capturing planets in PBW games
 

I don't know if my foes will let me this opportunity... but just in case !

I 've always played these critical moments in tactical mode against AIs, so in strategical mode what are the main mistakes not to be made to avoid stupidely glassing a planet instead of capturing it ?(or to avoid losing my troops and my fleet...)

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

1. Make sure the troop transport has a ship strategy of capture planet.

2. Make sure the fleet has a strategy of capture planet.

3. Make sure the troop transport has troops onboard.

As long as you do these three things then your fleet will attempt to capture the enemy planet. If the enemy has weapons platforms the attack ships will engage it till the weapons plats are gone or your ships are. The troop transport will run for the corner while this happens. Once the platforms are gone the troop transport will make for the planet. Your attack ships will then concentrate on taking out any ships/bases/fighter/sats/drones left. The troops will drop if your transport can get there before the combat round is over.

If your troops are defeated your fleet will then turn back and attempt to glass the planet.

If your troops are sucesful and the enemy has any bases or sats left they will open fire on the planet.

Sometimes, not too often in the unmodded game, the combat round will end with your troops and the enemy at a stalemate. If this happens combat will resume during your opponents next turn. If it Lasts long enough to get back to your turn you can even try dropping reinforcments on the planet. In the unmodded game though this rarely happens.

Geoschmo

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think I found a little problem with this yesterday and I have seen Posts about it in other threads. Need to add 1 more item. The target planet must have a population greater than 0. For some reason, the troop transport won't attempt to capture an enemy planet with 0 population. You would think this would be a no-brainer, but I couldn't get it to work after 4 tries. Unless anyone has a way to modify the Capture Planet strategy???

Slick.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would add a couple of points:

If your ship weapons are all missiles, and the planet has few platforms and facilities -- the first volley may destroy it. That's not the transports fault. Review combat to see if this was the case.

If the planet has a colonized moon, the one closest to the transport will be invaded. Send more than one transport in these cases.

[ January 21, 2003, 17:08: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would add a couple of points:

If your ship weapons are all missiles, and the planet has few platforms and facilities -- the first volley may destroy it. That's not the transports fault. Review combat to see if this was the case.

If the planet has a colonized moon, the one closest to the transport will be invaded. Send more than one transport in these cases.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">As of the latest patch it should target the planet you clicked on with the attack command. It's quite frustrating to send in an invasion fleet with hundreds of troops to take a 'huge' size planet and have them attack the moon instead, then glass the huge planet because they don't have troops to take it...

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

Trooper,
I asked this question awhile back and both Geo & Grandpa Kim both replied with the instruction given here and I used that tactic just yesterday in a PBW game.
I'd love to see the look on my opponents face when he opens the current turn only to see my fleet sitting deep in his territory being resupplied at a planet he thought was his. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

[quote]Originally posted by Slick:
[QB]<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">if the transport is included in the fleet, the strategy for both the transport and the fleet is the fleet strategy, isn't it ?

When you defend a planet this time, are mines, fighters and satellites stored in the planet cargo automatically launched to join the combat, or are they given to the enemy ?

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've done that against the AI. The troop transport, if it has one weapon, like CSM, will stay with the fleet be closer when it's time to drop troops. 'Tho more often than not, it gets targeted by the weapon platforms and vaporized.

It is fun to use well defended troop ships to capture a planet with weapon platforms intact -- and have the planet start shooting down sats, fighters, space yards in orbit. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ January 22, 2003, 13:52: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Really? Because in my experience placing a weapon on a troop transport has no effect. If the ship has capture planet orders it will still run for the corners until the planet is defensless. Also in my experience if you have a fleet of only armed troop transports and no attack ships they will rush the planet as usual, but not fire their weapons, except for PDC. The only way I have been able to get armed transports to use their weapons is to change their ship orders, and doing that makes them not drop troops.

You aren't confusing the troop transports with the PDC only ships where you put a single weapon on it to keep it with the fleet are you? I'd be interested to know how you got this to work.

Geoschmo

[ January 22, 2003, 14:05: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

Thanks for the answers. A few more questions:

Do those reload-time weapons work against planets? That would be a great weapon if it could somehow be used during planetary invasion: knock out their guns temporarily and then send in the troop transports.

Oh, and would fighters be counted as attack ships in your earlier responses?

