ATTN: AI wizards

[Krsqk]

My problem isn't getting drones on the carrier base; it already has a spaceyard and plenty drone launchers and cargo space, and this AI doesn't build any units besides drones. The base even loads any spare drones from the planets cargo, just like you would expect from a carrier.

I even get them to launch when attacked. Of course, as BM said, it launches all the drones at once, which limits their defensive usefulness.

My goal is to get the AI to use drones offensively. I haven't found a way to get them launched and fired off. I see the Devnullmod Space Monsters have drones; do they launch them, or are they just for looking pretty in ship cargo? They won't be used defensively, since Monster planets are cloaked and can't be attacked (except with star destroyers ) Any ideas here?

[Slick]

I know that some of the TDM AI's launch drones offensively. Don't remember which ones offhand.

Slick.

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Krsqk:
I've been working on an AI (for a mod) which builds huge amounts of drones during peacetime. My problem is that I can't get the AI to launch any of them. I have both anti-ship and anti-planet designs available and built. Percentage of drones to leave as planetary cargo is set at 0. Max target systems distance is at 500 which should be plenty, especially after I increased it from 100. What can I do to get these stupid things launched and useful?

While I'm at it, the mod has a racial trait with 6 levels of ships. All are the same size, but the hull abilities go up with tech level. I can't get the AI to create designs using any but the first hull, even by adding dummy abilities. Do I really have to make each one bigger to get them used?

Do you want the AI planets launch Drones to attack enemy planet/s ships?
Have you tested it using 50% of Drones as cargo? If you put it as 0%, if I'm not wrong, the AI will try to use all the Drones for Drone Carriers.

[Krsqk]

Hmmm...I begin to see I may have misinterpreted the file. I orginally had no drone carriers but set the "% To Keep As Cargo" at 0%. I assumed that meant the AI wouldn't hold any in reserve for defense, but would launch them all. From what you're saying, that's the percent the AI doesn't devote to Drone Carriers. Are drone carriers used in fleets the same way as fighter carriers--i.e., they won't launch their drones on their own, only as part of a fleet attack? I don't want Drone Carriers in my fleets; I just want to provide an additional nuisance for players to have to deal with. Are you saying I should get rid of the Drone Carrier bases and set "% for Cargo" to 100%?

Two questions then. Why would the planet not launch the drones before—did it mark them as "Not for Planet Consumption" and idly wait for a non-existent Drone Carrier to come claim them? And are the base Drone Carriers not launching their drones because they aren't part of an attack fleet?

This might provide some additional insight into these files (and some useful info for the AI Modding Tutorial being compiled). Thanks!

[Krsqk]

Well, I still haven't convinced the AI to actually launch any drones. I tried setting the cargo % to 100%--no luck. I launched them myself, hoping the AI would know what to do with them--no luck. I gave them an order myself, and they worked beautifully. That just doesn't work for me, though.

I'll try setting it to 50%, just in case it makes a difference...

[Master Belisarius]

Originally posted by Krsqk:
Hmmm...I begin to see I may have misinterpreted the file. I orginally had no drone carriers but set the "% To Keep As Cargo" at 0%. I assumed that meant the AI wouldn't hold any in reserve for defense, but would launch them all.
From what you're saying, that's the percent the AI doesn't devote to Drone Carriers.

Yes. In my view, the % for Drones works like the % for satellites.

Originally posted by Krsqk:

Are drone carriers used in fleets the same way as fighter carriers--i.e., they won't launch their drones on their own, only as part of a fleet attack?

Exactly. And the worst thing it's that as you know, the Drones can't be recovered after launch.

Originally posted by Krsqk:

I don't want Drone Carriers in my fleets; I just want to provide an additional nuisance for players to have to deal with. Are you saying I should get rid of the Drone Carrier bases and set "% for Cargo" to 100%?

Well, I never tested the % with 100%. In my test games, the Pyrochette used Drones in the way you said (at least some Versions ago!).
But the AI doesn't use the Drones very well... You know that usually attack a ship/planet with a lone Drone, doesn't work very well... but the AI doesn't!

Originally posted by Krsqk:

Two questions then. Why would the planet not launch the drones before—did it mark them as "Not for Planet Consumption" and idly wait for a non-existent Drone Carrier to come claim them?

Good question! But have no answer.

Originally posted by Krsqk:

And are the base Drone Carriers not launching their drones because they aren't part of an attack fleet?

Don't think so. Maybe it was changed some patches ago, but I saw many times the Pyrochette (my only AI that used Drones in large numbers) launching drones from their planets.
Must confess really disliked this behavior... because as told you, many times sent lone drones to attack, or simply the Drone was over the Planet doing nothing until die due lack of supplies.

[ March 06, 2004, 13:40: Message edited by: Master Belisarius ]