[dmm]

Good analysis, SJ. So in some circumstances, the mine-detonating drone tactic is actual cost-effective. But I disagree about the main point. Cost of drones vs. mines is only secondary if you can bLast through a maxed-out minefield, suddenly and without warning, that the other player was counting on for defense of his system. Think of the wasted resources and spaceyard time that he put into making mines, making minelayers, picking up the mines, moving to the minefield, laying the mines, etc. Think of the cost-effectiveness of bLasting his exposed colonies into oblivion with your unscathed warfleet (which your shipyards were building instead of mineclearers).