Drones
 

Never really used them before, but with the HH mod and one of my single-player games that's changed (side note: HH mod is more or less on hold)

Can someone please explain why drones A. don't stack B. can't be fleeted and C. when launched, get a name like "Drone 001" instead of "(Drone Class here) 001"? One, maybe two I could deal with, but targeting 83 un-fleetable un-stacked, "Drone 001" named drones.. UGG. I can't tell which one's I've tasked or even which type I'm aiming!

Phoenix-D

Re: Drones
 

Shift-click to make a virtual fleet of drones...
And then give orders by increasing number-name...

Are the drones not renamable?

Re: Drones
 

You think I want to re-name 83 drones that won't exist the next turn? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Though re-naming them by target has some potential..

Phoenix-D

Re: Drones
 

Drones are not re-namable. And you can't even build different class drones with the expectation of targets in mind, because as you say when you launch them they display Drone 001 , 002, etc, regardless of design name. Basically in space they get the same kind of display as a unit stack of sats or fighters, but they always have one unit in the stack. Wierd.

And good luck if you launch anti-ship drones and anti planet drones at the same time. To figure out which is which you have to go through two layers of screens for each drone to see it's class. Yeech!

Geoschmo

[ November 07, 2002, 16:28: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: Drones
 

The only use I have been able to figure for drones are light drones mounting EMC and allegiance subverters.

Other than that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Whoa....that's Evil...

Drones are like the ICBMs of Space Empires IV. Got a planet that's really bugging you, but you don't want to send a fleet to glass it? Drone it to death. Need some really powerful, hard-to-stop anti-capital ship missiles? Drones. They kind of combine the role of the fighter, the capship, satellites, and mines, all in one small package. They are also the only units that can travel through warp points.

Also, I suppose you could mod some drones as sort of mobile ship refueling devices. Well, if you could fleet with them, that is.

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Those were deliberate design decisions when MM implemented them.

They can be multi-selected by shift-clicking.

[ November 07, 2002, 23:02: Message edited by: capnq ]

Re: Drones
 

"They can be multi-selected by shift-clicking."

Yes, but the problem here is I loose track of which drones I've dealt with and which I haven't..

Phoenix-D

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">(F6) Ships/Orders/(only) Display Units helps a little; sort by Name, then by Orders, and the ones without orders will separate from the rest. Doesn't do much good if you're sending several Groups out from the same sector, though, since clicking one on the list just sends you to the sector; you still have to pay attention to the numbers to find the one that you clicked on the list.

Re: Drones
 

This may be another wild comment chase, however the vehiclesize.txt states that Drones may or may not be under player control (depends on components).
Now in tactial combat I can not seem to ever control the drones. Does anyone know if this comment refers to tactical, or stategic movement and which comonent is referred to or is it all a placeholder for some unimplemented feature?

Re: Drones
 

The header information in the files is quite old and rarely updated. That particular section pre-dates SE4 Gold; it's been in there since the begining. It's out of date..drones cannot be controled in tactical and can be given only attack orders in strategic, that's how it works.

Phoenix-D

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I know next to nothing about drones... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

How are drones harder to stop than CSM's? Drones have a damage resistance of 50, the same as CSM's. What am I missing here?

Also, drones require 5 supply per turn. Can you put a solar collector on it and let it "hang" in space until it is needed?

And finally, "They are also the only units that can travel through warp points." What does this mean in practice?

Re: Drones
 

Drones don't have a damage resistance of 50. They have as many hitpoints as the components you place on them (including shields, as well).

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Drones have a defensive bonus of 50%, not a damage resistance of 50. Also, please note that missiles get slightly better damage resistance (or hitpoints, as it just measures how much damage they can take before they go boom) as they increase in tech level.

Drones can be fitted with armor, ECM, shields, shield regenerators, and even scattering/stealth armor. Why, if you felt so inclined, you could make a large anti-ship drone with a 140% defensive bonus, 12 movement, and a 600 damage anti-ship warhead, with 250 points of armor protecting it.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">5 supply per turn? First I've heard of that, to be honest. But yes, you could slap a solar collector on one. That, or you could simply create a drone carrier ship, or space station, or just leave them on a colony until they are needed. Once they're launched, however, that's it, you can't recall them.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It means that, in practice, you can send them through a warp point and have them bombard enemy planets from several systems away, similar to ICBMs of the modern era. Alternatively, you can use them as disposable scouts and explorers, at least once the next patch comes out.

"Sir, we're getting a transmission from one of the Probe Droids..."

And, as someone else has noted previously, you can slap allegiance subverters on them to make them especially nasty little gits. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ November 12, 2002, 07:29: Message edited by: Hotfoot ]

Re: Drones
 

Drones lose 200 supplies per turn. This is controlled in Settings.txt. When they run out of supplies, they are destroyed.

Re: Drones
 

Thanx Fyron http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

It clearly answers the first question

Done some research and found:

1) the answer to my second question which is yes.

