Request for opinions on AI drone use.

[Baron Munchausen]

As with everything else, the AI does not coordinate its use of drones very well. So, relying on them as a major part of an AIs ability is not a good idea. The really odd thing that I have seen is that the AI will launch them into space when there is no target and they just sit there over the planet as if they were satellites. Since they are not satellites and eventually run out of fuel this is ridiculously stupid. Then when it spots a target it will send them in little Groups launched from these standing 'pools' over nearby planets. This generally results in one, two, or three drones attacking at a time even when the total sent against the target is much higher. So I have to agree that the standard AI is better off without them. It's just too stupid to use them.

Careful tweaking of AI files might result in effective use, though. For example, if you don't put any references to drones in the VehicleConstruction file, and use the UnitConstruction file to have them built at only one sort of colony, like military installations, you will probably concentrate them enough to make the AIs uncoordinated uses more effective. Will it be effective enough? I guess that will have to be tested.

I haven't seen any AI build a single drone carrier yet. What sort of hull does it use when you see it build one? A transport? A carrier? Or a standard warship hull?

[ May 19, 2002, 17:45: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

[Alpha Kodiak]

Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
I haven't seen any AI build a single drone carrier yet. What sort of hull does it use when you see it build one? A transport? A carrier? Or a standard warship hull?

The way I have them defined, it is using a standard warship hull. You could probably get it to use a transport as well, but I think the warship hull is better because it can keep up with a fleet.

I may have to play around with the idea of putting them on a specific colony, or in some other way limiting them. I am just not sure what to do with them yet.

[Atraikius]

Alpha - I've had them using mostly transports, I thought it seemed to help with the launching all the drones in one battle problem, as they had a large amount of cargo and only a few launch bays. Didn't have too much problem with the small number being launched being overwhelmed by defenses because I have them chasing Colony Ships, transports, and unarmed ships as their primary targets.

Baron - The launching drones into orbit with no targets is part of the percent to keep as cargo line of the Settings file. For drones you should set it to 100 so that the drones are not launched into orbit as soon as they are built.