Protecting Stations and Complexes

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Instruguey (13)

Posted 11 years ago.

Many of my Stations and Complexes have a squad of four M3's and/or an M6 or two 'homed' at them for protection.
I get the announcement that one of my Stations or Complexes is under attack.
I go to that Sector and find out that the 'homed' ships haven't launched and attack the enemy.

Are these pilots lazy, scared, or demanding a pay increase?

Is there some command I need to give them besides 'homing' them?
I have seen where sometimes the 'homed' ships will launch when their Station/Complex is attacked, but my concern lays with those that won't.
Any ideas?

It's not what someone has done..it's about what they are about to do!

cjm3fl

Instruguey (13)

Posted 11 years ago.

I'm still having this problem.
Frequency seems to have increased with my recent adventures into Gaian Star areas, and the taking home of my 6 Pirate capital-ship prizes.

Any thoughts?
All ships/wings are 'homed', all have weapons and missiles installed, all turrets have targeting commands. Only Kha'ah and Xenon are listed as "enemy" with ships and Complexes.

It's almost like the only time the defense ships will launch is if the docking-hub is accidentally hit in the attack. The attackers are targeting only a single Station of the Complex, and the defenders don't seem to recognize the threat.

It's getting to the point where I'm thinking of having them "protect" a satellite that I will place close to the Station or Complex. This seems to work when I have to place a defending capital ship near a Station/Complex.
Or maybe listing Pirates as "enemy"?

It's not what someone has done..it's about what they are about to do!

Sinxar

Cruguey (18)

Posted 11 years ago.

I thought I responded to this but apparently not. Anywho I have the same problem. From what I understand you are correct in the assumption that they will only attack if the hub itself is under attack. What I started doing is making a wing 'attack target nearest...' and select the station if i have wings I never plan to use. Another way is to have some ships defend position at the complex. You can do this without using wings by making the support ships "attack target of..." and selecting the leader ship that has the "defend position" command active. Obviously if your complex is gigantic then it will need multiple groups spread out to cover it all.

Setting up some patrols goes a long way in preventing attacks to begin with. However I have found that you have to be very careful on what ships you select for patrols. Dragons are a no-no. Hydras work pretty well. Just load them up full of the most powerful weapon it can fit and make a wing patrol a sector or two. I used groups of 3 Hydras for patrols, but any well shielded M6 would work.

If you are wondering why Dragons are on my blacklist for patrols... I have watched 1 pirate elite take down a group of 3 Dragons (OOS) that was loaded up with CIGs. How that is even possible I have no clue. Pirate Nova Raiders are also extremely deadly OOS, one of those took out 2 Dragons and left the last with 5% hull. So thats something to watch out for.

(edited to include the correct wing command)

cjm3fl

Instruguey (13)

Posted 11 years ago.

Thanks for the input.
I've found Dragons are definitely better in escort duties.
I have been using Heavy Dragons, Skirons, and Hydras, in pairs, for Complex protection...docked and 'homed', along with 4 or 5 M3's. But I don't presently have that many M6's on hand.
And none of the M6 or M3's launch when needed.

I've had to leave a Tiger (M7) with 'attack all enemies' order in the Sector having the most problem(s).
But this is causing me some problems as I have 2 illegal Complexes there and Duke's freighters are a good part of my customer base.

It's not what someone has done..it's about what they are about to do!

Roguey

Trueguey (22)

Posted 11 years ago.

Kindof were the game has a bit of grey-area: I mean OOS calculations arent the best and some odd results can happen, or not. Ive had a single Pirate M3 kill a whole complex, where in-fact a M3 would struggle doing so much damage (in sector). Ive had fighters who wont defend their complex, to others who all launch and get killed in seconds. I tend to build them away from danger as I know you get some very odd results (defending complexs/stations isnt very well done). If trouble happens, then I normally jump there and try and sort it out before any serious problems.

This is where X-Tension seem to do it better, when you ordered fighters they actually seem to do something, maybe just me?!

Sinxar

Cruguey (18)

Posted 11 years ago.

I have yet to try x-tension so I cannot comment on that. Your situation is a tough one for sure. I have found that any defense command including 'patrol sectors' will cause them to attack the dukes guys even if you have a high standing and pirates set to friend. Not sure why they do this but IMO that seems more like a bug than anything. They shouldn't attack dukes when they are blue but they do anyway.

Roguey

Trueguey (22)

Posted 11 years ago.

Do you have show hostile targets to me on? as this will make them red to that ship.

cjm3fl

Instruguey (13)

Posted 11 years ago.

They shouldn't attack dukes when they are blue but they do anyway.
- Sinxar

"Duke's" ships (the freighters) have always been red in my game so they should be open targets to my defending ships and laser towers. Which is a minor problem with some of my 'illegal' producers.

Do you have show hostile targets to me on? as this will make them red to that ship.
- Roguey

I have Xenon and Kha'ah listed "foe", only. I don't see exactly what you're speaking of Roguey--but I see "Show as enemy if enemy to me" and have it as "yes" under Set from global settings.

I guess I'm just going to have to keep my ears open to the "Attention: One of your factories is under attack" notices..then send my 'homed' ships out to get the little butt-heads off my lawn Rambo

Warning: Poster is in the process of unprovoked thinking, warning.....
I'm going to throw this out...for no reason but it just popped into my head...
There is no possibility that having Split ships 'homed' at a Boron-based Complex might be creating an issue?

It's not what someone has done..it's about what they are about to do!

Roguey

Trueguey (22)

Posted 11 years ago.

I see "Show as enemy if enemy to me" and have it as "yes" under Set from global settings.
- cjm3fl

If you have this on, it will be marked red even if you set the race to friend. If you want to ingore it completely, set the race to friend and turn off Show as enemy if enemy to me. You may need to do this for each ship/laser-tower etc.

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