[SCRIPT] Dedicated Assistant Drones (DAD) V4.7 [03.05.2009]

[pelador]

Currently ALPHA Testing with the help of user Idea the new wares and stations.

As a result Peladors Drones will become Extended Mod Pack (EMP mod) dependant, so if you want to download and install the mod in prepration feel free, assuming you dont already make use of it.

It's likely the new version will be released prior to the introduction of X3TC 2.0 but I dont envisage any compatability issues. Part of the ALPHA testing is checking in X3TC version 2.0 Beta.

I'm expecting the EMP to not suffer compatibility problems with Version 2.0 so far the 1.4 version runs without issue with X3TC 2.0 beta as expected but am sure the EMP mod will be checked and updated as needs for release 2.0.

[pelador]

V4 Now implemented:"Drones For Sale"

The Drones are now distributed in various sectors at Specialised Drone Research Stations. The types of Drones supplied at each station varies based upon the supplying race of the station. I wont detail which sectors for now as to not spoil the surprise but there are 16 new stations in total with various factions in seperate sectors.

The stock levels are controlled by a scripted process and do not use standard production processes. So you will only see products for sale at the stations. Noteriety is a factor in purchasing the drones from the various suppliers based on the drone type.

The factories are automatically "safely" generated in the various sectors. And if the sector is known to you it will reveal the factory within it as applicable otherwise you will have to discover them as normal.

Using the drones is the same as before, but the custom fitting process using resources is also still available. The priority of use is that if a ship has a bought drone for use it will use that first in preference to a custom fitted drone. Where options for Camouflaged MKII drones are needed and not intergral to the drone, you will still need to have available units of Cargo Bay Shielding to apply to either a bought or the customised drone.

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Technical notes:

Peladors Drones V4 now REQUIRES the use of the EMP mod. So please ensure that you are using this mod before installing, details in the linked thread.

An uninstall process is now supplied. This can be accessed via a hot keyed menu: "Special Drones Configuration".

What this does is removes the factories and instances of the wares from the universe. Once done you can then save the game and exit. And then remove the associated scripts and text file (details in the installation read me in the first post of this thread).

V4 uses a different text file 9510 so the text file 7810 (in ..[X3TC game folder ]/t) is no longer required and can be deleted.

Also if upgrading from previous versions please ensure that you have used up or ejected and destroyed the following previous wares from all your ships: Analysis Drone, Blitz Drone and Advanced Data Device.

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Gratitude and thanks go to user "Idea" for helping me test this new version of the Drones both in the existing V1.4 engine and also preparatory testing for V2.0. As a result we are now working together on the project and Idea is now focusing on the future implementation of new ship designs for dedicated drone ships where new features will be applied.

I hope as a result you find the Drones more accessable for use.

[dminor]

Got one for ya How bout a communication Drone that allows you to comm stations at a larger distance.

[pelador]

Got one for ya How bout a communication Drone that allows you to comm stations at a larger distance.

An extension of the comms system based on positioning a drone near a station?

I'm unusre if the comms process is hardcoded into the interface engine as I'm unaware of a scripting function that activates the comms with a station. It might be a signal or a standard script but the absence of a deliberate function to open communications might make it a non-starter using scripting techniques.

I will add it to the list for Brainstorming and look into it for you.

[Idea]

Here are some pictures of the drone for Pelador's Drones:
http://img256.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=89664372.jpg
It is not yet finished but I hope that it will "wet your appetite" . They are first drafts and not quite completed, I hope that you will like it.I didn't make the entire drone by myself I used a ship body found at this address http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/I ... /ID/305017 but the ship is free.I have done this as it was the easiest way to make something like that.I will off course build the ships from scratch as my modeling skills grows up.I hope you will not mind me for doing so. Feel free to criticise my first creation
Cheers

[pelador]

Deploy Shadow Drone

All Drones: [ external image ]

"The Paranid Overseers have developed a drone for their needs."
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Overview:

With any ship equipped with:

Explorer Command Software
Special Command Software

and has the following wares:

Spy Drone

OR

Custom process:
Recon Drone
Advanced Satallite


The ship can launch a drone that will "track or follow" a selected target ship, revealing information about the sector through normal travel operations. The advanced Satallite is used to convert a triplex scanner on the drone.

