Drones!!

[mac5732]

If you use them as ships, then what is the range/supply? LemmyM you stated they were expendable and would self destruct. Do you mean that once they deliver whatever, they automaticly would be coded to destroy themselves? My opinion only, you may want to look at 2 or more different types of drones, those that deliver supply, trps, etc, those that are used for spying and those used as missles, Each one might have to be different in size and capabilities. This might be done, by saying those used as missles could only be of small or medium and those for transport up to large. But if you use as ship types, this might take away the Drone concept. Drones in space warfare are usually small, very fast, missle type units. I guess it would depend on what you want them to do/accomplish. I like the idea of cruise missles, this could be used to assault defended worm holes.

just some ideas mac

[Kadste]

LemmyM,

Sorry for the confusion. The size of my drones are set up so I can only choose one component. Like a drone for minesweeping purposes. In VehicleSize.txt my drone has a tonnage of 30. This will allow me only to have one mine sweeping component.

A drone set up as a missile, like the Strategic Bombardment Missile from Starfire, has a tonnage that only allows one warhead component, the Cobalt Warhead I. This drone has a tonnage of 50.




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Never Give up, Never Surrender!

[Lemmy]

i only said they have Self-Destruct ability, not that they would automatically self-destruct, that's just not possible now.
With expendable i just meant that they are small and easy to built, so you won't have to worry about losing some.

And i see drones more as early exploriation vessels, like the Galileo space-craft, something that you use before ships with crew.

Later they could also be used for suicide ships. But i don't think many people use kamikaze warheads on their ships, so i'm not sure it will be used now, given a choice.

The reason i use ship types is because i want them to warp. You could however have small drones as fighter types and large drones as ship type. That way the small ones can be transported and launched. It still wouldn't feel like Drones though, cos they will be treated like fighters. You could even make small drones as missile weapons, medium drones as fighters and large drones as ships.

How would cruise missile drones work, do they do damage to all ships in that sector or a specific one?

Kadste : thanks for clearing that up


[This message has been edited by LemmyM (edited 19 September 2001).]

[mac5732]

As for crusie missle aspect, this would have to probably be studied maybe by SJ, Hadirian, and some of the other expert Modders who could give idea what would work or is possible. I'm only guessing here, but they could be used similiar to ship as far as being controlled by the player similiar to a KK. once launced you control them to their target. Problem would be fuel/supply/distance once launched, also should they have cloaking?? If you ever read Dave Webers "In Death's Ground" series it shows what a drone and worm hole missles do.
Maybe just have it that when sent thru wormhole they attack 1st enemy ship/base available. I don't think they should target ftrs or sats tho, I think we may be confusing Drones with Worm Hole capable missles. If we could combine both or make 2 seperate type units it would be excellent one as drone with capabilities some have mentioned in this thread and the missle aspect which some of the other like.

just some ideas mac

[chewy027]

what about the possibility of making them a planet destroying or star destroying missile. I forget the name of the specific components, but could we put those on? Then they'd be weopens that couldn't be taken lightly. Especially if they were cloaked.

[Lemmy]

quote:

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Originally posted by chewy027:
what about the possibility of making them a planet destroying or star destroying missile. I forget the name of the specific components, but could we put those on? Then they'd be weopens that couldn't be taken lightly. Especially if they were cloaked.

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those planet/star destroying components could be placed on a drone, but that would make them just as expensive as a normal ship with those components, maybe the planet/star destroying abilities can be added to the hull, and then modify cost of that hull.

[Baron Munchausen]

I just added drones to my VehicleSize.txt file today. The game loads fine. Haven't bothered to research the tech and build any since they can't be launched. If it were only possible to launch them...



[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 19 September 2001).]

[mac5732]

Baron, how about using the identical lauch codes/sequence as that set up for ftrs, sats, mines, re-do or mod the launch bays, say make one identical to say ftr, re-name and make it for drones. Use the identical set up txt or whatever and just rename, then take ftrs, do same thing except put the new name, then you would have say drone launch bays and drones that can be launched. the computer would just think they were another type of ftr, sat, mine. I think I wrote what I was thinking.. I hope it came out the way I wanted it to. If yu did it this way the cost would probably be in the same area as ftrs and until a new ship design was made they probably would look just like ftrs.

just some ideas mac

[Kadste]

mac5732,

It works well for launching and storage, but fighters cannot warp. ARRGH!

Also, drones do not work Double ARRGH!! So many possibilities...

And drones as ships cannot launch or be stored.

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Never Give up, Never Surrender!

[Kadste]

mac5732,

It works well for launching and storage, but fighters cannot warp. ARRGH!

Also, drones do not work Double ARRGH!! So many possibilities...

And drones as ships cannot launch or be stored.

------------------
Never Give up, Never Surrender!