given the use of the burn mechanic, why does power degrade on attack drones over time?

I think it's so I can't chuck huge drones across the map and have them do full damage. I know that I'd have been launching a LOT more long range drones if the warhead didn't degrade.

I had gathered that. I was wondering if there was some design point or something.

What I'm looking at is that with power requirements as they are it brings everyone to fighting at close quarters. Thus there is no time to evade (even if tracking could be lost) or dodge behind something (to deal with burn). It seems like the largest ships should be standing off at ends of the system throwing huge missiles at one another- it seems like it would increase the survivability of all involved (less garenteed and immediate hits) and tactics (more response options).

Further, with the the discussion of small ships opens a real issue with the range of fights. Small ships simply cannot attack over long ranges, and have no advantage in tight fights. Removing the power degridation would create a literal place on the map for small(er) ships- between and around the capital bohemeths that will always bracket the fight.

so, unless there's a design point here, or a previous problem that isn't addressed completely by burn, I want to suggest that power not degrade. However, I think I've gathered something along the lines of there being an issue that it was instituted to cope with, so if so, I'd like to see if there's a better alternative.

largest missle I've shot off at one time while messing around was able to travel across the map and still hit at a power of 7-8... what you could expect in a normal attack. and the most you can do to a ship in one missle is 9 attack...

so I guess my point is the larger ships can fire missles powerful enough the degradation won't matter much. (it also gives movement another plus in that the faster it gets there the more damage)

another note is when it is larger vessels vs a bunch of smaller vessels, it won't actually take that much to do destroy them, and they would need that range...

but that would also be the only real thing keeping the small ships alive as well in a long range fight. (if that makes any sense)

now someone can post and tell me how wrong (or maybe, just maybe how right) I am, lol.

power degridation was removed several versions ago, I think the warning for power < burn was removed in the last release... this should have probably been locked due to age.

Locking as requested