To order a ship that is equipped to do so simply go to the Special Drones menu under special commands in the command console. Its a fairly intuitive process after that. Select ship.

Carefull use has to be applied with settings as enemies will still attack Shadow drones.

Shadow Drones can be recalled. The command for this is found in the universal command menu of the interface. Interuptting with a recall means the drone will attempt to return to its home or launched from ship. The drone will also return if the target ship is "lost". In the case of a lost home ship it will hang in sector deploying the satallite to mark its location and a message of the location is sent.

(Possible Paranid Lore/History/flavouring to follow)

[pelador]

Deploy Privateers Drone

All Drones: [ external image ]

"The Yaki have developed a drone for their needs to mark targets more easily."
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Overview:

With any ship equipped with:

Explorer Command Software
Special Command Software

and has the following wares:

Spy Drone

OR

Custom process:
Recon Drone
Advanced Satallite
Microchip

Cargo Bay Shielding (Required for MKII)


The ship can launch a drone to a particular sector location (gates or traffic chokes points being the obvious choice). The extra components are used to convert a freight scanner on the drone.

To order a ship that is equipped to do so simply go to the Special Drones menu under information commands in the command console. Its a fairly intuitive process after that. Select sector position, wether a distinctive race. Then wether to analyse by price/value or a specific ware.

Once at its location it will scan up to 10 ships (of class TS, TP, TM and M3) in a 8km range and report back details based upon the desired programmed settings. The entries are sent to the players log book. Note duplicate ships or no ships may be reported as a result.

Information is sent about the type of ship, its destination (if it has one, sometimes not set), offensive and defensive capabilities and its cargo as applicable.

Carefull use has to be applied with settings as enemies will still attack Privateer drones.

Privateer Drones can be recalled. The command for this is found in the universal command menu of the interface. Interuptting with a recall means the drone will attempt to return to its home or launched from ship. In the case of a lost home ship it will hang in sector and a message of the location is sent.

MKII Privateer drones are a little bit more secretive in their work. As a result all communications are lost and no details are recieved from its gravidar scanner to prevent possible detection. MKII drones need 1 unit of Cargo Bay Shielding (CBS) to be applied to the drone.


(Possible Yaki Lore/History/flavouring to follow)

[pelador]

Deploy Economic Drone

All Drones: [ external image ]

"The Teladi have extended the purpose of the advert drone."
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Overview:

With any ship equipped with:

Trading System Extension
Special Command Software

and has the following wares:

Advert Drone

OR

Custom process:
Recon Drone
Teladianium x 100
Promotional Plates x 3


The ship can launch a drone to a particular sector. Where eventually it will deploy it's advert beacon.

To order a ship that is equipped to do so simply go to the Special Drones menu under trade commands in the command console. Its a fairly intuitive process after that. Select sector, then number of analysis cycles (10 - 100).

The drone will then complete a number of cycles as specified travelling to all factories that have one product (so trading stations, docks and other stations are ignored) where it will compare the stock against maximum each time in every cycle. Upon completion of the analysis it will write a report to the players log book given analysis details and also a average stock % for each factory's product so that useful supply sources can be identified. It will then deploy its Advert beacon (same as the regular Advert Beacon) at its best factory based on the analysis. You have to have knowledge of the factory and good relations to include it in the analysis.

Analysis times can be lengthy and relative to the number of factories in the sector, though delay times still exist for small factory numbers to get a good study. (Analysis times are measured in an order of IG hours) but more cycles means a better statistical representation over time.

Carefull use has to be applied with settings as enemies will still attack Economic drones.


(Possible Teladi Lore/History/flavouring to follow)

[pelador]

Deploy Collection Drone

All Drones: [ external image ]

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Overview:

With any ship equipped with:

Special Command Software

and has the following wares:

Freight Drone

Cargo Bay Shielding (Required for MKII)


The ship can launch a drone to collect flying wares within a sector like the standard drone but in a more intelligent manner. It has 3 modes:


1) Ordinance: Collects only weapons, missiles and shields in value order.