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've been playing with the crystaline racial trait and I can tell you, the energy dampner will not target sats and planets. Dunno 'bout the mental flailer.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've been playing with the crystaline racial trait and I can tell you, the energy dampner will not target sats and planets. Dunno 'bout the mental flailer.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But I'm pretty sure the Null Space Projector and the (Organic) Acid Globule do.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, the troop transport ship must have the capture planet strategy, or it will break from the fleet and run for the corner. Notice, your supply and repair ships are part of the fleet, but they never approach the planet either.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Units in storage of a captured planet or ship become yours. You can never capture units in space

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

What if you have all troop transports and no attack ships? Will they try to take the planet anyway, even if there are weapons platforms?

Sometimes I want to send in a heavily shielded/ armoured transport to take the weapons platforms intact.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, if their are only troop transports and no attack ships they will rush the planet straight away. The same occurs if during combat all your attack ships get destroyed or disabled. Your troop ship/s will rush the planet, even if there are still active weapons platforms left defending it.

Geoschmo

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But these units don't defend the planet when it is attacked ? even fighters ? (I love make surprises to my opponents, hiding 30 fighters in a "quiet" planet...)

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

[ January 24, 2003, 19:15: Message edited by: trooper ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But these units don't defend the planet when it is attacked ? even fighters ? (I love make surprises to my opponents, hiding 30 fighters in a "quiet" planet...)[/QB]</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Fighters (and drones) launch at the begining of combat so they wont be left by the time the attacking troops land. Sats and mines in cargo will not launch and have no effect on ground combat. They will be captured if the attacked is succesful in taking the planet. Weapons platforms will shoot at the ships. They normally are glassed before the troops are dropped. However, if there are any left when the troops drop they have no effect on group combat. The only things that effect ground combat for the defenders are the troops in cargo and the militia which is ratio of the population.

Geoschmo

[ January 24, 2003, 19:23: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Once a planet is captured, if there are remaining weapon platforms they will target enemy ships, space stations, satelites, fighters, and colonized moons.

Alright, so it doesn't happen often in startegic combat. But people have sent troop ships in, and on they next turn found everything gone. Its not a bug, there will be a list of combats where everything picked everything else apart.

[ January 24, 2003, 19:35: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

deleted.

[ January 26, 2003, 02:40: Message edited by: Slick ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are fighters considered attack ships?

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

yes, fighters count as attack ships in this respect. also troop transports that have weapons but no troops on board.

Rollo

[ January 26, 2003, 14:36: Message edited by: Rollo ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

This may seem like a silly question, but the emphasis seems to be on the design type "Troop transport".

Can the design type "Pop. transport" be used instead of the design type "Troop transport"?

They can be the exactly the same except for the designation given to them when you create them as a "Pop. transport" or a "Troop transport".

I would think that you could use either one to capture a planet as long as their strategy is set to "capture planet".

But does anyone know for certainty that a "Pop. transport" can be used instead of a "Troop transport"? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ January 26, 2003, 19:55: Message edited by: tbontob ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

I use pop transports, sat layers, mine layers, carriers, even warships with cargo containers.

1. It must hold cargo (cargo hold or unit launch)
2. Troops must be in cargo hold.
3. Ship design strategy must be set to capture planets.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks Wardad. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I thought that was the case, but just needed to make sure.

And you must be psychic. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Because my next question would have been "Can you use another type of ships so long as they have a 'cargo unit'".

Also unit launch is informative. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

It doesn't matter what the designation is - I guess it might mean something, but I've always set my ship strategy manually. As long as you set your fleet strategy to capture planet and your ship strategy to capture planet you should be fine.

There are some quirks, however.

1. If your fleet has missile weapons they may wipe out your target planet before the transport gets there so you have to be aware of that.

2. Also, I put a direct fire weapon on the transport so that the ship doesn't run for the hills if there is a wp on the planet.

3. If your daring, especially in the early game, you can put armor and shields on your transport and set the capture planet strategy to not fire on planets. That will make sure that your ships don't wipe it out before they get there.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

Rextorres http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Good points, but there seems to be a major difference of opinion on #2.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Geoschmo doesn't think it matters if you put a direct fire weapon on it or not as it will run for the hills in both scenarios providing there are attack ships attacking WP's on the planet. Worse the direct fire weapon will never be used as the troopship will only use PDC's.

