[SCR] MARS Fire Control (v5.25 - 16.02.13)

[MaitrePlaton]

Hi !

I have the same problem.

With the MARS soft activated on my M2, only the first slot of each rail is full. The other ones stay empty, even when I select a weapon.

I tried firing, and only one slot shoot, the other ones being empty.

I don't understand because I don't have this problem with my M7 where I can fill all the weapon's slots, and all of them fire at ennemies, unlike for my M2.

[Gazz]

I'm just starting to use the script now on my Dragon, its just one turret with pretty limited weapon choices, but still working wonders. I especially love the goblins!
These little buggers keep the enemy busy for ages!
Now I love drones, not sure why.. but they appeal to me on some level (I loved the game overlord too btw :P)

They are the wingmen you never had. Unlike "real" wingmen they don't ask for repairs, jump fuel, shields, cookies, milk, lasers, missiles, a hug, and godknowswhat else.
And they help you instead of being a liability, needing your protection.

I check my drone level, expecting to have to replace most if not all of them... I've lost 5. Total.

Did I mention they are smarter than the lobotomised lemmigs ES trained as fighter pilots?

Missile defence:
Does the drones launch automatically to defend against missiles?
What if I'm already at the goblin cap?

Yes.
You can hit the cap with manual launches but MARS is more conservative.
Right now at least 2 drones are kept in reserve for missile defense. Well, unless you choose to manually deploy all goblins otherwise. Your ship, your decision.

Does it support mark II drones? (where do I get these anyways?)
If it does, or will, perhaps you should make a name change since they are such an improvement. Hobgoblins perhaps?

What would be the advantage?
Which MARS task would Mk2 fulfill better than Mk1?

Lastly I want to suggest a feature, though this might be a bit out of the intended field for M.A.R.S.
Marine transport: Make the goblins (or perhaps only MKII) ferry the marines to the boarding target.
Not sure if this is possible to code, but would be a nice feature if it was possible.

Ah, the I-word again. Impossible is such an overused term.

Goblins can already tow a ship X to position Y if said destination is saved in a local variable on ship X.

I just never had a marine of my own so I know nothing of them.
Besides, MARS does not know about boarding, keeping shields down, and taking prisoners. It's only ever been trained to kill.
For boarding, it has an ignore hotkey, though....

[Methel]

Advantage of MKII drones is that they are stronger and more durable.
Since I have limited turret coverage I use the goblins to hunt down m5's.

[Gazz]

But Mk2 can't possibly catch an M5.
Even some M3 are faster...

[Grimm Spector]

This is awesome, I must try it out...

But I must say by the sounds of it this is an item that should be added to the economy, we must have fabs for this!!

[Grimm Spector]

Gazz:

Considering the effectiveness of the goblin system (Now with added missile defense) Would it be natural to boost the cost of fighter drones or perhaps add a cost of usage to it ?

Idea could be that the player buy normal fighter drones at normal market price. But the MARS ship upgrade, have to modify the drones to goblin drones. And this have a credit cost to it. As to represent some way of resources needed for this upgrade.

I think Goblins should cost an Energy cell each time they launch...

[MaitrePlaton]

Hi !

I have the same problem.

With the MARS soft activated on my M2, only the first slot of each rail is full. The other ones stay empty, even when I select a weapon.

I tried firing, and only one slot shoot, the other ones being empty.

I don't understand because I don't have this problem with my M7 where I can fill all the weapon's slots, and all of them fire at ennemies, unlike for my M2.

[Grimm Spector]

I'm just starting to use the script now on my Dragon, its just one turret with pretty limited weapon choices, but still working wonders. I especially love the goblins!
These little buggers keep the enemy busy for ages!
Now I love drones, not sure why.. but they appeal to me on some level (I loved the game overlord too btw )

They are the wingmen you never had. Unlike "real" wingmen they don't ask for repairs, jump fuel, shields, cookies, milk, lasers, missiles, a hug, and godknowswhat else.
And they help you instead of being a liability, needing your protection.

I check my drone level, expecting to have to replace most if not all of them... I've lost 5. Total.

Did I mention they are smarter than the lobotomised lemmigs ES trained as fighter pilots?

Missile defence:
Does the drones launch automatically to defend against missiles?
What if I'm already at the goblin cap?

