Superweapons
In Empyrean Frontier, each faction has the ability to build a superweapon in the very late stages of the game. The Interstellar Union's superweapon takes the form of a gigantic missile capable of dealing massive area of effect damage and breaking through even the strongest fortifications.
Like the Empire's Super Laser, the Super Missile has two different attack modes to choose from. The Cluster Missile deals area of effect damage over a single large area of space, while the FTL Missile deals higher damage along a single line.
Cluster Missile:
When cluster missile mode is activated, the super missile loads 24 smaller rockets onto the front of the main missile and accelerates towards the target area. Once the missile reaches the target, the main rocket self-destructs and the cluster missiles split off and explode over a large area of space.
FTL Missile:
The second superweapon setting functions much like the empire's super laser, dealing heavy damage in a straight line. When this mode is activated, the missile accelerates to light speed, annihilating anything in it's path, even large moons.
My goal in designing the new superweapon was to create a weapon that was different enough to distinguish itself from the existing superlaser while fulfilling roughly the same role in the game. The Union's cluster missile and the superlaser's wide beam mode are both intended to be used against large groups of enemy units, although they differ in how they apply their damage. The superlaser can technically achieve a larger area of effect if units are lined up and it's more difficult to dodge, however, the cluster missile's damage is concentrated over a single large area, making it more useful in actual gameplay for destroying a single clump of units. The secondary modes for each of the superweapons (FTL missile / concentrated laser beam) are essentially the same ability, just with different visual effects. Since this ability is the only way to destroy colonized moons, and given the importance of those moons in the lategame, I figured the fairest way was to give both factions the same tool.
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