Drone and Anti-Drone Tactics?

PvK · #1 January 29th, 2002, 09:57 PM

Yes, Last I checked, drones could only target seen enemy targets, so they couldn't go into systems where you didn't have a current view. A cloaked ship or satellite will provide this.

I agree "move to" would be a great addition, and expect a collective whine will get it in an early post-Gold patch.

As for the speed question, I think it's the same as ship speed for what you throw on it, plus 1-3, depending on drone tech level. So low tech = speed 7, highest in the normal tech set would be something like 6 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15, or 16 if "propulsion expert" counts.

PvK

Q · #2 January 29th, 2002, 10:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mac5732:
The real question is, is the AI capable of using the drone capabilities as has been stated in this thread on a continuous basis?

This is difficult to judge from the demo Version. What I've seen is that the AI builds relatively few drones (1 per colony), so it takes a long time till the drone carriers are full. This can easily be changed in the full Version. I see much more problems in the fact that once a drone carrier has any enemy contact (e.g. a colony ship) it will launch all its drones, which will be destroyed later if no other target is available. Considering the relatively high construction cost of drones that might be quite a problem for the AI.
The same is true for drones as a defense for colonies. If there is an attack all drones will be used and there will be no more protection for a second attack.
I believe as it is now drones will be a problem for the AI especially against human players. Therefore I will be very careful to introduce them in my AI modifications.

[ 29 January 2002: Message edited by: Q ]

geoschmo · #3 January 29th, 2002, 10:28 PM

Slightly off-topic here, but for those of you that do decide to buy the Gold CD. One of my personal contributions is a scenario in which you are unable to research any tech and you are limited in weapons to drone warheads, and point defense.

The idea was that all combat would be via drones. I was thinking of the star trek episode where the planets coducted their war via long range missles and never sent manned ships against each other. You can use your ships to ram I suppose though.

Should be interesting to play. I hope it is anyway. In my tests the AI was building drones and deploying them in semi-logical ways. Drone carriers, etc.

Geoschmo

mac5732 · #4 January 29th, 2002, 10:35 PM

Tks "Q" for the heads-up. Sounds as if a little more work on Drones in relation to AI use needs to be looked at in order for them to be as useful for the AI as for human players. Hopefully some of this can be rectified before the release. Everyone has been waiting so long for Drones, it wouldn't be fun if the AI can't use them well

just some ideas mac

PvK · #5 January 29th, 2002, 11:38 PM

Oh, as for the idea that you can get an enemy to launch all their defensive drones with a single ship and thus get them all to expire if they have no other targets in range, I think I'm right that tactically-launched drones actually return to base if they survive the combat, like fighters do, thus preventing that cheap tactic, and giving extra value to defensive drones, and drone carriers (you only use them up if you send them to remote targets).

PvK

Jourin · #6 January 30th, 2002, 12:05 AM

I really want a "move to" or warp capability for drones. Either it comes standard or I can "mod the capability in" Maybe if I keep on whining it will happen.

Q · #7 January 30th, 2002, 11:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by PvK:
Oh, as for the idea that you can get an enemy to launch all their defensive drones with a single ship and thus get them all to expire if they have no other targets in range, I think I'm right that tactically-launched drones actually return to base if they survive the combat, like fighters do, thus preventing that cheap tactic, and giving extra value to defensive drones, and drone carriers (you only use them up if you send them to remote targets).

PvK

That's not what I,ve seen.

The AI however tries to find new attack targets for the launched drones that survived the first combat.

Again one more question to those with the full beta Version:
Is is possible to "cheat" on the lifetime for drones by giving them solar panels or even quantum reactors to prevent the exhaustion of their fuel?