Drone combat orders? |
Hi. I've designed a drone with a missile launcher and sufficient ordinance and supplies to fire it as well. I then told it to engage at optimal range, and promptly gave it a test run in simulations.
...It promptly ran around in circles, fleeing from any and all hostile attackers. In fact, I can't get a drone to do anything but run away unless it has a warhead installed, at which point it promptly rams stuff. I've doublechecked that it's set to shoot things, and that it has equipment. Indeed, if I fit it with a bomb it will happily fire missiles en route to ramming things...
Is this a bug, or user error?
Re: Drone combat orders?
I think I worked it out - it's actually a line in drones, so to get them to behave you need to remove the line
"Unit Capability 12 Type := Seeks Towards Target And Rams"
From the vehicletypes file as part of a mod.
There again, the issue comes up that without that line, I've had the occasional well-armored standard kamikazie drone survive its own ramming attack! This is... distinctly odd. Any ideas, anyone?
Re: Drone combat orders?
I don't understand drones either. All they do is turn around and run from enemies once I launch them. So if I understand correctly, drones are actually made to ram and suicide enemies correct? Is this the true designed use for them to work like that? To clarify, they normally should carry an explosive warhead correct?
Re: Drone combat orders?
I've got the same problem.
Enemy Carriers do the same thing as well.
Re: Drone combat orders?
Depends on how you construct the Drone and what design type you apply as well also which stratergy you use? all these options change depending on what components you use and what job the the drone is going to do?
IE Create drone with Type "none" add sensor, point defence, 9 engines, computer core, 4 supply boxes and top up with armour? Set design type to "dont get hert"
This setup gives you a recon drone that runs away if attacked, that can cruse for ages. If you put Type as "Drone" it will try to ram target if attacked not what you want for a recon drone.
Have a play in design section then test in simulator, remember the drone cannot desingauge in the simulator? it needs a hex to run to. If it tries to run away then that will do.
Hope this helps
Re: Drone combat orders?
Thanks for the tips 
I am going to design a low cost ship that will be a multi-role vessel, lightly armed itself but having large supply capacity and capable of carrying only about 4-6 drones. It will not necessarily be a drone carrier, probably just a frigate or destroyer sized vessel. These drones it will carry will vary in capability as well. So I will have some for recon, others armed, and some will carry warheads. I think a ship like this could be good to explore systems further away since I can use fast recon drones. I can enter a warp point, launch a drone, explore it out and attack any weak ships then move on all without risking my main ship.
Re: Drone combat orders?
Just be aware that without modifying your SEV file like I noted above, your armed drones won't actaully work...
Re: Drone combat orders?
drones are not broken. as far as i can tell MM inteded for drones to be seekers. engines and a warhead. you can't control them. you just unleash them.
basically they are moving mines.
you can use them as probes as well. and since probes shouldnt' have weapons anyways, they work just fine.
Re: Drone combat orders?
Ah, but if they're not supposed to have weapons, why do they have weapon armaments avalable?
It's not a matter of them having the same selection as ships, like in bases - they don't get access to many ship-specific parts, but they do get access to guns. Thus, it was my assumption that regarding 'broken' vs 'non-broken', that guns are a viable thing to be putting on a drone.
Re: Drone combat orders?
Hi folks, If you want the Drone to fire weapons and close to target.
IT Must have at least one anti-ship warhead on board, in order to attack the target.
Set stratergy to fire at "max weapons range" and add a missile launcher,it will fire missiles towards the target as it aproaches.
Remember
fast Drone speed = minimal firing time
slow Drone speed = max fire time, missiles take a while to reload
Its usfull for driving of small escorts etc. without detonating the Drones warhead.
Hope this helps
Re: Drone combat orders?
I've solved the problem.
As Reiver wrote:
"Unit Capability 12 Type := Seeks Towards Target And Rams"
From the vehicletypes file as part of a mod.
Should actually be:
"Unit Capability 12 Type := Can Communicate"
in the vehicletypes file.
Then it acts like a superlarge fighter with capital ship weapons, shields, and armor.
With a large fleet of these... you can eliminate an opponent in two or three turns.
Few Capital Ship Weapons work on Drones, therefore they slip harmlessly through defenses designed against ship attacks. I LOVE MY DRONES. ... It feels like cheating!
But when you are in REVENGE MODE... IT FEELS GOOD! SO GOOD! and if they refuse to surrender... EXTINCTION becomes the word of the day!
Re: Drone combat orders?
Just change/add the strategy type in the strat data file so the drone knows what targets it can engage and how. This way you don't have to change multiple files and keep the game close to stock (or BM).
Not having a strat type listed in that file (strategy.txt in the data folder) will get you the results your seeing: runs away or circles (mostly runs away).
Re: Drone combat orders?
Actually, with that drone line in place you either get ramming or fleeing, and no middle ground. So clearly, it's overriding large chunks of the strategy types.
Re: Drone combat orders?
Don`t set the design type as drone leave blank, then it can be piloted like a ship and does not attempt to ram.
It does not need a warhead either?
Scout drones are made this way too.