Nuclear weapons IN SPACE!

[Voren]

Originally Posted by Dangerious P. Cats

More to the point how can you make "I just nuke them" not a viable option for players?

In addition to all the above mentioned ways to prevent the Big Red Button from being a viable option, I'd just like to throw out there that it can be a lot of fun to let your players hit that button once in a while.

Example: "Along with the forementioned equipment and personnel, your ship is equipped with two 450 KT, hardened, penetration aid equipped, reentry capable, deep penetrating nuclear missiles with secondary space-attack guidance packages. Penetrate the orbital defenses. Disable the point defense laser towers. Evacuate the hostages. Then, you are authorized to destroy the Alien Command Bunker by any means you deem necessary."

4 objectives, multiple targets, 2 missiles. You get to nuke something (wee!) but not everything. Make it count.