2) that drones can move into another system and continue with its instructions providing there is a "spotter" there. Like either a planet, ship etc.

But another question. Since a spotter is needed, can another race serve as the spotter under a military alliance? The manual (page 74) talks of "share all Military information (what they can see)" This would seem to imply another race can serve as a spotter.

And finally, can drone instructions be changed? I seem unable to do so. But one thread spoke of having to give the drone instructions each turn.

Any assistance on the above would be appreciated http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hmmmm

Quite right Fyron http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

The warhead uses 5 supply and I "assumed" it applied to the drone.

And even installing the best solar collector (150 supply per turn), the drone will eventually run out of supplies.

However, it should be able to "hang" 4 times longer.

Re: Drones
 

In the next patch, you will not need a spotter, as Drones will be able to "attack" warp points, and thus move through them without knowing what is on the other side. At least, that's how I read the beta patch updates. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

Thanx Hotfoot http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

That is a lot of info in your [Edit: second-] Last post. Need some time to digest all of it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

For some reason I have 50 damage resistance for all missiles in my data base. Thank you for pointing out the error to me.

[ November 12, 2002, 08:13: Message edited by: tbontob ]

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sounds like a good patch.

But does anyone know if a race (with which you have a military alliance) can serve as a spotter?

And can the drones instructions be changed? Like if the target moves out of the system (no spotter there), is the drone doomed to wait until the rest of its supplies are consumed for the target to come back into the system?

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What is "EMC"? And is it in common use that it should be included in the Acronym dictionary?

Re: Drones
 

EMC is a typo for ECM.

Once a drone has been launched, it cannot be recovered. Once it has been given orders, those orders cannot be revoked.

If you give it 2 Solar Sail IIIs, it will make 300 supplies per star per turn. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That is so obvious, that it is embarrassing not to have seen it! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

One Last question on mines...I hope. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

The discussions in this thread and others do not address whether drones are affected by mines.

This ommission implies that they are not affected at all.

Is this true? Y/N?

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not military alliance, no, but with a partnership treaty you get full visibility of every system that your partner has a presence in. The "military information" you read about probably referred to sharing data on enemy ship designs.

And yes, drones are vulnerable to mines, just like ships. There was a bug in some Versions where a single drone could take infinite damage from mines (thus clearing the entire minefield) without being destroyed. That has been patched out now.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is all true. however, I think new orders can be issued to a drone which has completed all previous orders and survived: For example if it was ordered to go through a warp point and survived, or if it attacked a ship/ planet and survived.

[ November 12, 2002, 11:58: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is all true. however, I think new orders can be issued to a drone which has completed all previous orders and survived: For example if it was ordered to go through a warp point and survived, or if it attacked a ship/ planet and survived.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I thought a drone cannot be ordered to move to a specific location such as a warp point. Instead it must be assigned a target.

Have I got it wrong? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is all true. however, I think new orders can be issued to a drone which has completed all previous orders and survived: For example if it was ordered to go through a warp point and survived, or if it attacked a ship/ planet and survived.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I thought a drone cannot be ordered to move to a specific location such as a warp point. Instead it must be assigned a target.

Have I got it wrong? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You're right, it does have to be assigned a target. Dogscoff is getting ahead of himself, in a fashion, and already including the ability of drones to "attack" warp points, which behaves to them in a similar way as the warp order, it would seem. Of course, us regular mortals won't get to see that in action until the next patch. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is all true. however, I think new orders can be issued to a drone which has completed all previous orders and survived: For example if it was ordered to go through a warp point and survived, or if it attacked a ship/ planet and survived.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I thought a drone cannot be ordered to move to a specific location such as a warp point. Instead it must be assigned a target.

Have I got it wrong? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You're right, it does have to be assigned a target. Dogscoff is getting ahead of himself, in a fashion, and already including the ability of drones to "attack" warp points, which behaves to them in a similar way as the warp order, it would seem. Of course, us regular mortals won't get to see that in action until the next patch. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hotfoot, I am a bit confused. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif On the one hand, you seem to say drones can "attack" warp points and thereby move through them. And on the other hand, you say we cannot do it until the next patch.

Which is it? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">We will be able to do it when the next patch gets released. Some of us (myself not included) have the dubious honor of beta testing the patch, and thus are able to do this now. Some of them, however, seem to forget that the rest of us are not reading the same edition of the book just yet. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

In the next patch, drones will be able to "attack" warp points to move through them. This is what we will be able to do with drones, and what some people are able to do with drones. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

Ahh...so

Some of "us" are on the fast track...

And forget where they are! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Drones
 

Somewhat related to the question which started this thread....

Let's say I have 5 drones in a planets cargo. And they are all of the same kind. Is there any way to launch only 1 drone?

Or is the only choice I have...launch all drones or none?

