[Grandpa Kim]

I've used drones only on the demo. Haven't got far enough in the full Version to try them there.

In the demo, I found they were great for softening up targets before taking in a fleet and perfect for nailing lone ships or even fleets of two or three ships.
I usually launched from home to a system two systems away. Worked as advertised. One of the targets exited to an "unknown" system and two of my drones stopped. The target returned two or three turns later and the drones took off after him again finally smearing him.

Drones seem to have both pluses and minuses (Hey! What doesn't?):
1. You can build them anywhere
2. But without a spaceyard, they will take two turns to build
3. They cost like a ship
4. But require no maintenance
5. They use 'way too much supplies just standing still
6. Are a ***** to kill
7. Take so much planetary cargo space they make the Cargo Facility look useful.

Anyway, I can see myself using them, if I can steal the tech from another player. As I said, softening up and solo targets seem to be their forte... or at least one of their fortes. Remains to be seen what other good ways there are to use them.

Kim