2) Value: Collects all wares by value.

3) Mines : Collects "disarmed" mines of a particular type.


To order a ship that is equipped to do so simply go to the Special Drones menu under trade commands in the command console. Its a fairly intuitive process after that.

The Collection drones can be used as a team and sensibly they will co-ordinate with each other, if used together, so as not to chase after the same ware (based on settings).

They will also only collect wares and volumes that either the home ship can carry or the drone itself.

They will also automatically return and dock with the home ship when no more possible (based on the above) target wares are in the sector or their energy becomes too low. However, Collection Drones can be recalled. The command for this is found in the universal command menu of the interface. Interuptting with a recall means the drone will attempt to return to its home or launched from ship at the end of its current sub-task. In the case of a lost home ship it will hang in sector and a message of the location is sent.

Carefull use has to be applied with settings as enemies will still attack Collection drones.

MKII Collection drones are a little bit more secretive in their work. As a result all communications are lost and no details are recieved from its gravidar scanner to prevent possible detection.
MKII drones need 1 unit of Cargo Bay Shielding (CBS) to be applied to the drone.



(Possible Teladi Lore/History/flavouring to follow)

[pelador]

V4.1 version now available. New: Shadow, Privateer, Economic and Collection Drones. Details above.

Some improvements and tweaks, noteably:

Jump to shortcut beacon and Relay Navigation beacon moved to new menu and joined with a new command recall drone for those specified as having the use. (New menu screens on main first post).

Small Orbital weapons platforms reduced resources from 80 chips to 56 for the custom process and both the custom and factory drones now add a 1GJ shield to the SOWP.

Advert drone ship changed to a recon drone from freight. Resources and functionality unchanged.

The reset message on loading start has been moved to a less imposing log book message.

[Hieronymos]

Can you explain more about the Collection Drone's ability to collect mines?

Can it collect SQUASH mines?...or would it need another specialized drone to disarm them first?

[pelador]

V4.2 Bug fix correction to the collection drone when collecting mines.

[pelador]

Can you explain more about the Collection Drone's ability to collect mines?

Can it collect SQUASH mines?...or would it need another specialized drone to disarm them first?

Sure.

The collection drone is ordered into the collect mines mode and then it is asked which type of mine (Ion, Matter/Anti matter, Squash or Tracker). This imho gives a bit more flexibility in which mines are collected. Such that if you have a large field with multiple mines and types the use of more than one drone is suggested to expediate the process. It will only collect mines belonging to the player.

The player has to disarm mines first when collecting mines. A reminder message is sent to the player on the launch of collection drones when collecting them. This has to be done as minefields are precarious and dependant on placement if you only disarm a few and then send a drone wandering amongst armed and disarmed ones it could prove hazardous.

Therefore, as a process, I saw it as more sensible that the player would click on a mine and use the disarm all mines commands to shut them down prior to collection. As far as I'm aware the "disarm all" relates to a specific sector, though you may want to test it out in relation to multiple flavours, I'll try to find time soon to check this myself. But I would hope the disarm all, arm all commands relate to all mines but could be of a specific flavour. But even if so thats currently still only 4 commands total for disarming rather than 1.

There arent any specific script functions or appear to be a standard script for the drone to inteligently disarm on collection only the one it is targeting or others it flys close to in its work, to then re-arm when out of safe range. But doing such a process would be more performance intensive than just a shut-down of all mines and collect. So I opted for the simpler process.

I think as a result it will help minefield management certainly in removal and even if the player may have to think more creatively for plugging some holes the drones hopefully will help. Remember, collection drones have a recall function so carefull timing of this can help with micro-managing the collection process, as rule of thumb they will always go for the nearest one. As an idea however it could be possible to add and include/exclude flag to mines that the player pre-set for specific mines if it was deemed required to help such a process.

Future concepts for dedicated Drone ships that Idea and myself are brainstorming will as current intended design and from your suggestion include the ability to deploy large minefields in various pattern arrays using multiple drones from a single command. Thus hopefully giving the player a useful tactical option.

