Component vs. weapon families
 

What's the difference between component families and weapon families? I know component families are used for upgrading, but what are weapon families used for? AI design creation?

Re: Component vs. weapon families
 

The AI uses weapon families when choosing weapons. They bear 0 relation to component families and just tell the AI which is more advanced. They might be used by the weapons report window too... Weapon components are made obselete in the main ship design screen and the upgrade process in the same way that normal components are by the component family.

Re: Component vs. weapon families
 

Useful info.... is it in the 101 tutorial?

Re: Component vs. weapon families
 

So are weapons with higher weapon family numbers considered more advanced, or are they more like AI tags that the design creation file calls for?

Re: Component vs. weapon families
 

I'm not into AIs, but I'm fairly certain they're just used like AI tags.
(see the 4 prioritized choices of weapon family in the designcreation.txt)

A higher weapon family number does not mean "better".
Rather, the "best" (via tech requirements, or position in components.txt) component matching the weapon family called for in the design would be used.

Re: Component vs. weapon families
 

Weapon family numbers do not indicate level of advancement any more than component family numbers do. They are just integer labels. The AI uses weapons of the family that match the family called for in the design creation file.

Majority Weapon Family Pick 1 := 9
Majority Weapon Family Pick 2 := 1
Majority Weapon Family Pick 3 := 25
Majority Weapon Family Pick 4 := 0
Majority Weapon Family Pick 5 := 0

The lower numbered pick is given priority; if a weapon of weapon family 9 is available, none of the other types will even be considered. Once the group of possible weapons to use has been determined, the metric for picking the most advanced is the same as for valueless abilities as as outlined in the following FAQ apply to weapon families and determining what to use:

http://www.spaceempires.net/home/ftopict-448.html