Drone questions!

sachmo · #1 July 15th, 2002, 04:53 PM

Still a newbie, so I get to ask silly questions!

1. Is there a way to group drones? I know they can't be fleeted, but if the only way to move them is with shift-click, doesn't that mean that when they attack a fleet, they will enter combat one at a time??

2. I tested my drones in a simulation against an enemy ship with only missiles and PD weapons. In the simulator, he moved into attack range, but was unable (or unwilling) to fire at the drones. Are they like satellites in that respect, or was it an AI problem?

3. Do drones have accuracy, or do they always hit?

4. If I create a drone with an anti-planet warhead, can I attack any planet not controlled by me, or does it have to have an enemy colony on it?

Thanks!

Q · #2 July 15th, 2002, 06:35 PM

1.) Yes if you group them, they will attack at the same time.
2.) Missiles can't target drones in the unmodded game, but the point defense cannons should fire automatically when the drones come into their range. Are you sure they were in range of the PDC??
3.) As far as I know ramming hits always.
4.) You cannot ram or attack allies.

sachmo · #3 July 15th, 2002, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Q:
1.) Yes if you group them, they will attack at the same time.

Sorry, misread. So, if you shift-right click, drones will all attack at the same time? This is different from ships grouped in the same way, IIRC. I guess I will experiment with this sometime soo.

[ July 15, 2002, 19:49: Message edited by: sachmo ]

geoschmo · #4 July 15th, 2002, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Q:
1.) Yes if you group them, they will attack at the same time.

I have heard this before, but I don't use drones much. This does work? My experience with ships that were not fleeted was that they attack seperatly, so I expected this to not work. If it doesn't work though it would be bad for the drones, so I suppose he must have changed that specifically. My tests were all pre-Gold. Hey maybe non-fleeted ships will attack simultaneously now. I should test that again.

Geoschmo

Q · #5 July 15th, 2002, 08:55 PM

To confirm it once more:
In SE IV Gold Version 1.67 drones that are grouped (by right clicking) will attack together not individually.

[ July 15, 2002, 19:55: Message edited by: Q ]

Baron Munchausen · #6 July 15th, 2002, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geoschmo:

quote:
Originally posted by Q:
1.) Yes if you group them, they will attack at the same time.

I have heard this before, but I don't use drones much. This does work? My experience with ships that were not fleeted was that they attack seperatly, so I expected this to not work. If it doesn't work though it would be bad for the drones, so I suppose he must have changed that specifically. My tests were all pre-Gold. Hey maybe non-fleeted ships will attack simultaneously now. I should test that again.

Geoschmo

In a simultaneous mode game I think that even drones will only attack 'together' if they have the same movement rate. And similarly ships must have the same movement rate. If you use shift-click in sequential mode to move several things -- ships, fleets, units -- they move together the first turn, but then move seperately after the first turn.