Re: Drones
 

You can cloak a starbase, yes. You can also build them in sensor-obscuring storms.

Another good thing about drones is they are one of the few things that can (at high tech levels) absorb large amounts of PD. A combined strike of well-shielded drones and fighters and seeker weapons can overwhelm the PD of a fleet that would have been thought immune to fighters and seekers in SE4.

PvK

Re: Drones
 

Wait, I'm missing something.

I wasn't aware that drones could move on the main map! I thought they were tactical only.

How do you launch/target them, how do you move them?

(Whole realms of possibilities open..)

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's kind of the point of them... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just like launching fighters, sats or mines. You can't use the "move" command on them though, only "attack". This is a bit of a pain in the arse, since it means you can only attack things you can see.

Oh, and once they have received their orders, they can't be recalled or reclaimned or given new orders. (Except maybe self-destruct. )

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That's mostly true. If you send multiple drones to attack a target (remember, you can use shift-click to select multiple drones/ships/etc.), and some of the drones survive the battle, those survivors can be given new attack orders.

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you can't build the Battlecruiser, yes.

In the solo game that I mentioned, the Cue Kappa and Drushocka were both throwing fleets of Light Cruisers at me before my first Destroyer was built.

Re: Drones
 

Cap is right, especially in early part of the game before you get your ship construction up to the higher levels, one way to help defend yourself would be with drones and ftrs.. My opinion only. It comes down to where your at as far as research and what you can afford to build especially if your at war. If at peace you have the time to build your BC, if at war you may want something you can build faster.

just some ideas mac

Re: Drones
 

Well, thanks for the replies, guys.

I guess I'll just have to try a few things and see how they work.

I also believe that if I'd tried looking in the html manual first instead of the printed one I'd have had my questions answered without bothering you folks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Steve.

Re: Drones
 

I haven't played gold too much but drones are really useful IMHO if you need fast defense but wiht some offensive capanility, kinda like mines at new colony only able to hit anythign tha tmoves in the system. And when transitioning from war to peace htey can make a big diff cause large stockpiles dont' take any maintaince IIRC and can be unleashed while u build up your fleets to war levels.

Re: Drones
 

Are drones effected by mines? As in, can you hit heavily mined planets with drones or breeze through mined way points? I have used them at all, but will have to check them out.

Re: Drones
 

Drones trigger mines. This is very bad for game balance because drones are units. As there is no partial unit damage you can sweep every possible mine field with a single drone that has more than 300 damage resistance. A medium drone with some armor is enough. Time to scrap your mine sweepers?