I agree with a previous post that maybe we should look at different races rather than trying the impossible in fixing Cath EMP problem (either too strong or too weak) and Zik stealing (so easy to farm/cheat without being caught).
Maybe the new races could have specific pods:
- the stealing pod : classic with a slight change, roids are traveling back with the attack fleet, their resources are produced only once the fleet is back home.
- the killing pod : roids are destroyed, a certain amount of res is collected depending on the pod class.
- the sucking pod (don't try it on your privates): the pod fixes itself on the roid and collect its ressources during X ticks depending on the pod class, then returns to the home base with its treasure.
- the punching pod : the roid is sent crashing to the target planet, bringing destruction to its constructions.
...
I stop there before suggesting too silly things like the Shitting Pod, that turns M,C and E into crap and forces the defender to build Cleaning Centers