Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep, drones can warp - you can tell them to do so explicitly by telling them to attack a warp point, or you can just send them after something that's in a different system http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

I use drones in all my games, if you want to send more then 1 at a target, hold down the "shift button", clik on the drones you want to send, you will see a check mark next to each one, they will then move in a group to the target, once the target is destsroyed, if there is more then l enemy ship with the target, those that are still left will attack the next ship and so on. otherwise they will just sit in that location until out of supply or until you move them again or are destroyed. If you want them to warp, you must have a spotter in whatever system you are sending them to. also if you are warping them, put a supply component on them,

to target, clik on your drone/s then your target, they will go after it

drones are good for defense of warp points if you have enough of them,

I use tactical combat and use drone cv's and launch them during combat, excellent use

also good for attacking enemy colony ships or lone units especially enemy mine layers or enemy planets that don't any or few wp's

Sats - in tactical combat, clik on the sats, they will show sats and numbers, clik on them and they will show the make up of each group and what they contain

just some ideas Mac

[ September 08, 2003, 05:52: Message edited by: mac5732 ]

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

Thanks to both of you, then drones may be useful, especially at a warp point in the defending side, or to make some diVersions, or... Well, a few annoying tactics. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif (I am always playing without Tactical Combat, so that's why they are less effective for me)

I forgot the "Combat Replay" option, now I can see the designs of these annoying enemy satellites, and I have the pleasure to see how poorly my fleet done in the Last combat. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

"Thanks to both of you, then drones may be useful, especially at a warp point in the defending side, or to make some diVersions, or... Well, a few annoying tactics. (I am always playing without Tactical Combat, so that's why they are less effective for me) "

Actually..drones are always automated. Even in tactical, all you can do is watch.

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sorry, I meant to say that in Tactical you can order the drone carriers to launch their drones or not, while in Strategical it will happen automatically. (Or I didn't find the setting to tweak) About drones carriers, as drones can warp, is there any point in using this kind of ships?

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Drones consume supplies, even if they just sit in space. You can fit them with fewer engines, solar panels, supply storage -- then they survive longer, esp in binary and trinary systems.

But, adding supply components reduces space for warheads. So drone carriers are used to get close before launch.

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Drones consume supplies, even if they just sit in space. You can fit them with fewer engines, solar panels, supply storage -- then they survive longer, esp in binary and trinary systems.

But, adding supply components reduces space for warheads. So drone carriers are used to get close before launch.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Drones are using supplies while they are not moving? Thanks for the warning. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

My Last newbie question about drones: is a drone really powerful against a warship, if it manages to ram its target? As drones are rather small devices, the formula to calculate the damage might be disadvantageous for them. Obviously, the drone isn't exactly going to survive the engagement. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's why you pack as many warheads on a drone as possible. When the drone connects, the warheads go off. Get good enough warhead tech, and the results can be pretty spectacular. Check the tech data files in the game for the full story on damage, tech level availability, etc.

Re: A few questions from a newbie
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The drone warhead has incredible damage yield. And you could fit 2, with fewer than max engines. And drones get a speed bonus (side effect more supply usage).

If the drone isn't destroyed by lack of supplies, if point defence doesn't knock it out, if the target isn't heavily shielded ... drones will take a large target out.

If you add supply and solar panels, shields and armor, shield depleters ... drones survive better. But now you have less space for warheads. All that stuff won't even leave space for a warhead on a small drone. So it's ram damage is purely the strength of those components.