I dont have a great deal of experience with large minefields (mostly scripting and testing atm than playing ), but if anyone wants to propose useful patterns they would like to see in use, please do so.

At the moment I have thought of:

1) Cube (27 points)
2) Square (9 points)
3) Large star (+ 3d star of 6 points)
4) Ring/Octagon (Circling station, need to test for best settings, multiple points)

(Where each "point" is an array of 6 mines in a "6 point (+) 3d star" as dropped by the Mine Layer Drone, note the spherical diameter of a point is 2km or 1km radius in all (x,y,z) directions from the drone deployment position. And if you could think of patterns that can work intuitively from one sector position selection point it would be appreciated.)

Also if you want to suggest individual drone deployment patterns using the drone as a reference position feel free also, the two could then be combined for more flexibility.

[Hieronymos]

One point to consider is the blast radius of the different types. Your apparently default spacing distance of 1km. is probably ideal in that respect.

Another idea could be to create multi-type fields, with interwoven zones of >1 type. Just as modern anti-tank and anti-personnel mines are often interspersed in a single field. The Germans in WWII were probably masters of that particular art.
.....................

Btw, what is the top speed of the tracker mine? (which of course determines their usefulness vs. M4-->M5 classes)
.....................

Have you given thought to including MOWP and LOWP types to your OWP Constructor drone concept? Perhaps the bigger platforms could require a Heavy Constructor Drone type for assembly (raising the bar on access to MOWP & LOWP).

Another idea, since you're now aboard with EMP, would be to link a specific ware to access different OWP types: e.g. a "Mobile Machine Shop" (or "OWP Assembly Shop") that'd be sold at SY's for ??? Cr.'s, and have cargo volume of, say, 6,000 XL (which'd prevent all but the largest TS's from using it). The MOWP/LOWP could require the "Large Orbital Platform Assembly Shop", weighing in at 9,000 ST (requiring either a TL--or a modded TS SuperF). Actual OWP placement and construction would also require drones.

Eventually, you could use the MD to have various (modded stock vanilla) missions become triggers to access every level of technology.

Your keeping of specific drone technologies race-specific is also a very good move, imo, as the value of good x-tech goes up--not down--in value the more exclusive it is.

As far as fixed defenses (OWP's, minefields) go, perhaps the Teladi and and Argon would favor them...or the Boron, since with all of the Industrial Capacity they lost to the Split in the last war, they could somewhat compensate with fixed defences. Split would seem the least interested, as their military ethos is so offense-oriented...

[pelador]

One point to consider is the blast radius of the different types. Your apparently default spacing distance of 1km. is probably ideal in that respect.

Another idea could be to create multi-type fields, with interwoven zones of >1 type. Just as modern anti-tank and anti-personnel mines are often interspersed in a single field. The Germans in WWII were probably masters of that particular art.
.....................

Btw, what is the top speed of the tracker mine? (which of course determines their usefulness vs. M4-->M5 classes)
.....................

Have you given thought to including MOWP and LOWP types to your OWP Constructor drone concept? Perhaps the bigger platforms could require a Heavy Constructor Drone type for assembly (raising the bar on access to MOWP & LOWP).

Another idea, since you're now aboard with EMP, would be to link a specific ware to access different OWP types: e.g. a "Mobile Machine Shop" (or "OWP Assembly Shop") that'd be sold at SY's for ??? Cr.'s, and have cargo volume of, say, 6,000 XL (which'd prevent all but the largest TS's from using it). The MOWP/LOWP could require the "Large Orbital Platform Assembly Shop", weighing in at 9,000 ST (requiring either a TL--or a modded TS SuperF). Actual OWP placement and construction would also require drones.

Eventually, you could use the MD to have various (modded stock vanilla) missions become triggers to access every level of technology.

Your keeping of specific drone technologies race-specific is also a very good move, imo, as the value of good x-tech goes up--not down--in value the more exclusive it is.

