It is really powerful without the frigate damaging function, as it lets Vasari players to attack any planet in the galaxy, and your enemy will never be able to defend it, VL can even destroy the planet without taking losses himself. I won't complain about the frigate damaging function's disappearing as it is a really small thing compared to the insta-phasenode and the structure-disable, Vasari is brutally strong even without their superweapons harming frigates, devs should never make Vasari stronger again, only weaker so it should be more close to being balanced (because now it is really far from it).

The PSI Cannon is better? This thing is practically worthless just by building a few culture centers of your own since it never lasts long enough to bring any signifcant change.

At least the Novalith cannon can kill planets or at least screw economies.

The Korstra Cannon gives you phase jump to anywhere on the fking map coupled with the most powerful factions currently in balance.

Also where were you? The Korstra has been this way since the original I believe. As in before the Diplomacy and Entrenchment expansions.

Continued DE bombardement actually tends to do more economic damage than Novalith bombardement on similar scale.

Reasons being that Novalith is highly ineffective once SB is in place..... yes it does still hurt but the effect on a late game economy is rarely more than a slight dent.

On the other hand, loss of allegiance does reduce extractor income too..... and every 100 lost extractor is 450 lost credits.

Most importantly however is, that your enemy is forced to scuttle a considerable ammount of tradeports to avoid culture loosing his planets. That is some highly underestimated eco damage, especially as it is longterm.

Especially nasty in capital victory now.... enough DE shots WILL destroy your capital... no matter how many culture centers you have.

TK push has no upper limit to my knowledge.... would be pretty pointless too..... it already does little enough against Vasari.