I really like the idea of Fulgora’s orbital defence, but I think it would be nice to have a way to permanently disable it after completing the Manufactory content.

For example, after unlocking the ability to craft Fulgoran defence robots, there could be one final technology like “Disable Fulgoran Orbital Defence”. Once researched, hibernation pods would stop spawning hostile robots, as if we had gained access to the defence network and shut it down.

Right now, the extra danger around Fulgora remains for the entire game even after fully completing the mod’s progression. In the late game, when players may have many platforms travelling through or waiting around Fulgora, constantly spawning extra enemies could also become an unnecessary UPS cost.

I think this would also make the Manufactory feel like it has a more meaningful permanent reward beyond just unlocking the temporary combat robot.

I like the idea, but I'm not sure how to implement it. I can't change the field of asteroids you face on each route during the game, so the hibernation pods being in orbit will always be there.

Option 1 is that I can change the force of the released defence robots from the hibernation pods to be one way allied with the player, so they won't attack you but you can still destroy them for resources. They won't attack the player, but I'll still direct them to fly towards the space platform hub to make sure they stay in player turret range.

Option 2 is that I can make it so when you destroy the hibernation pod directly, that spawns the scrap like vanilla asteroids do, or just don't spawn anything. That avoids the enemy overhead, but I want players to still be able to farm a trickle of space platform parts and holmium while in orbit.

Currently I'm leaning towards Option 1, but to be honest for a late game base there is no difference to current behaviour. Player damage and turret quality will quickly outrange the bots, so you destroy them before they have a chance to attack just like a passive bot would.

I'm open to other ideas, just not sure what else can be done. I've tried to keep the UPS overhead of this mod to a minimum as well, by using the vanilla asteroid spawning behaviours and only generating an enemy upon pod destruction.

You kill around 300 robots for every hour spent in Fulgora's orbit, netting you 3 units of holmium ore per hour... I doubt anyone has ever bothered to automate the process of destroying robots for resources, especially considering the massive output of ground-based bases.

It’s not worth the time or effort. The concept itself might not be bad, but unfortunately, it’s just not worth pursuing. That’s why I’d prefer nothing to spawn from the capsules at all, so as not to waste precious UPS.