allows you to more effectively project force, attacking empires beyond your direct surroundings.

 

[gathomas88]

Researching anomalies is probably one of the least tactically useful thing about open borders- having open borders allows you to more effectively project force, attacking empires beyond your direct surroundings.

Studying anomalies and finishing quests is almost literally the only reason I'd even care about having open borders in the first place. For that matter, other than lending a hand to another player on a different side of the galaxy during an end-game crisis, or something, why on Earth would you attack an empire beyond your immediate surroundings when you can just conquer the ones right next you? Lol

Either way, the current mecahnic with regard to anomalies behind borders is plainly stupid.

 

[Lightzenon]

Studying anomalies and finishing quests is almost literally the only reason I'd even care about having open borders in the first place. For that matter, other than an end-game crisis, or something, why on Earth would you attack an empire beyond your immediate surroundings when you can just conquer the ones right next you? Lol

Either way, the current mecahnic with regard to anomalies behind borders is plainly stupid.

Funny enough i have to disagree. Open borders was strategically necessary in this playthrough when the other fallen empire awoke and started conquering their neighbours. It was also the only reason why i even won the battle against them in the first place, which was possible when they had split their 200k fleet whilst invading another empire which i had open borders with.

Not to mention the scourge too.

 

[gathomas88]

Funny enough i have to disagree. Open borders was strategically necessary in this playthrough when the other fallen empire awoke and started conquering their neighbours. It was also the only reason why i even won the battle against them, which took place when they had split their 200k fleet whilst invading another empire which i had open borders with.

Not to mention the scourge too.

Which is basically what I said; it's potentially useful for endgame crises and other things of that nature. Other than that, however, I pretty much stick to my little corner of the galaxy and turtle/gradually blob.

Either way.... This is all besides my original point. Having the game spawn anomalies and quest events in non-player empire space, and then making it so that the player can't access those anomalies or events without an outright war of conquest, even if the other empire is willing to give them free access, is just needlessly obtuse design.

 

[BlackUmbrellas]

Which is basically what I said; it's potentially useful for endgame crises and other things of that nature. Other than that, however, I pretty much stick to my little corner of the galaxy and turtle/gradually blob.

Which is far from the only way to play the game- I've pretty regularly waged wars halfway across the galaxy.

 

[Elothan]

I often tend to box in troublesome neighbours, FE's. Nice to keep them from blobbing to much.