Drone Wars review/comments

[Skulky]

I just started playing with Gold, and decided to explore the drone wars scenario. The concept is great but the lack of technological advancement makes this scenario very long and boring. Sure keep other weapons out of it but you need to be able to advance the actual technology of drone warfare and transportation and defense against drones. I am enjoying it because of the varied combat options and a whole new look at attackign planets, however stagnating the tech is more like a demo than the full Version, if you allow reasearch this scenario will become much more interesting.

[geoschmo]

Skulky,

Your point is valid. My idea behind the Drone Wars scenario was just be a crash course in using the Drone technology. That's why I eliminated all other tech and research. Otherwise the game just ends up being a typical game that you had drone tech at the startup. Which I guess wouldn't have been a bad idea, but it wasn't what I was aiming for.

Geoschmo

[Puke]

i like it better without research. its still fairly easy, since you can adapt to the technology and the AI cant, but it is a whole new approach to the game. i find that you need at least two escorts to shoot down one drone.

also, i never use anti-planet drones. i use a single anti ship drone to trip any planetary defenses, then i use drone carriers to screen my troop ships when invading planets.

you are right about the difficulty level though, once you have about 1/4th of the map, its just a big mop up operation. perhaps the AI bonus should be higher, or perhaps the AI should get level 2 or level 3 technology instead of level 1. of course you could then trade with them for it, making it a moot point. maybe the game should be set to team mode, so that its MEE from the start. the second half would be the same, but the beginning would be tougher.

[geoschmo]

I am actually a little suprised people like it enough to try playing it to the end.

High bonus is doable. I think though you still have the same problem as team mode with it being harder at the beginning and still easy at the end.

I will think about it some and maybe release "Drone Wars II!"

Geoschmo

[ 31 March 2002: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Skulky]

keep thinking.

[capnq]

I've been playing the scenario on and off as a change of pace from my regular games. I've explored most of the map and made contact with 10 of the races so far, without getting into any wars yet. There are three intra-AI wars going on, and I've lost a few ships by blundering into war zones.

I'd vote for either adding research with a very limited tech tree, and/or not using any races that normally depend on a racial tech. I think the lack of research promotes drone tactics that wouldn't work as well in a full game.

[capnq]

Since my Last post, I've finished exploring the map, and two more intra-AI wars have started, plus one of the warring AIs has also declared war on me.

Geo, if you do make a sequel, you should call it "Episode 2: Attack of the Drones".

[TerranC]

quote:

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Originally posted by capnq:
"Episode 2: Attack of the Drones".

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Oh man... whew... I think I'll live now.

[Baron Munchausen]

Suggestion for stirring up trouble:

Launch drones at some AI you don't have a treaty with, and you can't afford to get into a war with, but is causing you problems (putting colonies in a system where you don't want them?)... Then go to diplomacy screen and GIVE the drones to another AI before they hit. Since drones cannot be reprogrammed after launch you've done some damage to your enemy and 'framed' the other AI. Does it work? If it does, it's nearly as much fun as the telepathic trick in MOO II where you take a colony & give it to another AI before the fleet arrives to take it back. Instant war between two AIs.

[ 30 April 2002: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

[Krsqk]

That would be a wonderful idea (and a mean trick ), but the only way to give units to another player is via a unit transport.