Retreating Task Forces?
 

I have realised there are these things called "Task forces" with core ships, escorts and pickets. Doing some testing I set up a support force with a fuel ship and some pickets to fight off pursuers, since as an unarmed ship I expect the fuel ship to retreat while battle forces fight. It seems that although the support ships retreat the pickets in that taskforce rush off and help the main fight. What do I need to do to make sure the support force pickets or escorts stay with their charges?.

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

It sounds like this is a strategy issue. I'm only familiar with the Balance Mod strategies, is that what you're playing?

In that case, all the strategies such as "Don't get hurt", "Max Range" etc. all have the option "Break Formation Immediately" set to true. This mean that regardless of task force grouping, they break away at the start of battle and revert to the ship-level strategy you have set in the design screen - which is why the pickets engage the enemy.

In the Empire Options screen, there are options at the bottom to make adjustments to strategies. I suggest you create a copy of "Don't get hurt", name it something like "Stay safe in formation" and change nothing apart from setting "Break Formation Immediately = False". If you set this new strategy for your task force, they should stay together.

That's off the top of my head but I think it will do what you want. The default strategies are sensible in most cases but some interesting things can be achieved by adjusting them (and testing the hell out of them in the simulator)...

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

ah yes, I think you're right. The strategy probably does have break formation on.

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

... after sending that I noticed that you have over 2000 posts. Maybe I over-explained that answer! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

no it's ok. I understood what you meant as soon as you said strategies. I asked the question just as I was going to bed. When up late I might feel clearheaded but it seems I am incapable of realising things like the strategy is the problem.

The problem is also that I am only just realising the opurtunities task forces offer after a year of just chucking ships into a fleet solely to keep them together.

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

Next question. How do you ensure that the core ship is the flagship?

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

there is a button to set the task force leader.

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

I can't seem to find reference to this button. Anywhere.

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

The set leader option pops up when you have a ship selected in the fleet window.

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

I bet this has something to do with the fact that I am on version 1.25.

Updating won't screw with my saved games, will it?

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

Why are you using v1.25!!??

It's not likely your save games will survive the transition to v1.63, there's been a long list of changes since then. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

haha, well, that's all right.

The reason for the version was...I'm a slacker. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

I do hope that an updated list of AIs have been provided in the patches somewheres!

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

Update (for anyone who cares to know)

A nail-biting 3 minutes of loading, and my months-long game from 1.25 successfully updated to the current version without any script editing!

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

I'm making progress. I did a test with a core cruiser and escort frigates. The cruiser ended up taking damage despite the PD frigates and was reduced to 1 move. The frigates stayed in formation moving about at 1 move.

I am trying to figure out the roles. Should it be core ships with heavy direct fire surrounded by PD ships? I am trying to figure out pickets. Historically they are to stop surprise attacks so what role do they have now. I'm thinking missiles to maybe damage enemy before they get in range of the core and escorts.

Re: Retreating Task Forces?
 

That's, to an extent, what I do.

I try to design multi-role ships. My picket ships are light attack craft. They surround a larger ship, say a cruiser, with a light offensive shell. Most only possess a missile or two, and then a formidable amount of point defense. I haven't done any real fighting in the newer version, but the escorts, supported by the heavier missile batteries of their flagships, usually have done the trick in the past for me.

Then, most of my enemies, by this point, have been reduced to single or as many as triple system nations, whereas my Hegemony is a good dozen systems with trillions of people. I've always enjoyed a severe advantage in weight of ships.