PDC Ships head for corners

Greybeard · #1 July 10th, 2002, 10:39 PM

I built several PDC ships to accompany a troop transport to a planet with multiple missle platforms. I also sent a DUC ship. I had set the empire fleet orders to break formation. The fleet orders were capture planet. The PDC and DUC ships were set to optimum range. The troop ship's orders were capture planet.

In the replay, the DUC ship approached the planet and was eliminated. The PDC ships headed for the corners and didn't move. After the DUC ship was eliminated, the troop ship approached the planet and was lost with all aboard %^(

I had no other weapons on the PDC ships (but did have shields). Would they have gone to the planet with the troop ship had I placed another weapon on them, or would the troop ship have waited until all of the weapons platforms were destroyed before dropping troops.

This is in only the second simultaneous game I've played, so I haven't had much time to experiment. Can anyone give me some advice?

Thanks...Greybeard

tesco samoa · #2 July 10th, 2002, 10:41 PM

pdc must have a small weapon to advance.

If they do not they will retreat. Always make sure you place a small 1 repeat weapon on a pdc ship.

dumbluck · #3 July 10th, 2002, 10:43 PM

Yes, PD ships need a weapon in order to draw them into the fight.

As to the planet capture, do a forum search. There has been lots of descussion about this in strategic combat. I just can't remember any of it right now!

Ed Kolis · #4 July 10th, 2002, 10:46 PM

Guess that's what those DU-Autocannons are for in P&N

Grandpa Kim · #5 July 11th, 2002, 02:20 AM

The reason they head for the corners, is that they have nothing to shoot at. Remember, those missiles are still in the weapon platform missile bays. By putting some sort of direct fire weapon on the PDC ships, they now have something to shoot at-- a whole planet!

Kim

PaladinOfEarth · #6 July 11th, 2002, 03:02 AM

Based on what is said here:
1) Put a Direct Fire weapon, (here after refered to as: DFW) on the Aegis ship
1A) Make sure the range of the DFW does not exceed the range of the Point Defence Cannons
or that the strategy will bring the ship close enough to fire the PDC to reach the planet surface.
1B) Keep in mind that the planet may have other weapons. You may want to put shields on the transports.
2) Make sure the DFW has a fire rate of "1" so the Aegis ships do not withdraw when they can't fire
3) Make sure the strategy is not set to "Do Not Fire On Planets"
4) Make sure the strategy is set to "Damage The Target Untill All Weapons are Gone"
5) Make sure the shield / Armor can withstand 3 hits by Capital Ship Missles, (CSM)

Queston:
If the DFW is knocked out, will the Aegis ship run for the cornors?

Opinion:
Never Glass a Planet
When fighitng against AI,
It is too easy.