That is odd. Thank you for reporting it, I need to add some additional checks. I thought I had added enough tests to ensure that it would exclude stations that the drones couldn't dock at, but clearly not.
I can dock at stations in border Boron sectors, actually, it´s just that i can´t trade. So the Freight Drones were docking, but were unable to buy anything.
You issued the standard 'Collect Rocks' command or the standard 'Mine and Trade' command. Those commands will be available to you as part of the base game. Nothing to do with my script. My script does not contain commands to make the TL collect rocks itself. My script makes the TL sit still and watch for hostiles, controlling drones from afar.
IIRC, i told the Mining Ship to collect the minerals, and then wait for further orders ( could also be to unload them at Homebase; trade&sale ain´t a choice for me actually in my HQ sector ).
The Drone Miner breaks off mining when the sector is empty or whenever its cargo hold is reduced to under 800 space left (plus some room for a full load of energy). After it finishes mining it performs its unload/trade operation. Then before returning to mining it replenishes its consumables. That is just the way it is going to be. You can turn off Use Missiles under advanced settings. A blacklist may help it avoid massive sectors.
I see, but would it be possible to create kind of supplier for the Mining Ship, similar to Lucikes Tender, which would ressuply it ( i could supply the ship by external Tenders, but if their timing isn´t perfect, the ship would still jump away ).
At least it would be good for the ship to send a message it needs equipment, and after a period of time it would give up waiting, and go search for the wares itself.
Interesting, sounds like another script is collecting them. I'll check the code, but when the drones are created they are given a [HOMEBASE]. The homebase can only be changed by a script and the drones can only return to [HOMEBASE]. I have a Tern I'll set patrolling my home sector, but I am skeptical that this is something in the script itself.
Edit: Another possibility is that they are being destroyed, hostiles attacking the, friendly fire, being shot by missiles (AI enemies may be targeting them with missiles), in sector collisions. Drones can also run out of energy, though 1.1 does a better job of monitoring for this. Also, is it Fighter Drone MK2 that are disappearing or the Freight Drones, please let me know, so that I know where to check.
Edit 2: Ohhh... I think I see what could happen, FD Mk2 could work themselves to death. Did you bust a roid? I've not seen this happen under normal conditions, but the problem is clear.. FD Mk2 could exceed their 10 minute lifetime. Its a small change, I'll hotfix it.
They were Fighter Drones MK II, 20 of them, all 20 landed at my Shrike, 2 times in a raw. Since there were hostilities i can imagine some routine has been activated, but which? Drones ain´t civil ships, like my CAG´s, but maybe they are treated as such since they are not for the self defence purpose?
Actually that Shrike of mine was running CODEA + SRS from Lucike, but it was stationary, though it´s action radius is quite big ( at least 50km ).
But CODEA doesn´t collect even it´s own drones used by fighters, or fleet ships, so i don´t know.
On a different note: would it be possible to add Keris drones along with the MK II ones, - i´m playing Terran char, and do not produce Commonwealth stuff, actually ( would be neat ).
And no, i didn´t use the "Bust the Roid" command, firstly because i need them for my local plex, and also because you said it wasn´t yet safe to be used.
About the sector clearing of rocks - it´s nice to know you can still do it by editing the files, just a question: once i´ve edited, and am done with a particular sector, can i safely reverse the changes, so that my Mining Ship would start working "normal"?
Thanks for taking your time
"Only fools seek power, and only the greatest fools seek it through force".
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