Drones!!

mac5732 · #1 September 24th, 2001, 04:51 PM

I agree with the Baron on the AI aspects of Drones, thats why I think the issue should be as simple as possible. SJ's ideas on the percentages sounds good but would they apply to Worm Hole defenses as well? would the total of all gun defenses be added for l shot or would each planet & worm defense shoot as drone passes thru, in effect gving multifple chances for a hit? LemmyM's ideas sound good but like the Baron mentioned the AI isn't to swift in the managent area and if to complicated the drone issue won't get off the board, so maybe concentrate on only 1-2 simple uses like just the missle aspect and the scting drones. Also what weapons should be counted on to hit the drones? I don't thing every gun should be able to hit.
SJ, Baron, any ideas how to get some form of drones to work other then thru hard code changes??? LemmyM have you tried launching the ones you are designing??

just some ideas mac

Lemmy · #2 September 24th, 2001, 10:17 PM

quote:
LemmyM have you tried launching the ones you are designing??

i tried all the design except the fighter-sized drone, but that is just a modification to the large fighter, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Lemmy · #3 October 6th, 2001, 01:27 AM

it seems that stellar manip. doesn't work on fighters, i copied the star destroying component, and changed it so it could fit on a fighter. But when you build a fighter with that component, you can't select Stellar manip.

Suicide Junkie · #4 October 5th, 2001, 02:10 PM

quote:
would the total of all gun defenses be added for l shot or would each planet & worm defense shoot as drone passes thru, in effect gving multifple chances for a hit?
...
1-2 simple uses like just the missle aspect and the scting drones. Also what weapons should be counted on to hit the drones? I don't thing every gun should be able to hit.

The 1% chances would be for every drone-targetting weapon (anything that hits fighters, say). Gun #1 gets a 1% chance, then gun #2 get a 1% chance. That gives you diminishing returns, so even with 100 shots, you get (0.99)^100, rather than 0% chance of the drone surviving.

quote:
Since drones would automatically enter combat if they entered a sector with enemy forces, I don't think any 'statistical' effects are necessary.

Why would drones ever want to start a battle? The only way they could ever have a chance in combat would be with a huge movement bonus, +300% ECM (ignoring talismans) and carry a null-space warhead.

If you do the statistical thing, you could have Ships/Bases/Planets be hit just like natural events, using any sort of damage effect you like. You would also be able to skip a potentially large number of huge fleet battles (against a stream of drones), saving time.