Breaking formation
 

How do I make my fleet brake formation when entering strategic combat on PBW.
There's no such option in strategy/formation.

The fleet is diversified with ship capture, rammers, fighter carriers and battleships with beams.
I can't set one strategy that makes them all do what they should.

(edit - set e-mail notification)

[ November 25, 2002, 10:13: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

Re: Breaking formation
 

Each Fleet has a Strategy assigned to it, normally "Optimal Firing Range". Go into the "Empire Status Window" (by pressing F11), there choose Strategies. Make sure you have selected the same Strategy here on the left that the Fleet uses (i.e. "Optimal Firing Range" most of the time). Chose "Formation" on the right. In the middle of the window you can now select everything that should break formation (i.e. the fleet formation) and should act on its own Strategy (selected in the design window). Make sure to have a green dot in front of everything that should break formation. That’s it.

Re: Breaking formation
 

Thanks.

Re: Breaking formation
 

Didn't want to start a new thread because the question is about a similar thing.
Is it possible to change a ship's strategy if the ship is already built or captured? I just couldn't find such an option.
Or is it possible only in the design window? Thanx http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ November 27, 2002, 13:56: Message edited by: Pablo ]

Re: Breaking formation
 

Changing the design's strategy affects the actions of ALL ship of that design, even if already built.

Ships you have captured follow their original design strategy, which you have no control over.
If you've captured the Last of a particular design your enemy had, he may even change that ship's strategy to "don't get hurt" or something http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Breaking formation
 

hey SJ - now that would be NASTY!
i can also set it to fire on friendly seekers ( i think) and whatsover.

Question: is Break Formation is useful? i've always used formations...

Re: Breaking formation
 

I made a startegy called Break formation and use it frequently.
As I want' some ships to capture other ships, some to try to capture the planet, some to ram and some to go optimum fare range and some to not get hurt.
As most of my ships have heavy weapons regardless of their real task 8capture ships/planets, fighter carrer) I dont want them to stay out of the fight.

Re: Breaking formation
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes, nasty indeed. You can counter this, however.

Remember, you can retrofit captured ships to a design you have control over. Always travel with a spaceyard handy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Breaking formation
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Depending on the situation, anywhere from somewhat harmful to critically important.

I've seen fleets destroyed because they weren't breaking from a cluttered formation, and other times that ships were lost because they broke formation.

On average, I think it's better to break than not to.

Re: Breaking formation
 

i'll keep that in mind. recently i've been very annoyed with the formations.