AI and drones?

Q · #1 March 9th, 2002, 10:24 PM

Now that more and more people get their SE IV Gold what are your impressions about the AI using drones??
In my very limited experience of a couple of hours game time I did not see the AI using drones attacking enemy ships in the system even if the drones are loaded on a drone carrier. But as I said my observation is based on a very short time.

Oh and just to say it once more: I hope MM will give us the "move to" order for drones as an option in the game setup!

Phoenix-D · #2 March 9th, 2002, 10:30 PM

Play the "drone wars" scenerio to be sure..as far as I've been able to tell, the AI will use drones, but most of the time it will only launch in combat.

Phoenix-D

Q · #3 March 10th, 2002, 10:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
Play the "drone wars" scenerio to be sure..as far as I've been able to tell, the AI will use drones, but most of the time it will only launch in combat.

Phoenix-D

Sorry, what "drone wars scenario" are you talking about?

A few hours more of gaming with SE IV Gold: The AI uses the done carriers to attack. Unfurtunately he attacked a planet with a carrier loaded with anti-ship drones: fatal mistake!
Extremely useful IMO are solar collectors for drones. For me that compensates at the moment a little bit the lack of the "move to" order for drones.

Q · #4 March 10th, 2002, 03:21 PM

The problems with the lack of "move to" order are two:
First you can't use drones for reconnaissance, which IMHO is one main use for them.
Second it is exactely that they are not locked on their attack target: if the target warps to a system where you have no sight the attack order is just cancelled. "Oh we saw our target warp to the sytem XY, but now we have no idea where it is so we have to abort the attack". That's just stupid IMO.
But as I said all I ask is an option in the game settings file where you can chose if you want the "move to" order or not.

Phoenix-D · #5 March 10th, 2002, 09:06 PM

"Sorry, what "drone wars scenario" are you talking about?"

It's in the extras folder, in the ScenerioPack zip file.

Phoenix-D

Urendi Maleldil · #6 March 10th, 2002, 10:13 PM

That's why I always use a 'spotter' for drones. Just an escort with engines (and cloaks if I have the tech).

Taera · #7 March 10th, 2002, 11:18 PM

Another use for Recon Sat in enemy systems...

TerranC · #8 March 10th, 2002, 11:26 PM

Recon Sats tend to be useless.

For friends, it's offending.

For enemies, it's relatively hard to send in a transport, lay one in, and get out into a vital system before a Cruiser is hot on your tail.

Recon sats are really only good for Nebulae and Asteroid systems.

Of course with gold there might be more usages.
... which i still don't have...

Fly like an eagle my behind.

Taera · #9 March 11th, 2002, 02:12 AM

Actually the "Move To" order wont be as useful.
Drone is a drone. It can lock on a target but cannot lock on an empty space.
Also once its sent with orders you cant change it in real life... thats the same as giving a CSM or a Plasma Missile "Move To" order or try to change its course half way.

Q · #10 March 11th, 2002, 10:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
"Sorry, what "drone wars scenario" are you talking about?"

It's in the extras folder, in the ScenerioPack zip file.

Phoenix-D

Thank you for the hint!
Played it and it confirmed until now my previous observations: the AI uses drone carriers as he uses fighter carriers but seems not to launch drones from a planet or a carrier to attack a target outside its present sector location. Anybody seen this??