I think you don't realize what the installations are for. SAMs are *not* meant to protect a base, they're to provide fire support in areas where base weapons don't reach.
I agree with geever.
Okie, back after trying out the latest 22900+ series SVN. Well, actually i am beginning to wonder what installations are for already.....
Exploring international models for sites / installations, i realised that they are to either provide skeletally:
1) Close to base support.
2) Off-site storage
3) Supply lines
4) Early warning systems
5) Offensive Systems
Hence, we take this model and look at our game:
1) Close to base support - I feel that this should be some sort of missile network, much like US' missile defense net -> Which makes sense and onli feasible if there are X nos of Anti-missile missile sites. For us here, missiles would be UFOs, and the Anti missile missile (patriot missile) would be our sam sites. Whilst we cant have 100 installations, u cannot implement any sensible missile net for 8 bases (the max) w/o having at least 3 - 4 sam sites. UNLESS......
1a) Each sam sites has the functionality to install > 1 sam battery. Eg, 8 would be nice. And the range increased. Or, set a sam sites with multiple points......
2) Off-site storage.... well, we already have decided in this game to have in base storage, hence i dun thnk i wanna continue this point.... though for real life, we do have ammo depots and stuff....
3) Supply lines - same....as point 2. We already have many discussions of off base airports / sites and stuff..... so, i stand by the decisions of the developers to keep UFOs at UFO yards, and interceptors and transports in base. Dun raise anymore futile discussions on this too. lol
4) Early Warning Systems - I thnk implementation on the way with the off-site installation of radar towers..... Though to cover the whole earth with 1 or 2 bases would be impossible with the current installation limit. Hence, i am pushing for the increase of this cap.
5) Offensive System. Here's a good thought on why i am pushing for limits too.... imagine, your earth is now covered with radars..... bases and vicinity covered with Sam supports (hence nearly not penetrable - though bigger UFOs will get thru), and then u discover a well, Alien Base. Yet, its so advanced that u cannot take it yet with your team. And still you want to shoot down every other probe that flies out of it.... what will u do?
I will build some sam sites around, ALOT of em in fact, getting interceptors in the vicinity always to "SUPERVISE" the work, in case UFOs come by and disturb. Then whala! When done, it becomes a siege...... lol. What do u folks thnk?
I dun push stuff and ideas w/o thinking ......