As far as fixed defenses (OWP's, minefields) go, perhaps the Teladi and and Argon would favor them...or the Boron, since with all of the Industrial Capacity they lost to the Split in the last war, they could somewhat compensate with fixed defences. Split would seem the least interested, as their military ethos is so offense-oriented...

Thanks for the feedback.

People could go for overkill by "stacking" field patterns on top of one another to get the interwoven effect.

Unsure about the speed of the tracker mines. I imagine ES designed mines to have a blast radius intentionally to compensate for ship speeds. But am sure the tracking speed of those particular mines is a factor. You could evaluate them yourself if you like? I'd be interested to know your evaluation.

The EMP mod uses a modification of TwareT file which is limited to negligable volume. A pity as I wanted to develop my own balancing characteristics with volumes with the various drones. I sent a request to LV about practicalities of changing volumes, yet to get a responce, but I imagine its a non-starter with TwareT. But modding my own other Twares file would represent a shift to a more modded orientated development that begins to raise compatibility issues with other developments. Hence I chose the EMP mod as it is intended as a community resource to avoid potential conflicts and easier to manage as resources have been identified for its use. As a result hard to use EMP for OWP wares.

The standard wares list includes OWPs for ships, but how that translates into cargo volumes for potential transportation I'm unsure. I'd need to check the files. Primarily I chose Small OWP's for drones with a realistic feel that the bigger platforms where a little unyieldy for drones. But I could consider those options with greater resource requirements and costs. The foundation is already laid to include them, but to remain community freindly as far as I understand I wouldnt be able to include them as EMP wares with the cargo balancing qualities for off the shelf drones. Credits could help here but not ideal and restrictions could be applied for ship class for launch potential but it doesnt cover the whole problem, and could be dissapointing if bought and found not to be useable even with the info. guides.

One potential solution could be combining the resource requirements with station construction kit(s). That would at least place retrictions sensibly in the realm of TL's.

Let me give it some thought.

(Also need to discuss further with Deadly about balancing ware management in DDRS, I beleive he has some ideas.)

[Hieronymos]

Brainstorm!

When brainstorming with Brand-X about the Boading-Ops sequel to his excellent UniCap1 script, I'd proposed offering several types of Combot (combat robots) to the various different racial types and qualities of Marine.

Split Marines were the overall best in combat, but were weaker in technical skills.
Boron & Teladi tended to be strongest in Tech, but weakest in combat.
The Yaki were to have "Black Lotus Space Commandos"..elite troops with superb combat and hacking skills..

Regarding bots:

The Xenon Combots were weak at combat, but had excellent Hacking, Engineering, & Hull-breech ability.
The Argon had excellent BattleBots, to precede their marine teams to keep casualties low (but didn't care about damage to target ship interior).
...............

So, what about expanding your Blitz Drone concept by including other specialist drones that deliver other specialist 'bots to target ship? E.g.:

1) Improved Blitz Drone (it could even be another race's property--to spread the love): greatly increased chance of disabling Internal Laser Security (while keeping damage to target hull down).
2) Hull Breech Drone: virtual 100% chance to disable target Hull Polarization. Later models could create a flag on target ship increasing Breeching skill of player marines to max for a given time period.
3) Combot Drone: temporarily boosts combat skills of all inserted marines aboard target to max. for 30 minute window; also increases damage to target hull.
4) Yaki Black Lotus Combat Drone: inserts Yaki Black Lotus Combots aboard target. Takes out internal laser security (90% chance), temporaily boosts combat skills of marines by 2 stars--while decreasing hull damage to target.
5) Combat Infiltrator Drone: infiltrates target ships comms and video cam system, locking in player marine, locking target crew: gives temporary +1 star to combat ability for 30 mins., plus increase chances of ship crew surrendering prematurely (demoralizes target crew).
6) Xenon HackerBot Drone: does same, except boosts engineering & hacking skills of marines.
7) HackerBot Drone: to be used against TS,TP,M3 and smaller. Fired when target shields down. High chance (65%) against civilian, low chance (35%) against military targets of shutting down target engines, hacking computer and transferring ownership to player.

