Ring of Fire - The professional Lasertower solution
. Screenshot 2 . Screenshot 3 . (aka The Biggest and Baddest Bug Zapper Ever Built)What this script does: it deploys 1-360 Lasertowers. Basically.
Of course there is a twist to it...
Instead of a messy heap where they end up crashing into each other they are deployed in a very accurate and orderly circle.
Also those Lasertowers have Cloaking Devices and they are not afraid to use em.
And if you're thinking of the Reunion style LT, think again. Their laser is now the equivalent of a Gamma Kyon Emitter - with more range.
** Transporter Device required for deployment **
So... first you load up a freighter with Lasertowers.
If you want Stealth Lasertowers (you probably do =) an additional 2 Microchips are required per Lasertower.
If you do not produce these things yourself, the Fleet Support Software from the Bonus Pack can be sent shopping for you.
Then you can either fly the ship yourself or order it to deploy the LT somewhere. If a jumpdrive is installed it will be used to get to the location - even in system if that would save noticable time.
Up to 4 arguments are required to control the placement of the defensive ring but you can set defaults so you will usually be entering nothing but the destination plus 0-1 arguments.
(Due to a change in the script system you can no longer ommit Arguments)
1st argument:
The target or location to be protected by the Lasertowers.
Your ship will travel there, using a jumpdrive if available, and start deployment.
Only jump gates are special targets. Any LT Ring targeted within 100 m of a Gate will be aligned with the gate's position and axis. Directly targeting the gate will snap the Ring to a fitting position and enforce a minimum radius of 1600m.
This default radius can support up to 60 Lasertowers although fewer
or a larger radius are preferrable.
2nd argument:
Number of Lasertowers to be deployed: 1 through 360
* Enter "?" or "0" to get the in game help page.
* Entering "all" will deploy all LT in the ship's cargo bay.
If the ship also carries any Microchips it will only deploy as many
Stealth LT as it has chips for.
* Config option: set ring : Lasertowers will deployed in a ring around the target.
* Config option: set spiral : Lasertowers will deployed in a multiple spiral around the target.
* Config option: set scan # : Entering "set scan 11000" will adjust the scanners of all your Stealth LT to 11 km. This includes already deployed ones.
Allowed values are 3000 - 20000. A cloaked Lasertower scans this range for enemies and will only uncloak if any are detected.
(The range of the Lasertower's weapon is 6600 m)
* Config option: set cloak : Stealth Lasertower cloaking is controlled by their software.
* Config option: set decloak : Disable cloaking for ALL of your S.L.T. until told otherwise.
3rd argument:
Radius of the circle in metres: -10.000 through +10.000 metres.
* Entering 0 will calculate the smallest possible radius and use it.
* Entering 1 will use the radius you saved with "set".
* Config option: set # : Entering "set 1920" as a radius will save this and always use this radius when you enter "1".
Entering a negative number for the radius will override the "sensible range" check and deploy as per your order.
4th argument:
Axis orientation. What axis the circle should be drawn around: X, Y, or Z
This argument is ignored when you select a jump gate as target. (within 100m of the gate)
Stealth Technology:
If the cargo bay contains 2 Units of Microchips per LT then all LT will
automatically be deployed as Stealth LT. They operate like perfectly normal Lasertowers while enemies are in range but the advantage is that they cloak completely when no hostiles are close.
And completely means that they do not show up in your sector / property list any more so even with 100 Stealth Lasertowers in the sector you will no longer have a problem with finding your ships.
Also less display lag and your ships have a much easier time navigating the sector.
Friend/Foe settings:
Stealth LT routinely update their scanners with your global settings.
Some races (Xenon) apparently can't be set to neutral to your LT but it works with pirates and other races.
A LT will remain stealthed and let a pirate pass until you set pirates to Foe.
Deployment:
The ship is stopped dead while the autopilot deploys Lasertowers and it can take a while with large numbers.
This is not very useful as an instant super-weapon and intentionally so. =)
OOS Performance:
Note that unlike "regular" Lasertowers, LT deployed by this script
(whether stealthed or not) are equally efficient in and out of sector.
Due to the mechanics of OOS combat, normal LT do well... suck.
MARS has a way to collect Lasertowers swiftly and efficiently.
(only to the playership but it beats maneuvering for 2 hours)
Download . . . ZIP . . . Installation:
1. Extract the ZIP into the main X3 folder while maintaining paths.
This puts everything in the right places.
2. Enable the Script editor by
changing your PILOT name to Thereshallbewings
3. Save and load the game.
Then you can change the pilot name back.
Resources used:
7013-0044
7013-0049
COMMAND_TYPE_SPECIAL_31
Johnny Cash
