SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

What is the word on satellite deployment in SEIV Gold? Has this issue been fixed? Will it ever be fixed? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

Sorry me, but what issue are you talking about? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/blush.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

He wants to be able to deploy satellites in formations (say, around a planet or in an X shape) rather than just big stacks of them. I agree, I think this should be included in the Gold Edition.

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

Thanks for the explanation. I agree too. Sats lose efficency stacked, instead of scattering defensively around a planet/wormhole. That addition will improve the defense strategies.

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

This has already been mentioned in another thread, but they have made a change that partially accomplishes what you want: Sats and Weapons platforms now get the range bonuses for larger weapons mounts just like bases.

This means that a satellite group even on the FAR side of the planet still can mount a considerable defense with some larger weapons mounts. Of course that means that you'll have to research larger satellites to get those mounts, but its better than nothing, and was probably considerably easy to program than the change you would like to have.

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

There is still a problem with point defense: If missiles come from the opposite side of the planet, satellites with point defense cannons may not be able to stop attacking missiles and fighters that target the planet. Weapon mounts do not affect point defense cannons. The only possibility I see is to make a special PDC, that can be used only with sats and has an increased range.

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

The increased weapon range for satellite mounts is fine, but what may be more useful is spreading the satellites in a ring formation around the planet or warp point or basically the center of the tactical map. Keep the large group that shows up on the game map.

Something like a six or eight point ring that divides the satellites as evenly as possible amongst the points. Or, maybe incorporate the coding used for fleets to allow a formation to be assigned to a satellite group. Except it might require a separate entry for default formation since things like the Dark Wing and Compact formation don't really work that well for planetary and warp point defense.

Hm. Maybe something similar for fighters could be used as well. Except each point on the formation should place as many units as the default group size until they run out of units.

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Q:
There is still a problem with point defense: If missiles come from the opposite side of the planet, satellites with point defense cannons may not be able to stop attacking missiles and fighters that target the planet. Weapon mounts do not affect point defense cannons. The only possibility I see is to make a special PDC, that can be used only with sats and has an increased range.<hr></blockquote>

Even better, make a PDC mount (Yes, you can make a mount specifically for PDC) just for sats, WPs, and bases. Give it extra damage and range then reduce the default PDC somewhat. Ships will have a harder time defending against missiles while fixed defenders will be stronger. Doesn't this make good sense? Wouldn't a non-mobile sat, WP, or base have just as much reason to have more accurate and more powerful PDC as main weapons?

[ 09 December 2001: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]</p>

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

Regarding sat Groups: Yes, there should be a way to spread them around a little bit. There is a setting called "Combat Satellite Group Amount" in SETTINGS.TXT that doesn't seem to do anything. Would be nice if a stack of 50 or 60 sats was broken up into Groups of 20 (the default setting) or less and scattered around when combat actually began, wouldn't it? All I can say is, keep pestering MM so he'll make thet setting actually do something. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

Thank you Baron for this excellent idea! I wasn't aware of the possibility to make a special mount for PDC alone.

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

For those interested in new mounts (for satts, pdc, missiles etc.) I have posted the latest Version of the Deathstalkers Mount Mod in the Data section of the new downloads. Enjoy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Q:
Thank you Baron for this excellent idea! I wasn't aware of the possibility to make a special mount for PDC alone.<hr></blockquote>

I think it's generally well known that mounts do not affect seeker range or damage now. But you can still get a good use for them. I've setup a "Reduced" mount for missiles on fixed installations. Sats/WPs/Bases get a 20 percent size reduction (from 50kt to 40kt since all seeker components are 50kt). This lets them cram 5 into the same space that only 4 occupy in a ship of the same size. Between this and and Direct-fire and PDC mounts, immobility looks much better than in the default game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif And it makes perfect sense, too. Yeah, non-mobile missile racks can be packed closer together. Ships need extra heavy racks and shock-absorbing equipment to keep the missiles from banging around, and possibly BANGing the whole ship by going off in the ammo tray instead of against the enemy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

The new mounts seems promising. I had been fascinated with the challenge of using un-modified SATs. I have these gripes.

1). Lack of Multiplex targeting is the biggest problem. Especially with a 100 SAT group.

2). High cost of Targeting and ECM, but a brain SAT can enhance a group. HEY, fighters get it cheap!

3). High cost/size of shields in relation to weapon payload. Again, fighters get it cheap!

I had fun using them to defend wormholes in storm sectors that render shields useless and muck up combat sensors.

STORMS:
4). Out of a 100+ tries, I can not create a storm that interferes with combat sensors.

I have ordered the GOLD. I hope it's more balanced. I want to use SATs for more than 10 turns

Re: SEIV Gold and Satellites
 

Another fix to the current problem may be to create a mass of slow moving drones instead of satellites. Use these as satellites to defend the planet. Give them only one movement point, then they will travel to the side of the planet the attacking fleet is coming from. They would disperse as you could put them into formation.

Any ideas on whether this would actually work from our SEIV Gold fans? I haven't bought Gold yet, but plan on ordering before Christmas.