Yes.
You can hit the cap with manual launches but MARS is more conservative.
Right now at least 2 drones are kept in reserve for missile defense. Well, unless you choose to manually deploy all goblins otherwise. Your ship, your decision.

Does it support mark II drones? (where do I get these anyways?)
If it does, or will, perhaps you should make a name change since they are such an improvement. Hobgoblins perhaps?

What would be the advantage?
Which MARS task would Mk2 fulfill better than Mk1?

Lastly I want to suggest a feature, though this might be a bit out of the intended field for M.A.R.S.
Marine transport: Make the goblins (or perhaps only MKII) ferry the marines to the boarding target.
Not sure if this is possible to code, but would be a nice feature if it was possible.

Ah, the I-word again. Impossible is such an overused term.

Goblins can already tow a ship X to position Y if said destination is saved in a local variable on ship X.

I just never had a marine of my own so I know nothing of them.
Besides, MARS does not know about boarding, keeping shields down, and taking prisoners. It's only ever been trained to kill.
For boarding, it has an ignore hotkey, though....

sorrrrrry for the mutliple post, but I gotta say something on this...Gazz PLEASE code us something for real pilots of fighter craft, make them better combatants like your drones, even if it means having to buy a more advanced fight system, like Mk3 kinda like our Trade software to get pilots....pleassse.......

[milp]

Gazz:

Considering the effectiveness of the goblin system (Now with added missile defense) Would it be natural to boost the cost of fighter drones or perhaps add a cost of usage to it ?

Idea could be that the player buy normal fighter drones at normal market price. But the MARS ship upgrade, have to modify the drones to goblin drones. And this have a credit cost to it. As to represent some way of resources needed for this upgrade.

I think Goblins should cost an Energy cell each time they launch...

Make that optional please, i dont want my goblins to cost something additionally

Also please make Kreis and Mk2 drones compatible with extra hotkeys and limits.

[Gazz]

I think Goblins should cost an Energy cell each time they launch...

I don't think so. =P
From a hardware point of view they are fighter drones.
Launching fighter drones has never had a cost.
Loading them with another software doesn't cost more energy, either.

I'm planning an energy cost with the (future) launch catapult, though.

sorrrrrry for the mutliple post, but I gotta say something on this...Gazz PLEASE code us something for real pilots of fighter craft, make them better combatants like your drones, even if it means having to buy a more advanced fight system, like Mk3 kinda like our Trade software to get pilots....pleassse.......

A Fight Command Software Mk3 already exists - for Reunion.

PS: quoting the whole long post doesn't really make things easier to read

Also please make Kreis and Mk2 drones compatible with extra hotkeys and limits.

I still haven't heard an argument for that.
Sure, both are far better combat drones but that's not what MARS does with them.

Anyway, I could add a second hotkey for "heavy drones", regardless of actual usefulness. =)


Version 3.45 released.

• (Hopefully =) better tactical use of mass drivers
• Goblins defend themselves against missiles.
  I launched 3 Mosquitos (the arch nemesis of the fighter drone!) against a goblin in 1 second intervals.
  That's way beyond certain death for a regular fighter drone.
  
  Launched them head on, too, so they had a closing speed of over 900 m/s.
  The Goblin dropped the container it was hauling, shot down all 3 missiles, picked up the container again and continued it's mission.
  I repeated that and it survived another 3 mosquitos.
  Tough cookie...
  
  A full swarm of wasps finally got it. =P
• TEST of a different Goblin fight script.
  Might be good, bad, or ugly...

[milp]

Also please make Kreis and Mk2 drones compatible with extra hotkeys and limits.

I still haven't heard an argument for that.
Sure, both are far better combat drones but that's not what MARS does with them.

Anyway, I could add a second hotkey for "heavy drones", regardless of actual usefulness. =)

Well i dont see what would be bad about using them. They might be a bit slower but they are stronger. People who dont like them can still use the normal ones, people who like them can use whatever they prefer.

I love the distraction factor of the current goblins, but they arent offensive enough in my point of view, id like to use them to get rid of the fast and annoying fighters or khaak scouts, while i take care of the bigger things.

Oh and could you please add an option that lets the user change the limit of Drones in use?

[Gazz]

Oh and could you please add an option that lets the user change the limit of Drones in use?

Thats just a number in the config file t\7047-0044.xml
Many things can be adjusted there.

[Heretic666]

Version 3.45 released.