He further says that even if there are no attack ships, the troop ship will try to capture the planet with or without a direct fire gun.

I have never used troopships and so have no idea who is right except that Geoschmo gives the impression of being very certain of his position.

I have read that some players think that the troopship will not run as far with a direct fire weapon than without. I am wondering if this is the case.

For example, entering a sector of an undefended planet with a attack ship set to not fire on planets will cause the ship to dither more or less around the location it entered the sector. It does not run for the corner.

I wonder if this is the phenomenom players experience whose troopships have a direct fire weapon.

If a troopship with a direct fire weapon does dither around the area in which it entered the sector, then this would explain the conflicting views on what a troopship with a direct fire weapon does.

If so, it could mean that a combat round or two could be saved by putting a direct fire weapon on a troopship as the troopship will be closer to the planet to capture it when the attack ships have disposed of the WP's.

Is there anyone out there who has experience in both ways (with and without a direct fire weapon) and is willing to give us Newbies a definitive answer?

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

I have been certain about things before and still turned out to be wrong. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Me too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

More often than I really care to admit. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

But we don't know yet. The jury is still out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

My troop ships always get a weapon, and they always head to the corners till the WP's are gone.

A bit OT, but I have noticed when you change strategies for ships/fleets (ie from max range to point blank) the change doesn't take effect immediately. Takes at least 2 turns before the new strategy takes hold. The one exception is changing fleet strategy from whatever to "capture planet". This does work. I haven't experienced changing the ship strategy the same way so it may or may not be the same.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">GK, are you saying that in your experience, it may take 2 game turns before a change in strategy takes effect rather than immediately? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

Is the ship strategy set to capture? Also if your using a transport the default strategy might be "don't get hurt". I rarely use a transport for transporting just because they allow one less engine.

I'll have to check it out.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">To a newbie who has never captured a planet, this is a pretty concise explanation on how "Capture Planet" works.

But a question. Or two. Or Three.

In Strategies/Capture Planet/Damage, we are presented with a number of choices.

One is "Damage Percent Per planet" which has been set at 100%.

We also have "Damage Target Till All Weapons Gone." which is not ticked.

If a planet has weapon platforms and population. I understand that the order of destruction is weapon platforms, then cargo and then population and facilities.

Question 1. Assume I set the Damage Percent Per planet to 50%. What determines the damage to a planet before it stops? Is it based on tonnage?

Question 2. If "Damage Target Till All Weapons Gone." is ticked, does it stop at Weapon platforms or does it continue until troops in cargo are killed.

Question 3 Which one takes precedence? Damage Percent Per Planet or Damage Targe Till All Weapons Gone?

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

I have tried to set the planet damage to 50% before and had attack until all weapons are gone. Once the planet reached 50% damage, my ships moved on to an unarmmed base, while the planet WPs continued to erase the rest of the fleet, including the ones that did an end run around the planet to attack the poor base station. grrr.

I never use the default transport designation. i always just make a new one called "transports" and put all my carrying ships in that. makes it easier when building, designing and upgrading. Same with colony ships. i don't need seperate classifications for each world type.

Just make sure you don't do what i just got done doing. I had two ships carring troops. one was my armmed invaders, and one had my "happy puppy" units (cheap no weapon cockpit only police units).... I dropped the wrong troops. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif It was not a pretty sight.

edit in (sorry, playing turn based Sp tactical. my bad)

[ February 15, 2003, 06:46: Message edited by: couslee ]

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

Tbontob, I don't know the answer to your questions. I have never had a need to mess with those settings. Try some test games and fiddle with the settigns and see what effect they have.

Geoschmo

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

From Tbontob:
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Correct. That's been my experience. But the actions of the ships in combat is often so at variance with expectations that this could be illusion.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Correct. That's been my experience. But the actions of the ships in combat is often so at variance with expectations that this could be illusion.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">LOL http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Smoke and mirrors?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

But my joking aside, I do wish MM would give us some information on the workings of the strategy menu. It is so confusing to the novice and (most) experts alike.

Re: capturing planets in PBW games
 

"Attack until all weapons gone" is supposed to override the other percentages. (IIRC, that's in the Manual [the one you get to from {F1} Help].)