Retreating Task Forces?

[Randallw]

I have realised there are these things called "Task forces" with core ships, escorts and pickets. Doing some testing I set up a support force with a fuel ship and some pickets to fight off pursuers, since as an unarmed ship I expect the fuel ship to retreat while battle forces fight. It seems that although the support ships retreat the pickets in that taskforce rush off and help the main fight. What do I need to do to make sure the support force pickets or escorts stay with their charges?.

[MisterBenn]

It sounds like this is a strategy issue. I'm only familiar with the Balance Mod strategies, is that what you're playing?

In that case, all the strategies such as "Don't get hurt", "Max Range" etc. all have the option "Break Formation Immediately" set to true. This mean that regardless of task force grouping, they break away at the start of battle and revert to the ship-level strategy you have set in the design screen - which is why the pickets engage the enemy.

In the Empire Options screen, there are options at the bottom to make adjustments to strategies. I suggest you create a copy of "Don't get hurt", name it something like "Stay safe in formation" and change nothing apart from setting "Break Formation Immediately = False". If you set this new strategy for your task force, they should stay together.

That's off the top of my head but I think it will do what you want. The default strategies are sensible in most cases but some interesting things can be achieved by adjusting them (and testing the hell out of them in the simulator)...

[Randallw]

ah yes, I think you're right. The strategy probably does have break formation on.

[MisterBenn]

... after sending that I noticed that you have over 2000 posts. Maybe I over-explained that answer!

[Randallw]

no it's ok. I understood what you meant as soon as you said strategies. I asked the question just as I was going to bed. When up late I might feel clearheaded but it seems I am incapable of realising things like the strategy is the problem.

The problem is also that I am only just realising the opurtunities task forces offer after a year of just chucking ships into a fleet solely to keep them together.

[Siirenias]

Next question. How do you ensure that the core ship is the flagship?

[Slick]

there is a button to set the task force leader.

[Siirenias]

I can't seem to find reference to this button. Anywhere.

[Captain Kwok]

The set leader option pops up when you have a ship selected in the fleet window.

[Siirenias]

I bet this has something to do with the fact that I am on version 1.25.

Updating won't screw with my saved games, will it?