(as a mod add-on for DDRS or others, any/all specialist Assault Drones could require ships fitted to fire a particular type of Launcher Torpedo). For a plugin: requiring a corresponding ware ("HackerBotDrone Launcher/Controller") limits access; especially to access of using ship by shipclass. I.e.: "L" cargo size rules out all M4's, some M3's; "XL" rules out all fighters, TP's; "ST" rules out almost everything except TL's and a few M1/M2's.

For a mod, more flexibility in access options exist. I.e. all Yaki ships of M3+ or larger (or whatever) could be fitted with Yaki Black Lotus
Combot Drone Launchers...or only Split M6,M7 would automatically have launching capability for Xenon HackerBot Drones..etc.
...............

Idea for an Access Mission: would use stock MD "Retrieve Ship" mission, slightly modded. Player is contacted by mysterious Yaki operative (once his combat rank & Yaki rep are at xxxx levels, respectively). Player is asked if he's interested in acquiring access to Yaki Black Lotus Combots and 'Bot DroneLaunchers. If so, he's requested to dock at xxxx station in a xxx class vessel, with 10 marines + xxx amount free cargo space. Once docked, he's contacted again, given mission brief, and has 'Bot Launcher/Controller loaded aboard + xxx BotDrones.
Mission is to intercept and capture Paranid TL loaded with a PSG Forge, then return TL to xxx SY. Success earns Cash + access to Yaki BotDrones & Lchr/Cntrlr's.

[Hieronymos]

One potential solution could be combining the resource requirements with station construction kit(s). That would at least place retrictions sensibly in the realm of TL's.

Please clarify?
Do you mean using a Hub Construction Kit as part of an OWP?

By requiring use of at least 1 XL sized ware type for SOWP's you can at least exclude all small ships. And by requiring total volume of OWP component wares to exceed a certain amount--like 8,000--you can effectively exclude everything except superfreighters and TL's.

................

Once Cycrow's Ship Installer is fully operational, the X3R practice of players ship-shopping the various mods to import their fave ships into their personal games will commence bigtime.

So if DDRS creates a Black Ops Corvette (with all the software/interface wares for use of Assassination Drone, SpyDrone, TrackerDrone, etc. installed as default, player would also need to install and use your Drone Pack script.

Same would go for a dedicated OWP Constructor/Minefield layer TL..

Or a BattleDrone Light Carrier..

[pelador]

Nice ideas "H", and full of flavour aswell.

A lot to do and test also.

MD still have to find time to learn more about it.

Some of the concepts for boarding could be readily applied.

But hard to apply to a standard process that uses specific objects with skills and qualities defined for them. The bots could be used to "hook" into the process to potentially temporarily enchance marine qualities and revert them after operations as obviously I dont want to start changing standard processes, but could emulate changes where the bots are included in the process. This may likley not be able to enchance maxed out marines but could enchance weaker skilled ones to be more effective as a result.

[pelador]

One potential solution could be combining the resource requirements with station construction kit(s). That would at least place retrictions sensibly in the realm of TL's.

Please clarify?

Simply requiring (Station/Factory complex hub kits) CK's as a required resource in the launch profile for the larger platforms, that is consumed on launch. But emulated as shared out components amongst a larger team of drones.

[pelador]

Once Cycrow's Ship Installer is fully operational, the X3R practice of players ship-shopping the various mods to import their fave ships into their personal games will commence bigtime.

So if DDRS creates a Black Ops Corvette (with all the software/interface wares for use of Assassination Drone, SpyDrone, TrackerDrone, etc. installed as default, player would also need to install and use your Drone Pack script.

Same would go for a dedicated OWP Constructor/Minefield layer TL..

Or a BattleDrone Light Carrier..

Indeed, Idea is currently working on the details of these particular ship concepts already. With a view that various built in enchancements will be applied with their useage, and I'll try to make the associated scripted processes (plugging into the exisiting drones) "attractive" to use. Even with Managers I may still make it an optional expansion simply for user choice.

Its still early days so I don't want to jump the gun with taking the suprise away from when Idea is ready to offer more details, but we have been brainstorming dedicated drone ship concepts.