How do you use drones?

[Master Belisarius]

In full tech games, I got some good results using Drones with Null-Space Projector, a Combat Sensor and a ECM.
4 of these usually can destroy a heavy and expensive Aquilaeian DN!

For races with Psychic tech tree, think that the Alliegiance Subverters could be nasty.

[capnq]

In one of my solo games, anti-ship drones are the main thing that's been keeping the Cue Cappa from completely crushing me. Last time I looked at the stats, the 24 drones I've lost so far had destroyed over 5300kT of enemy ships.

I don't remember what bonus I gave the AI when I set up that game, but the Cue Kappa have been using small fleets of cruisers, while my fleet is only a mix of destroyers and frigates.

[God Emperor]

@Pvk,
Can you elaborate?

Regards,
GE

[PvK]

quote:

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Originally posted by God Emperor:
Drones appear to have many of the characteristics of a mine except that you can move them within a system using the attack order and they have to undergo combat rather than just inflict damage automatically.
They dont seem to really be useful until you get the level 2 Version. Anyone got any thoughts on this?

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I agree that higher tech drones are better and more useful than lower tech ones in the standard tech set, and that they are like mines in that they are units and so don't have a maintenance cost, and that they don't inflict damage automatically.

How else are drones similar to mines? The only other similarity I see is that their tech trees are overly simplified. Of the other points of comparison, I mainly see differences. For examples:

* Mines are swept by minesweeper ships using a fairly predictable mechanic. Drones don't have a counter-tech, except maybe Point Defense, but its effects are far from predictable, as are drone effects.

* Players must research mines to be able to sweep them. They don't have to research drones to be able to counter them.

* With settings set to allow it, drones can be used to bypass mines.

* Drones can be used offensively, while mines essentially cannot.

* A stack of minesweepers can sweep any minefield that hasn't been overloaded. Drones can come in essentially unlimited numbers.

* Drones can be used to augment fleet strength. With shields, armor, and/or ECM, they can be combined with fighters and/or seekers to overwhelm even strong enemy point defenses.

* Drones can't be used to defend open space, unless you build a base with drone launchers.

* Mines are undetectable, but can't move once deployed. Drones are detectable once deployed, and can be reassigned to secondary targets after their first target is destroyed.

* Drones represent a greater potential offensive threat and anti-ship weapon.

* Mines are a lot cheaper IF you catch the enemy without minesweepers.

* Drones become much more powerful with higher component technology (not just drone tech itself), whereas mines themselves don't increase as much in effectiveness at higher tech (they can be more explosive per mine, but larger mines are just as easy to sweep, whereas a high-tech drone can use components that make it hard to hit).

Etc.

PvK

[TerranC]

On that Mines cannot be used offensively:

Go to a homeworld or space yard planet
Pop a few mines
and get out

The best "defense" is offense.

[PvK]

Ya, kind of, although they'll only hurt things arriving at that planet - not things sitting there, or leaving. Unless this is a booby trap for an ally you expect to lose, there will be a combat round involved, which if you survive to lay mines, the enemy will still see your ship layout, so if he's awake and notices, he may guess what you are doing, count your mine-laying capacity, and assign an appropriate sweeping effort.

All of this is entirely unlike drones (the point of the question I was answering), and reminds me of another difference: mines can guard a location indefinitely, while drones will either expire, or require cargo space.

Also is the count towards the units in space limit. 1000 mines is like 10-30 defended sectors that can be penetrated easily with enough minesweepers, while 1000 drones is extreme power, offensive or defensive.

PvK

[Growltigga]

PvK, I agree with what you say but with regard to the Last point, 1000 drones would be considerably more expensive and build than 1000 mines.

Are we not back to the old question of balance?