automated Tasks

dumbluck · #1 November 30th, 2001, 12:52 PM

[quote]Originally posted by y.a.newbe:
the button: only shows up after commands are given (that's why I missed it)[quote]

I gave the repeat thing a try and discovered some strange behavior:
My ships are set to cancel orders if an enemy is
present in a system. There is no enemy in my system (and it's too early for the cloaking tech). Only some Ally ships are present. But the orders get cancelled.

That's misleading. When it says "when an enemy is present", it really means "when an ALIEN is present"

On another test I tried to set up an automated transport route into a neighbor system. I failed. While assigning orders, the movement takes place immediately. As soon as the movement points are spent no further orders were accepted. Is this a fact or something I did wrong?

hmmm. It's been a while since I've done tactical, but I thought that you could still chain together orders for a ship that had no movement left. Any tactical-savvy people out there have an answer for him on this one?

Are documents available on "HOWTO automate tasks" ?

Your best source for "how to" info is, well, this forum! There has been some discussion on a newbie FAQ and the like, but I don't know what came of it. For now, your best way to get an answer to a question is to ask it here.

edit=typos

[ 30 November 2001: Message edited by: dumbluck ]

dogscoff · #2 November 30th, 2001, 12:59 PM

quote:

That's misleading. When it says "when an enemy is present", it really means "when an ALIEN is present"

Not quite. There are 2 different options. One is "clear orders upon any alien ship in system" and the other is "clear orders upon any enemy ships in system". Or you could swith both options off and then your orders will never be cancelled automatically.

So there are actually 3 options. I'll come in
again:

*whoosh*

No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition. Amongst our options are such diverse elements as...

Now that would be a cool shipset - Monty Python

[ 30 November 2001: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

khanuk · #3 December 1st, 2001, 02:10 AM

A Monty Python shipset - that would be blinking marvellous although I would hate to have to create the AI on that!

Imagine the new tech you could have, a giant foot that comes down and squashes planets, what the hell would the comfy chair do? - scary thought

Not sure the Spanish Inquisition would be the same though, especially if they came in and said 'Our chief weapons are surprise, fear, an undying loyalty to the Pope and a meson bLaster beam, Cardinal Fang? bring on the comfy chair

y.a.newbe · #4 December 1st, 2001, 02:20 AM

ThanksThanksThanks!!!
dogscoff your post explains _a_lot_!
So basically there is only a very limited way in doing things automated. VERY limited. I read some Posts with strategies, hints,... and got the impression a somewhat sophisticated automation is possible. But it isn't. So I'm glad it wasn't me being 100% stupid.

quote:
Originally posted by dogscoff:
I'd like to see MM add the following to the game:
-a "program mode" where orders aren't executed until you come out of proram mode.
...

YES!!! Please!

re cancel orders:
I can't check it where I am now, but I think it only differentiates between enemy/ally ...

dogscoff · #5 November 30th, 2001, 03:28 PM

quote:
sophisticated automation is possible. But it isn't

Well, it is very limited, but once you get used to it you can put a littl effort in and get worthwhile results.

quote:

I can't check it where I am now, but I think it only differentiates between enemy/ally ...

It's on the options menu which is accessed through the button which gets you load/save/quit tc. Does that make sense? I've just been down the pub so probably not...

y.a.newbe · #6 November 30th, 2001, 08:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dogscoff:

Not quite. There are 2 different options. One is "clear orders upon any alien ship in system" and the other is "clear orders upon any enemy ships in system".

Not quite.
Here is the original text:
*) Ships should clear their orders upon entering a system containing an enemy presence
*) Ships should clear their orders upon entering a system containing any other empire

What i want: My ships shall not stop if the y see allied ships. But any other ships shall make them stop.
So I have the first enabled ("an enemy presence") and the second disabled ("any other empire") - but my ships stop if they see my ally. Perhaps the real question is: What is "an enemy"?
If I have a trade treaty with empire XYZ, are they my enemies? If I have a military alliance with empire XYZ, are they my enemies? ...

capnq · #7 November 30th, 2001, 08:27 PM

quote:
It's on the options menu which is accessed through the button which gets you load/save/quit

No, it's on the other options menu, under (F11) Status/Empire Options.

quote:
I have the first enabled ("an enemy presence") and the second disabled ("any other empire") - but my ships stop if they see my ally. Perhaps the real question is: What is "an enemy"?

An enemy is a race with whom you have a state of None, War, or Non-Interference. Anything else is an ally, except possibly Non-Aggression, which I'm not sure about. I have no idea why your ships are stopping.