How do I get the AI to launch sats?

[Lord Q'Daan]

I know this is probably a total newb question, but, how do you get the AI to lauch sattellites in Strategic combat? I can't figure it out. I'm in an early game, and I have a frigate scout that can deploy one medium sat. Said sat can waste any equivtech warship that comes close, so the obvious course of action is to approach the enemy to just more than his weapons range, deploy the sat, and run back the way you came. Unfortunately, not only does the AI run away no matter what if you have no weapons, it doesn't seem to launch satellites. Am I doing something wrong or is something which seems fairly simple missing from the AI here?

[Randallw]

You can not deploy sats in combat. They must be deployed in sector previously and when the enemy comes they engage the sats. Sats are not a tactical weapon to be deployed in the middle of a battle.

Edit: the only units that can be deployed during a battle are fighters. Try them.

PS. Oh, and troops.

[ June 27, 2004, 07:14: Message edited by: Randallw ]

[Lord Q'Daan]

Meh, all right then. It just seems odd that you can do it in tactical combat.

[Randallw]

Please explain what you mean by "it can be done in tactical combat". To my knowledge the only way to put a satellite in space is to launch from a planet or have a transport with satellite bays launch them as an order.

Edit: I apologise. Just ran a test. It is possible to launch a satellite during combat in tactical. I did not know this. Very strange. I have never seen this done by anyone including AI's.

[ June 27, 2004, 09:19: Message edited by: Randallw ]

[Abdiel]

He's right, they can be launched in combat. With your ship selected go to Orders and Launch Units (or L key). Then launch away.

I haven't figured out how to use this in strategic combat. But if they're designated as a mine layer I think they do launch mines, problem is there's no default SAT layer. And no option to launch SATs, only fighters and drones in combat. Tough luck, guess it's another of those uses MM didn't think of.

Abdiel