Drones

DirectorTsaarx · #1 May 23rd, 2002, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mac5732:
<snip>
However, in my current game, TDM-Modpack (my lst tdm game), I am currently building drone carriers and drone starbases as the Toran are pushing extremly hard and I found that a good tactic against their waves of DN's is starbases, fleet, and drones. Yes they are expensive but they build faster then a DN, and are excellent in masses for defense of Wormholes.
<snip>
just some ideas mac

I used this tactic as well; but even sneakier. I built a spaceyard base and a drone-launcher base in the uncolonized systems scattered throughout a partner AI's territory (asteroid systems, nebula/storm systems). Then, when the AI finally declared war, I had drones ready to launch at his small colonies and undefended colony/transport ships. Not very nice of me, but I was testing tactics for future use...

Gozra · #2 May 24th, 2002, 02:34 AM

I am playing a game where I am able to use drones as intestellar Missles. It sort of works but you have to have spy ships in the target system to use them. If your Physic(sighkick) you can also put converters on them. I am slowly beginning to think they are defensive weapons primarily. And mostly useful in large numbers.

mac5732 · #3 May 24th, 2002, 04:50 AM

DT, good idea there, question, can you cloak a starbase?? Never tried it but thought i'd just ask, It most definitly is sneaky, espeically against human player, hmmmmmmmm

just some ideas mac

PvK · #4 May 24th, 2002, 08:29 AM

You can cloak a starbase, yes. You can also build them in sensor-obscuring storms.

Another good thing about drones is they are one of the few things that can (at high tech levels) absorb large amounts of PD. A combined strike of well-shielded drones and fighters and seeker weapons can overwhelm the PD of a fleet that would have been thought immune to fighters and seekers in SE4.

PvK

steveh11 · #5 May 24th, 2002, 10:19 AM

Wait, I'm missing something.

I wasn't aware that drones could move on the main map! I thought they were tactical only.

How do you launch/target them, how do you move them?

(Whole realms of possibilities open..)

dogscoff · #6 May 24th, 2002, 12:49 PM

Quote:

I wasn't aware that drones could move on the main map! I thought they were tactical only.

That's kind of the point of them...

Quote:

How do you launch/target them, how do you move them?

Just like launching fighters, sats or mines. You can't use the "move" command on them though, only "attack". This is a bit of a pain in the arse, since it means you can only attack things you can see.

Oh, and once they have received their orders, they can't be recalled or reclaimned or given new orders. (Except maybe self-destruct. )

DirectorTsaarx · #7 May 24th, 2002, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dogscoff:
Oh, and once they have received their orders, they can't be recalled or reclaimned or given new orders. (Except maybe self-destruct. )

That's mostly true. If you send multiple drones to attack a target (remember, you can use shift-click to select multiple drones/ships/etc.), and some of the drones survive the battle, those survivors can be given new attack orders.