Some other newbie questions (mines etc)

[Beorne]

1) If I lay mines, will they explode with the ships of my partner (allies in partnership)?

2) What is the use of satellites around planets compared to weapon installations?

3) I have researched troops. Do I need some specific ship component to make planet invasion?

Thank you

[XenoTheMorph]

Well in order -

1) If I lay mines, will they explode with the ships of my partner (allies in partnership)?

No, mines will not explode if you have any positive treaty with the other empire (i.e. they only explode if 'no treaty','non intercourse' or 'war')

2) What is the use of satellites around planets compared to weapon installations?

The number is only limited by the number of units allowed in the sector (forget the default value but quite large!). Not by the space on the planet (as long as you launch them!). Though WP need to be destroyed before any damage is done to the planet unlike sats, and WP are generally better if you don't have a space problem.

3) I have researched troops. Do I need some specific ship component to make planet invasion?

Just put them on a ship as cargo. Them get that ship next to the planet (in tactical combat, for strategic it depends on the stratagies you set for the ai) and give that ship the order 'drop troops'. Note you can drop troops on a planet with WPs, they only try to shoot you transport down!

[Alneyan]

2) Satellites around planets are also used for cheap sensor coverage. Put a cloak armour on the satellite, and some sensors, and you have a very cheap device to detect any cloaked ship attempting to sneak in. As actual defences, satellites are much better on a wormhole, where they are more likely to be actually within range of any enemy; when deployed over planets, your satellites could be orbiting the wrong side of your planet if you are unlucky.

3) If playing in strategic combat, your ships will not unload troops until all weapon platforms have been destroyed, if any weapon is still available in the whole fleet. So if you want to make a suicide run to unload troops, you will have to either way for the platforms to destroy your warships, or to remove all armed vessels from the battle.

[NullAshton]

I believe the limit for one type of unit in space is 100. I don't know if mods can change that amount... You can have 100 mines, or 100 satalites, or 100 of both satalites and mines, but you can't have 200 sats.

[Alneyan]

Mods may change the amount of units per sector (either mines or satellites). The limit is per player incidentally, so three allies could theorically put 300 satellites/mines in the same sector.

[Beorne]

Thank you very much!

[Power Man]

You should also design a transport that is classed as a Troop Transport. The Troop Transport has a default strategy of capture planets. The regular transport has Don't get hurt.
I usually build my Troop transports with more armor and one or two planet wepons.
I think that if you put troops on a regular transport in strategic play the transport will run to a corner and never land the troops.

[TurinTurambar]

Alneyan said:

3) If playing in strategic combat, your ships will not unload troops until all weapon platforms have been destroyed, if any weapon is still available in the whole fleet. So if you want to make a suicide run to unload troops, you will have to either wait for the platforms to destroy your warships, or to remove all armed vessels from the battle.

A timed strategy is best for this. It's best to capture a planet with its Weapons Platforms intact. The fleet with a strategy to remove only satellites gets there one movement ahead of the Troop Ship. The planet is now Blockaded. The Troop Ship has no weapons, just heavy shielding and PD Cannons to knock out/absorb the first volley of missiles. Assuming the planet doesn't have a huge array of WP's with beam-weapons, your ship should land troops with a minimum amount of damage, your new planet is defensible, and if you're lucky there's a Space Yard there to repair any damage.

Turin