Right, here's the basic concept/design doc.
Drones are referred to as missiles from now on
Missiles
- Redo missile sizes in vehicles.txt. What I'll probably do is create an image for each size/Category of missile and just dump it in the generic ship folder.
- Components for missiles will be broken down into the following areas:
. Guidance (computer, ecm, etc)
. Warheads (the stuff that goes boom, or fizzle if you forget to fuse it properly)
. Structure (armour)
. Propulsion (engines, fuel, etc)
This will allow the player and AI the greatest latitude when creating missiles. Cap missiles, anti-figher missiles, anti-ship missiles etc.
Ships
- Engines will NOT have an inherent supply value.
- Supply generating items will be removed (quantum generator, solar sails, etc). Instead powerplants with larger capacites will be introduced (ie supply storage on steroids)
- May change generic cargo storage to dedicated missile magazines (probably use the launch drones tag with 0 as the number, don't know if it will work though). Then fleet colliers, etc cannot be used for general transport duties (see modern navies for this). This should force player and AI to "think" their way through a war. Also effectively prosecuting a conflict will become very expensive
Ground Combat
- I'll probably use a system similar to the GNB (Great Naval Battles) Mod ie: Ground units will be grouped as fighting formations with the components being specific types of troops, armour, etc. That's if the modder agrees to let me
Possible problems
- Drones currently seem to fly forever in combat. Gotta find a workaround to try limit their "range". Maybe just set their move to combat move only and make their "fuel tanks" smaller.
- Also they don't seem to miss when setup as warhead carriers.
- Weapon Platforms wont be able to use the missiles as planets can already launch them. May
change WP's to direct fire and point defence only.
- Don't think Satellites can launch missiles?
Well thats the basics of what I want to accomplish, hopefully (fingers crossed) I can
implement it.
As the saying goes:
Amatuers study tactics, professionals study logistics