• (Hopefully =) better tactical use of mass drivers
• Goblins defend themselves against missiles.
  I launched 3 Mosquitos (the arch nemesis of the fighter drone!) against a goblin in 1 second intervals.
  That's way beyond certain death for a regular fighter drone.
  
  Launched them head on, too, so they had a closing speed of over 900 m/s.
  The Goblin dropped the container it was hauling, shot down all 3 missiles, picked up the container again and continued it's mission.
  I repeated that and it survived another 3 mosquitos.
  Tough cookie...
  
  A full swarm of wasps finally got it. =P
• TEST of a different Goblin fight script.
  Might be good, bad, or ugly...

Cool, is this in the same name ZIP folder on your site?
And how do we install it, just overwrite the other MARS files with the new ones?

Cheers

[Gazz]

There is only one version - the current one.

Overwrite everything and the script does the rest.

[Heretic666]

Ok cool thanks

[pewpew]

Hi,
I've a problem with recurring sounds when I activate the turrets there is a "ping" sound every 40sec or so (even if I'm not in the ship but still IS) and a "psssh" sound every 4-5sec but only if there are enemies and I'm in the ship.
The sounds also increase if I activate SETA (that make the "pssh" sound run in loop and the "ping" every 4sec <=my head after a while) .
Last thing when only a few ships (like 2) are left my ship doesn't fire any more even though I'm being attacked (turrets on stand by).
I'm using a terran TL with all the compatible weapons in the cargo bay.
Hope it helps.

[Heretic666]

Hi,
I've a problem with recurring sounds when I activate the turrets there is a "ping" sound every 40sec or so (even if I'm not in the ship but still IS) and a "psssh" sound every 4-5sec but only if there are enemies and I'm in the ship.
The sounds also increase if I activate SETA (that make the "pssh" sound run in loop and the "ping" every 4sec <=my head after a while) .
Last thing when only a few ships (like 2) are left my ship doesn't fire any more even though I'm being attacked (turrets on stand by).
I'm using a terran TL with all the compatible weapons in the cargo bay.
Hope it helps.

Yeeesss!

I came to ask about the same thing!

Only after updating the script to the newest version.

If you go to Commands>Turret Commands and select 'None', then after about 10 seconds Betty says 'Removed' and the noises stop.

[tatakau]

deleted

[Grimm Spector]

I think Goblins should cost an Energy cell each time they launch...

I don't think so. =P
From a hardware point of view they are fighter drones.
Launching fighter drones has never had a cost.
Loading them with another software doesn't cost more energy, either.

I'm planning an energy cost with the (future) launch catapult, though.

sorrrrrry for the mutliple post, but I gotta say something on this...Gazz PLEASE code us something for real pilots of fighter craft, make them better combatants like your drones, even if it means having to buy a more advanced fight system, like Mk3 kinda like our Trade software to get pilots....pleassse.......

A Fight Command Software Mk3 already exists - for Reunion.

PS: quoting the whole long post doesn't really make things easier to read

Also please make Kreis and Mk2 drones compatible with extra hotkeys and limits.

I still haven't heard an argument for that.
Sure, both are far better combat drones but that's not what MARS does with them.

Anyway, I could add a second hotkey for "heavy drones", regardless of actual usefulness. =)


Version 3.45 released.

• (Hopefully =) better tactical use of mass drivers
• Goblins defend themselves against missiles.
  I launched 3 Mosquitos (the arch nemesis of the fighter drone!) against a goblin in 1 second intervals.
  That's way beyond certain death for a regular fighter drone.
  
  Launched them head on, too, so they had a closing speed of over 900 m/s.
  The Goblin dropped the container it was hauling, shot down all 3 missiles, picked up the container again and continued it's mission.
  I repeated that and it survived another 3 mosquitos.
  Tough cookie...
  
  A full swarm of wasps finally got it. =P
• TEST of a different Goblin fight script.
  Might be good, bad, or ugly...

I was always under the impression that fighter drones were meant to be single use items though...

[Gazz]

Sound issue fixed. That was the debug mode I left enabled by accident.
Either re-download or delete the Debug=TRUE line in the setup.

I was always under the impression that fighter drones were meant to be single use items though...

You were able to recover them in Reunion Vanilla and you can do so in TC.

Since I don't consider it good fun to manually recover dozens of drones all the time, MARS automatically does that.