Drone and Anti-Drone Tactics?

PvK · #1 February 6th, 2002, 02:57 AM

Except that drones can already move through warp points - if their target is on the other side of one. There's just no way to give them orders to do so without a target, which IMO should be changed.

PvK

quote:
Originally posted by jimbob:
...
Personally, I'd love to see (1) the Drones get cheaper, which is easily enough to mod (see below) and (2) some drones being capable of scouting through warp points, which is not modable.

My suggestion: ask MM to make a special component that allows Drones to go through warp points (how about a "warp motivator"). Make it either prohibitively expensive or (my favorite) just make it big... like half the size of the Drone. Thus people will be able to create warpable drones, but these will still be inferior to small ships because you end up with less space for additional components.
...

Baron Munchausen · #2 February 6th, 2002, 03:10 AM

There seems to be a misconception sneaking into the discussion here. Drones definitely CAN go through warp points. What they cannot do is move anywhere without a designated target to attack. So, even if you've seen an enemy system you cannot launch attacks without 'live' recon data. I find this a problem, as do others. I hope 'move to' and 'explore' will be added to drones soon in a patch. I don't see a reason to restrict this ability with any extra expenses/component, either. These are both very simple missions that a drone computer should be able to comprehend.

On the other hand, I don't see drones as useful 'sentinel' weapons like satellites. They have a fixed supply usage per turn and cannot be recovered. So, once launched they are counting down to destruction one way or another. You can set that supply usage very low, of course. I do wish he would change it to 'minimum per turn' rather than a fixed level no matter what, so that if you burned more than that minimum during movement it would not subtract that much more on top. It affects drone range considerably as it is.

[ 06 February 2002: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

Magnum357 · #3 February 6th, 2002, 09:42 AM

I'm sorry, but I disagree. How do you know that navigating to a Warp point is an "Easy" thing? It could be quite difficult. Also, maybe special equipment is needed to make the jump through a Warp Point which could not be possible in a Drone (too small for example). Personally, I like the way Drones are right now. It keeps them very limited in what you can do with them and you have to really think in order to use them effectively.

Q · #4 February 6th, 2002, 12:31 PM

I think this is a classic example where you could make everyone happy by making a line in the settings text file:

drones can be give move to/warp orders: true/false

Please!

Mephisto · #5 February 6th, 2002, 12:53 PM

I guess Q is right. :-)

geoschmo · #6 February 6th, 2002, 05:20 PM

Let's keep this thread on track.

If you have a complaint about how drones function currently, make it. If you have a suggestion about how to make them "better", let us hear it.

No more arguments about definitions or semantics of whether it's "bug" or a "feature". No more arguments about whether or not it was promised and not delivered.

Keep your head, maintain your cool, say your piece.

Geoschmo

mac5732 · #7 February 6th, 2002, 08:25 PM

If this has been mentioned before, I apoligize. In relation to Drone Defense, are ftrs going to be capable of shooting them down? Ftrs would make a good anit-drone force and would be a cheap way of doing it. Also give the ftrs a little more use at the higher turns when they are not as effective. I have not downloaded demo as I'm waiting for the GOLD, but I'm getting real itchy to start playing, so I might after all.

Also, do the drones have formations? if so defensive tactics/formation may be looked into depending on the numbers involved.

just some ideas mac

[ 06 February 2002: Message edited by: mac5732 ]