Drone Problem - Feature or Bug?

[elerium]

Check out the file (for Balance Mod start in the GameTypes\Balance Mod\ directory):

Data\VehicleUnitTypes.txt

Scroll to the bottom and you'll see how a drone is defined to behave...

Unit Capability 11 Type := Cannot Be Controlled By Player Once Launched
Unit Capability 12 Type := Seeks Towards Target And Rams

Therefore by default you can't give them orders and no matter what you equip them with or strategy you set, they will just ram right at the enemy (like an expensive missile). If you want to mod it so they will use non-warhead weapons properly, just remove that line for the Unit Capability 12 Type, and be sure to also change the line

Number Of Unit Capabilities := 12

to 11.

Have fun.

[Yimboli]

you could extend the train of thought that went into this drone policy to say "since an emperor of a galactic empire isn't standing behind the captain of a warship giving him orders, human players shouldn't be allowed to give orders to ships either"

do you think george bush is looking at a tactical view telling each private in Iraq where to go and what to shoot at? I'd argue that we actually have MORE control over contemporary drones (i.e. UAVs) than actual living flesh units.

Bottom line: I feel like this was added as a skin-deep "oh that sounds cool let's do it!" feature without really thinking through it.

[Suicide Junkie]

A most auspicious first post. You'll be popular around here