Satellites and multiple targets

[Wardad]

SATs in a stack are not individually targeting. SATs of the same design (name) are bundled together for targeting.

ex..

1. All 5 SAT1s target 1. 2 SAT1s kill it, so 3 SAT1s don't fire until next round.
2. SAT2s fire on next target 2, depleting shields.
3. SAT3s are shield depleters, so a new target 3 is picked.
4. SAT4s are missles, all SAT4s fire at target 2.
5. SAT5s damage target 2.
6. SAT6s are missles, al fire on target 2.

note: (first laid, first to fire, all SATs use first startegy)

Stack Mulitplexing is helped by changing the (only X) weapon type, the design name, or killing the target.

I don't know if a stack of Weapon Plateforms follow the same rules, but I have my suspicions.

[capnq]

I thought they had fixed it so that the "defending player" goes first which means the sats should go first.

MM thought so, too. However, from the beta history, v1.69:

7. Fixed - AI was not always moving on the first turn of Tactical Combat
if it was the first player.

[Gryphin]

Nice work WarDad
Seekers:
As far as I know the way a Multiplex or stacked units work:
All of the same weapon will fire at the same target untill destroyed.
Since the algorythm is:
Fire First CSM at First target
Is Target Destroyed? No (since the CSM has not reached it yet)
Fire 2nd CSM at First Target
Is Target destroyed? Nor (since the CSM has not reached it yet)
Repeat. It will fire all of the CSMs at the same target because it has not destroyed it yet.

Multiplex works with direct fire since a direct fire weapon might destroy the target befor the next one fires.
This implys that you should not expect Mutiplex results from Seekers.

[Wardad]

High Gryphin,

Your basically right.

However SAT stack mutliple targeting can be improved by the strategy used. Only one strategy will be used, and it is from the first SAT design to fire.

So, if your stack was peppered with engine damage weapons or computer virus, you might want to use a Fastest targeting strategy.
If you had Null Space or Tachyon weapons, you might want to use a Strongest or Until Weapons Gone targeting strategy.
If you wanted to be a sneaky SOB, you could target vulnerable, unarmed support ships ;-)
etc...

Happy Hunting

[Wardad]

Bump

So, I wonder if the patches change anything?

[ March 01, 2004, 15:47: Message edited by: Wardad ]

[Grandpa Kim]

Wardad said:

IN EVERY TEST THE SHIPS MOVED AND FIRED FIRST.

I often use med. sats (small sats aren't worth a bucket of space) in large numbers and at warp point defense they always fire first for me. As long as there are targets in range.

But many times a large number of my sats don't fire at all! Now I know why. Guess I'll need about 20 different sat designs.

[Wardad]

Originally posted by Wardad:
I tested SATs with seekers next. Hot seat tactical-auto and strategic.
Strategic is different from tactical-auto. DEFENDERS FIRED FIRST IN STRATEGIC COMBAT.

I am now looking only at Strategic Combat with replay.

My later correction...
Simulater or Tactical-auto or Simultaneous (PBW) combat modes give the different results.