How do you use drones?

[adder_inf]

You can overcome the slow resource drain in orbit by adding some solar panels.

I like to use them to clean up small planets and guard empty space. Launch several in a corner and wait.

EDIT: I wish I could sppell

[ 15 April 2002: Message edited by: adder_inf ]

[PvK]

quote:

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Originally posted by Growltigga:
PvK, I agree with what you say but with regard to the Last point, 1000 drones would be considerably more expensive and build than 1000 mines.

Are we not back to the old question of balance?

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Of course. I was just pointing out another difference. In games with lower settings on "maximum units in space", minefields consume a lot of it, because to be useful, they must (mostly) be deployed in space. Thinking strategically towards a large empire, if the setting isn't 20,000 or something nice like that, then the number of mines deployed has to be weighed against the limit on the number of strategically deployed (i.e., not based on planets/bases/ships) fighter and satellite swarms, etc. Some games have this limit turned down to 1000 or so, for whatever reason. Drones are at the opposite end of the scale from mines in terms of how much of this limit they consume. Not only are 100 drones an extremely powerful asset, but in general they also won't stay in space for more than a few turns (since they actively and quickly engage targets, and also expire). Of course, 100 drones are a massive (initial) expense compared to 100 mines, but my intention is to point out differences between drones and mines, since God Emperor seemed to think they were very similar, and I was trying to explain several ways in which they don't seem similar at all to me.

PvK

[PvK]

quote:

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Originally posted by adder_inf:

Not That Button!

Oops sorry.

Well great another war.

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I hope you use the name "Emperor Butterfingers" in your games!

[Wardad]

Anti Planet Drones would be much more useful if the full variety of planet bombs were allowed.

How about a sneak attack with Plague Bombs mixed with Damaged Planet conditions and Nuetron bombs?
Why not add a few smart bombs too?

Why send 1 drone? Swarm them in and hope 1 gets through? Swarms can work since multiplexing generally doesn't work well for stacks (like WP, SATs and fighters) of defenders.

It certainly could offset the drone cost and change the play balance.


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DUCK! INCOMING UPGRADE!!!

[Q]

quote:

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Originally posted by Wardad:
Anti Planet Drones would be much more useful if the full variety of planet bombs were allowed.

How about a sneak attack with Plague Bombs mixed with Damaged Planet conditions and Nuetron bombs?
Why not add a few smart bombs too?

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You should be able to do this quite easily if you modify the allowed vehicle for these weapons in the component.txt file.

[Growltigga]

quote:

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Originally posted by PvK:
Of course. I was just pointing out another difference. In games with lower settings on "maximum units in space", minefields consume a lot of it, because to be useful, they must (mostly) be deployed in space. Thinking strategically towards a large empire, if the setting isn't 20,000 or something nice like that, then the number of mines deployed has to be weighed against the limit on the number of strategically deployed (i.e., not based on planets/bases/ships) fighter and satellite swarms, etc. Some games have this limit turned down to 1000 or so, for whatever reason. Drones are at the opposite end of the scale from mines in terms of how much of this limit they consume. Not only are 100 drones an extremely powerful asset, but in general they also won't stay in space for more than a few turns (since they actively and quickly engage targets, and also expire). Of course, 100 drones are a massive (initial) expense compared to 100 mines, but my intention is to point out differences between drones and mines, since God Emperor seemed to think they were very similar, and I was trying to explain several ways in which they don't seem similar at all to me.
PvK

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PvK, I agree with all of this - it comes back to balance - if your unit limit is say even as low as 1,000, the balance of power is going to be much different to the player who builds a 1,000 mines and sits them on warp points, or the player who builds a mix of fighters, satellites, WPs and drones!

Re using drones, I dont have much experience with them yet but I play Geneva convention rules so dont shell or glass planets unless it is a mistake ("oops, not that button, bang goes another 50 million sentient lifeforms"), I use drones as fleet escort, a couple of cannon or beam weapons on each and launch them to close assault in fleet battles (with no ramming) whilst the rest of the fleet 'shell' with missiles or provide fighter support - unfair against the AI but my first experience against a human player was a 'cakewalk'