how to use the attack nearest enemy command?

[Cursed Ghost]

Hi all

Could someone explain how the attack nearest enemy command is supposed to work because it makes no sense to me?

For example I select my corvette select the attack nearest enemy command and when it asks me to select a target I select my corvette again expecting the corvette to attack the enemy closes to its self but then the corvette just idles and does nothing in spite of the fact that there are enemies in scanning range so how are you supposed to use this command ?

Is this command intended for use on wingmen by chance ? so select a wingman give it the attack nearest enemy command and then when it asks for a target select the wing leader? meaning the wingman will attack the target closest to the wing leader because that's about the only thing I can think of that would make sense, but if that is the case then why isn't the attack nearest enemy command available when I broadcast to all wingmen ?

[Alan Phipps]

I typically use it for fighter groups. The group leader is the only one I give any orders to but the other 4 escorting fighters in the group have the following commands:
2x Attack Target of Leader
2x Attack Nearest Enemy to Leader

There's more in this thread.

[Cursed Ghost]

sadly that link doesn't really help and I'm still not clear on what the attack nearest enemy command is supposed to do or how to use it.

I would of assumed that the attack nearest enemy command would do exactly what you would think it does aka make the ship running that command attack the enemy closes to them so if I was to set that command on my corvette then the corvette would attack the enemy closest to its self but it doesn't seem to work like that so I'm a little confused ?

That's why I'm wondering if this command is intended for wingmen, so if for example say I was setting up a sector patrol I set the Corvette to patrol the sector and then set the wingmen to attack the enemy closest to the Corvette but if that is the case then why is that command not available when you broadcast to all wingmen?

see the reason I'm asking is because I have a group of about 30 khaak m3s which I've set as wingmen but I'm having issues getting the desired behaviour from them.

for example

say I designate one of the khaak m3s to be group leader set the other 29 to protect the group leader and then set the group leader to attack all enemies then I would expect the group leader to select targets according to how close they are but that's not what happens instead even when there are closer targets the group leader is targeting the enemy on the other side of the sector which is pretty annoying, hence why I had hoped that I could set the group leader to attack the enemy closes to its self and stop the annoying inefficient back and forth when there are closer targets.

I also don't seem to be able to tell my fighter group to protect my station when I try it wont let me set the station as a protection target, home basing the fighters to the station doesn't help either because when the station is attacked the fighters don't return home after the attackers have been eliminated / fled.

nor does it seem to be possible to tell my fighters to only fly a certain distance from my station before leashing and returning to the station should the attacker flee

honestly this lack ability to properly control my fleet is aggravating, I do which ego would fix this.

[Alan Phipps]

I use Attack Nearest Enemy (to the Leader) quite successfully as a complement to Attack Target of Leader so that not all my escorting ships go after the same targets in a furball fight.

In the example you gave, the 29 ships on Protect will only attack a ship that has already hit the leader and even then they will all only attack that particular one unless being attacked themselves. Protect is rather passive in nature while the Attack orders are a bit more aggressive.

Note that I am using subordination for the groupings rather than allocating wingmen as I like the control I have by giving orders to group leaders. Here's another thread generally about this.

[jlehtone]

sadly that link doesn't really help and I'm still not clear on what the attack nearest enemy command is supposed to do or how to use it.

Lets have ships A and B. The B is set to run "attack nearest enemy of A". Therefore, B escorts (follows) A.

Some enemies approach A. B does not currently have any target, so it does target the foe (X) that happens to be nearest to A at the time. Then B attacks X until one of them is dead. If B is still alive and if there are still enemies near A, then B will target the next nearest enemy.

I cannot remember what was the distance threshold -- how close to A an enemy has to come to be considered "near".


The Protect (defend) is indeed passive. Reactive, rather than pro-active.
At least in X3, but I presume also in X2 there is "signaling" in formation.

Let say A has two escorts, B and C. B protects A. C attacks target of A.

Foe X damages A.
A targets X and sends "I'm under attack by X" signal to B an C.
B targets X because that is what the protector does.
C targest X because A did target X.
X gets killed.

Foe Y damages C.
C targets Y as reaction and sends "I'm under attack by Y" signal to A.
A may target Y, and definitely sends "C is under attack by Y" signal to B.
B targets Y because that is what the protector does.
Y gets killed.