[PvK]

Originally posted by steveh11:
PvK: In your Proportions Mod are Drones altered in any way? I ask as that's what I'm playing at the moment...

In any case, how do you group Drones together for strike purposes? The high shields available to homeworlds would seem to make anything short of a massed strike rather futile!

Steve.

I just noticed this question. Yes drones are a bit different in Proportions, though not a whole lot. Drone armor is different - they can't use Proportions' high-capacity not-hit-first armor types, because drones don't take component-level damage (like all units, they don't degrade in performance until they are completely destroyed).

The combat modifiers in Proportions are all changed from the standard set (q.v.).

Drones in Proportions use quasi-Newtonian movement, and do not get an "advanced materials" speed bonus.

Supply components are less expensive in Proportions.

If your Proportions game is earlier than Version 2.2, then medium and large drones have a lower maximum speed than small drones. In 2.2 the engine limit on larger drones was increased to allow them to keep up.

As for massing them for attack, I think you just need to launch them all at the same time/place with the same speed. Trying to conquer or just cripple or destroy a homeworld in Proportions is (intentionally, since success is a major event) a difficult task requiring massed forces. Drones can be useful for this because of their massive warheads and zero maintenance cost. If you can establish a base on a breathable world that is in drone range of a target homeworld, the huge planetary capacity can be used to amass a very large drone force. You may want to send in large numbers of fighters with similar combat speed at the same time to draw planetary PD, and some ships as well, and then you will have a potent combination.

PvK