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The same way you'd launch one fighter, or one sat, or one mine. Launch x1 http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">In simultaneous move mode, yes, you have no choice but to launch all drones in the planet's cargo just like all satellites on a planet are launched if you give it the order to launch. The way around this is to build cargo bases and keep most of your drones in those, moving only what you want to launch onto the planet -- or conversely to build launcher bases and move what you want to launch to those. The problem with the first solution is that your big, fat, juicy cargo bases might get pasted by attacking forces, costing you lots of drones. The problem with the 'converse' is that planets will automatically launch every drone or fighter in cargo when attacked. Fighters are recoverable, drones are not.

[ November 13, 2002, 03:30: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

Re: Drones
 

Thank you Baron http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I would hope that Aaron will eventually "fix" this so as to allow us some control over drones, satellites and [edit] mines. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[ November 13, 2002, 18:40: Message edited by: tbontob ]

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The default setting is that drones ARE affected by mines; from "settings.txt":

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ummm... I'm just a mortal too. Maybe not a "regular" one (more like extra-large: I need some excercise) but I'm not a beta-tester. I just pieced that Last post together from what I've read on this forum about the next patch.

Re: Drones
 

I know it would twisted and evil and all (yeah, I like that), but why can't we put on drones Plague bombs? This I'd like to see...

Re: Drones
 

Can you mount Troop pods on a drone and use it to capture ships? (One drone with massive shield depleters and one with troops?)

Can you put alligience converters on a drone?

Re: Drones
 

You can have Allegiance Subverters on your drones, yes. Watch for the Torons. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Drones
 

I think plague bombs were disallowed on drones because it was thought imbalancing. PBs have a range of 5, which knocks their chances to hit a planet down to around 950% at max range. It's unlikely that they'd be destroyed before entering that range, since hitting drones with -50% to hit is just a bit harder than hitting a planet with +1000% to hit. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Do drones use 200 supplies/turn, or 200+fuel/turn?

Re: Drones
 

ok for the converter, how about troop pods, that shouldn't really work as it could be a suicide mission for the troops.
Does it work?

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">200 + fuel.

Re: Drones
 

Wait, troops for planet capture or for ship capture?

IIRC you can't put units on units (duh). but how would boarding parties be suicide? They would close to minimum range (assuming drone is smart enough not to ram) and then jump overboard to try and capture the enemy, however, they could prolly be defeated easily.

Re: Drones
 

Suicide becourse the drone can't go home (if it's launched from a planet) as it can only be given an attack order, not move order (Sucess or death).
If it doesn't catch up to the ship it should capture it will run out of fuel and they will die a miserable death in cold lonely space far from all their loved ones crying in the darkness, confined in the small drone (unless they have solar panels, or could you put a quantum reactor on a drone too?)

So a drone with a ship capture troop pod and a quantum reactor and a massive shield depleter, does that fit into a large drone (you've got to have some engines and a computer core to i guess...)
The ship capture troop pod isn't a unit, so that ought to work, right.

It should be nice to be able to make planet invading drones, see them come pouring out of the warp holes falling to the surface spewing out troops massacring everyting in their way. Making the population die a miserable death in cold lonely places among all their loved ones crying in the darkness, running wildly across the open plains (Got a bit carried away in this post I think)

Re: Drones
 

Too bad for the Plague Bombs on drones. Ah well, I'll keep using plague bearing escorts with max ECM then.

Re: Drones
 

Rather than remove the possibility of having plague bombs on drones, I'd rather some kind of defensive counter-measure was made: Some kind of weapons platform mount or counter-drone or something that would give a planet a good chance of repelling the attack.

Oh and troops/ boarding parties on drones would also be cool, but they should have limited range (using supplies maybe?). Imagine having a drone-launcher baseship sitting out of the planet's range spewing waves and waves of troop-drop-drones.

Another cool thing (that we'll never see implemented=-) would be if you could use (cloaked?) drones to deposit intel operatives on enemy planets...

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Something like a weapon that (maybe - just ideas here):
</font>

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">is only available for weapon platforms </font>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">only targets drones </font>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">is counted as PDC (?) </font>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">has mount options available, similar to regular direct-fire weapon mounts </font>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">does enough damage per round to significantly damage drones </font>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I haven't looked to see how moddable those items are, nor have I come up with appropriate size/damage figures (supply use is irrelevant, since I'd prefer to limit to weapon platform use).

Re: Drones
 

You can restrict them to WPs and set to only target drones. I don't know if the PDC auto-fire routine would work with weapons not set to target seekers (I know it doesn't for ship-targeting weapons). The mounts are no problem, except for us stupid humans who forget to look for mounts. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Drones
 

A couple of sats with PDCs and combat sensors should do the trick. Quite frankly I stand by my evilness and I think we should be able to put plague bombs on drones.
To counter-act, put a base with a medical bay on it. And by the way, why can't we put medical bays on Weapon Platforms (or anyway, why isn't there a facility that can be like a medical bay?)

Re: Drones
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There is, but only in the Organic tech tree, IIRC