The Maddening Multiplex

[jim]

The way I thought Multiplex worked was as follows:

1) PDC do not need it

2) Shooter picks a target per Fleet and Empire options and shoots until target destroyed or shooter runs out of applicable weapons,

3) Next and subsequent shooters fire,

4) After all shooters have run their first pass, either all shooters move or not but, in either case,

5) The first shooter is checked again to see if have any unfired weapons AND a Multiplex of at least 2 target rating,

6) If #5 is "yes," then first shooter fires until target destroyed or runs out of weapons applicable to that new target,

7) Now #2 shooter checked, as per #6,

8) Now #1 shooter is checked again, for unfired weapons and a Multiplex rating of 3,

9) Process continues until all shooters have fired all weapons, run out of targets, or maxed their Multiplex setting.

However, this does NOT seem to be what is happening. Now, I am running the Last non-Gold Version, so perhaps it is just another thing fixed for just Gold.

What I have had happen is Huge Bases with Multiplex (they might not even need it) will leave large numbers of weapons unfired despite a host of ripe and in-range targets. I have lost bases, battles, warp points, and even systems before I just gave up on Multiplex.

The problem also occurs with massive WP sets on Planets, and large warships. The smaller ships have less of a problem, mainly because there are fewer weapons to fail to fire.

I have tried work-arounds such as:

- vary weapon types to make shooter change weapons

- vary targeting orders,

- stick PDCs in between other weapons,

- stick non-weapons in between weapons Groups,

and other things, but to no avail.

Any thoughts? Ideas?

[ June 21, 2002, 01:25: Message edited by: jim ]