Newbie help question: problem with ground attack

Merry Jolkar · #1 January 5th, 2003, 09:13 PM

I have either discovered a ground assault bug, or I could use your advice on how to do ground assault.

I am running under SE IV Gold 1.78 with TDA Modpack 3.20 (not that TDA should matter). I am trying to drop troops on a planet that was colonized Last turn by my arch foes to the north, the Narn Regime. In the first battle, I just assigned my transport ship, which holds 20 "Light Ground Troop" units (troop with first level of weapon) and default strategy "Capture Planet". The ship did not even approach the planet, even though the planet was undefended. Since I am playing turns sequentially, I was able to try a second time this turn. So, in the second battle, I went to Empire Status and altered the default Capture Planet strategy to use Type Priorities before Targeting Priorities, and set Planet as the first item on the type priorities. My troop carrier still just withdrew without dropping troops. Am I doing something wrong here?

On an earlier turn, I observed another wierd problem. I had tried combining my troop carrier ship with armed ships, with the default Capture Planet strategy, but the armed ships simply attacked and destroyed the planet, while the troop carrier withdrew. Again, am I doing something obviously wrong here, or is this a bug?

A related problem occurred on a prior turn, when I sent armed ships to a planet with a strategy I called "Kill unarmed" (targeting only unarmed ships, transports, colony ships, avoiding armed ships and planets). At the time, the planet was undefended, but two unarmed ships were orbiting. My armed ships just went straight for the planet, ignoring the unarmed ships. Any idea why?

Finally, I set the ships to "don't get hurt" because I figured a nearby carrier would attack. Well, it did, and my ships did not move away. They were swarmed by fighters, and never retreated.

If these aren't bugs, I feel like I'm missing something here. If I am doind something obviously wrong, I would appreciate knowing about it. Is there a place where I can upload the game files, so people can see the problem?

Thank you!

[ January 05, 2003, 19:16: Message edited by: Merry Jolkar ]

Fyron · #2 January 5th, 2003, 09:23 PM

Did you try giving the fleet the Capture Planet strategy too?

Merry Jolkar · #3 January 5th, 2003, 10:07 PM

Thank you for the quick reply! Yes, I did give the fleet the Capture Planet strategy.

In fact, the only way I know to assign a strategy is by assigning the ship to a fleet, and assigning the fleet a strategy. Can one assign strategies to ships that are not in fleets? And, can one assign a default strategy to different ship designs, to avoid having to assign strategy anew each time a ship is built?
Thanks!

Fyron · #4 January 5th, 2003, 10:23 PM

In the Design Window, there is a Ship Strategies button. Click it, and you can set the default strategy for the ships. Troop Transporst MUST be given the Capture Planet strategy by default (or some custom variation), or they will never drop troops in strategic combat.

Krsqk · #5 January 6th, 2003, 06:03 AM

One way this problem can happen is if your design is not given a design type of "Troop Transport." IIRC, "Troop Transport" automatically defaults to ship strategy of "Capture Planet"; using something else like "Population Transport" or creating a generic "Transport" defaults to "Don't Get Hurt."

Merry Jolkar · #6 January 6th, 2003, 06:12 AM

Thank you for your helpful advice. Where can I go to learn about how the fleet strategy and the ship strategy interact? e.g., if my fleet strategy is set to "optimum range" and some ships are set to "ram" and others to "maximum range", what should I expect to happen?? Thanks again -- it's a deep game and I am really enjoying learning it.

Taera · #7 January 6th, 2003, 06:45 AM

For the most part of it fleet strategy comes before individual ship strategy but this doesnt work sometimes. In patch beta this has been found as a bug and ships were made to always listen only to their fleet strategy.

Untill then i find it easier to put some variation of capture planet strategy on both ships and the fleet.

Second problem would most likely be solved by assigning appropiate strategies to those ships.

Echo Mirage · #8 January 6th, 2003, 07:57 AM

Merry,

Have a good hard look at the ship design type for your transport ship. Ensure that it reads "Troop transport", this more than likely defines the ships logic.

~ E-M

Fyron · #9 January 6th, 2003, 08:15 AM

The design does not matter. Troop Transport design type sets the default strategy for that particular ship design to Capture Planet instead of Optimal Range. But, there is no reason why you can't change another design's strategy to Capture Planet.

Puke · #10 January 6th, 2003, 08:54 AM

i believe the newbie FAQ at the top of this forum (sticky topic) covers strategies and planet capturing. the 'BREAK FORMATION' option has behaved differently between different game patches, and is scheduled to be changed again. maybe. this feature effects how ship strategies and fleet strategies interact.

also, the combat simulator is neigh useless. especially when it comes to acureatly modling how strategies will work in real combat.