Drone and Anti-Drone Tactics? - Page 4

mac5732 · #31 January 29th, 2002, 10:35 PM

Tks "Q" for the heads-up. Sounds as if a little more work on Drones in relation to AI use needs to be looked at in order for them to be as useful for the AI as for human players. Hopefully some of this can be rectified before the release. Everyone has been waiting so long for Drones, it wouldn't be fun if the AI can't use them well

just some ideas mac

PvK · #32 January 29th, 2002, 11:38 PM

Oh, as for the idea that you can get an enemy to launch all their defensive drones with a single ship and thus get them all to expire if they have no other targets in range, I think I'm right that tactically-launched drones actually return to base if they survive the combat, like fighters do, thus preventing that cheap tactic, and giving extra value to defensive drones, and drone carriers (you only use them up if you send them to remote targets).

PvK

Jourin · #33 January 30th, 2002, 12:05 AM

I really want a "move to" or warp capability for drones. Either it comes standard or I can "mod the capability in" Maybe if I keep on whining it will happen.

Q · #34 January 30th, 2002, 11:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by PvK:
Oh, as for the idea that you can get an enemy to launch all their defensive drones with a single ship and thus get them all to expire if they have no other targets in range, I think I'm right that tactically-launched drones actually return to base if they survive the combat, like fighters do, thus preventing that cheap tactic, and giving extra value to defensive drones, and drone carriers (you only use them up if you send them to remote targets).

PvK

That's not what I,ve seen.

The AI however tries to find new attack targets for the launched drones that survived the first combat.

Again one more question to those with the full beta Version:
Is is possible to "cheat" on the lifetime for drones by giving them solar panels or even quantum reactors to prevent the exhaustion of their fuel?

mac5732 · #35 January 30th, 2002, 04:45 PM

Q, I know I should download the Demo, just don't have time right now, But, question, the Ai apparantly, from Posts on this thread, launch ALL of their drones upon enemy contact. Is there a button, whatever, where a human player may launch a specific number of drones similiar to how the present CV & ftrs do now or is the launch automaticly for all drones on that ship/planet when you hit launch? Maybe this is the area that needs to be looked at in correlation to full, half, or a limited launch?

just some ideas mac

Q · #36 January 30th, 2002, 07:40 PM

Mac this depends if you play a turn based or simultaneous game.
In a turn based game you can launch any number of units you want. In a simultaneous game you have to launch all units (at least this was true for Version 1.49. I did not make a simultaneous game with the gold demo yet). Of course there are tricks to get over this limitation if you have two carrier ships or a colony and a carrier ship: load the units you want to launch in one ship and give the order only to this ship and not the colony or the other ship.

Baron Munchausen · #37 January 30th, 2002, 08:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Q:

That's not what I,ve seen.

The AI however tries to find new attack targets for the launched drones that survived the first combat.

Again one more question to those with the full beta Version:
Is is possible to "cheat" on the lifetime for drones by giving them solar panels or even quantum reactors to prevent the exhaustion of their fuel?

Yes. Putting solar panels in will greatly extend their operating time. The QR is awfully expensive for a drone, but I'd presume it would work. Now if only there was an 'explore' command for drones.

Q · #38 January 30th, 2002, 08:26 PM

Thank you Baron for your answer. That opens interesting new possibilities.
I think the vote to introduce a "explore" "move to" "warp" order for drones are unanimous. I hope MM hears us!

Puke · #39 January 31st, 2002, 06:04 AM

since drones are supposed to get only one order then stop (right?) move to and warp would be of limitied utility.

however, if you wanted to guard a location with drones, i suppose that move to and warp would be usefull. you should probably not be able to give them new orders after they have launched (even though we can do this now with cruise missiles) to be in the spirit of the design.

maybe there is a problem where if they have move-to or warp abilities, the hard code in the game will allow them to recieve multiple orders, and the only way to keep them one-shot items was to remove those commands?

Phoenix-D · #40 January 31st, 2002, 06:21 AM

"since drones are supposed to get only one order then stop (right?) move to and warp would be of limitied utility."

Not really. See, with a move-to order you could send them off to attack a location, even if there wasn't an enemy ship there (say, you couldn't see a system but wanted them to attack a enemy planet you knew was there). I'm not sure this can be done currently.

Phoenix-D