Drone Carrier Software (DCS) v1.31 (2012-05-17)

[dispostableatheist]

Is there a .zip version of this script? I don't fancy spk's, they **** up too much stuff.

Also, is this script compatible with XRM:AP?

[DrBullwinkle]

Is there a .zip version of this script? I don't fancy spk's, they **** up too much stuff.

Right-click on the .spk and "Export to zip".

I've never seen a properly-made .spk install incorrectly -- I'm not sure how it could. And the known problems with uninstalling were fixed in the PM (several versions ago).

Also, is this script compatible with XRM:AP?

From the OP:

(Works for TC and AP. As far as I know, DCS is compatible with everything except for LSDC and SSDN -- and that incompatibility is only temporary).

Now please punch yourself for asking!

[leko]

.
Drone Carrier Software (DCS)
...It's like a swarm of killer bees... with laser beams... attached to their heads....

Hi, DrBullwinkle,

PERFECT WORK ! (I'm AP humble merchant)

I cleaned the 3 sectors (yaki) south of savage spur with them, the yaki recognising its strength and sending like 40 ships with m7 , then m2, then m1, I had to protect it because yaki adapted to it. That's ok so I got in to kill some to, always a pleasure !

NEVERTHELESS, THANK YOU , Thank you, thank you!

Keep up the good work! leko

[dispostableatheist]

Question, can I turn of on-board production? Because I need to have a money sink somehow.

I have 2 self-sustaining 50x drone mk1/mk2 complexes. And I want the drone carrier to restock at these complexes rather than infinitely produce its own drones.

Otherwise these complexes were for nothing.

[DrBullwinkle]

Question, can I turn off on-board production?

Not in this version of DCS, no. The on-board production is vital to the reliability of the drone carrier, and I have not yet added the features for production costs and time limits.

Regarding reliability, the problem with using drones from your complex is keeping them supplied to the drone carrier. If the drone carrier runs out of drones then it will be almost entirely defenseless. Since the role of DCS is OOS Patrol and Sector Defense, you will not know when the drone carrier is out of drones -- not until your drone carrier is dead.

If you prefer dead drone carriers that can use drones from your factory, then try DCS's predecessor: LSDC.

An alternative is Drone Defence Network (DDN), which does require that you supply drones, but it works on a station rather than on a ship.

Otherwise these complexes were for nothing.

You can always sell the drones. They are worth many profitsssss.

[DrBullwinkle]

Update: I see that you did post in the LSDC thread, and that you are looking for a script for a different role other than OOS Patrol and Sector Defense:

I'd like to have something mobile. Like a M2 with 10,000 drones, that I can manually jump to an sector and then the M2 would deploy it's drones and retrieve them after the fight.

Such a script has not yet been written (mainly because it is a big job and it will not work as well as DCS does now -- although it might make DCS better suited for other roles). I still have it on my to-do list. The limit will be much lower than 10,000. (And no vanilla M2 can carry 10,000 drones, BTW.)

[dispostableatheist]

It doesn't have to work as well as DCS, in fact, it shouldn't. I see Drones as dispensalbe, and therefore expect heavy casaulties when deploying them.

I wish there would've been a mix of DCS and SSDN, with DCS's automated part and SSDN's deployment and limit.

Here's what I'd like to use Drone carriers for. I'd like to set a fixed patrol route, say Sactor 01 - Sector 20. Set the Drone amount to say 1500, and set the Homebase to my Drone Production Complex/Drone Storage Station.

Then start. And the carrier would do it's normal patrol routine. Going to sector 01, 02, 03, 04 and in 05 the carrier detects enemies, and starts deploying 250 drones (set by me beforehand, max. deployable amount). NO directly-to-enemy teleportation like SSDN. Just dump 250 drones, and give them the command to attack.

Now the drone attack the enemies. 3 Scenarios:

a) Drones kill all enemies. Drone carrier recalls the remaining drones, might be 250, might be 100, might be only 10 depending how many survived.

b) All 250 drones have been destroyed. The carrier then deplyos another set of 250 drones and the attack continues until the enemies are dead and then the carrier retrieves the remaining ones.

c) All 250 drones have been destroyed. The carrier deploys another 250...destroyed, another 250...destroyed until the carrier has 0 drones. If 0 drones, then jump and fly to homebase and
----1) either give message to player "Drone Supply Empty, please re-supply carrier" and stops any action or
----2) gives player a message "Successfully resupplied drones, jumping back to combat", resupplies automatically and jumps back to the previous combat zone.

As for selling the drone. No can do, I make about 10 mil. each hour. I've got too much money already and nothing worthwhile to buy anymore. I need money sinks, huge ones.

Since the role of DCS is OOS Patrol and Sector Defense, you will not know when the drone carrier is out of drones -- not until your drone carrier is dead.

That's one way to implement a money sink. So I'd have to keep my eye on my drone carrier. I do like to do that. I don't like a fully automated game. Some control would be nice.

LSDC is to some extent what I'm looking for, however, I'm playing XRM: AP and LSDC is old, discontinued and probably messes up too much. Particulary seeing as it

The script will also make the Griffon available in all Argon Shipyards.

. I'll rather err on the safe side.

[DrBullwinkle]

I don't like a fully automated game. Some control would be nice.

Yes, I understand.

We have been planning a balanced version of DCS. It just has not happened yet. When it does, it will not deploy 250 drones -- more like 30-50-ish. The exact numbers will depend on test results. You might need multiple drone carriers for some objectives.

[dispostableatheist]

That's fine and dandy, I just stated what I'd like to do, and if you incorporate that in the next DCS version all the better, if not then not. I'll be waiting patiently and manually droping me Drones in the meantime.

You might need multiple drone carriers for some objectives.

Fine by me, as long as I can restock them at my Drone Supply Station.

Thanks for the quick replies.

[DrBullwinkle]

Yep, thanks for the input, dispostable.

@leko: And thank you for your report!

[leko]

...@leko: And thank you for your report!

Hi, DrBullwinkle,

Give them an extra script where they can choose how many credits they loose every hour or so

Usable by everyone, regardless what script they use.
I think this would be of interest, in many forums I read like : "I fill my TL with a load of xxx credits, eject it and shoot it to barrels" just to be happy !
So automate their happiness !

Cu, leko

ps : DCS is one of my favourits, together with Cycrow and MARS,...

[DrBullwinkle]

Give them an extra script where they can choose how many credits they loose every hour or so

That is a terrific idea, leko. It would be an easy way to increase "trading challenge".

Nice.

I could balance it by the size of the player's empire. More ships and stations = more cost per hour. It could be called "The Tax Man".

(It appears that none of your bbcode is working. Look at the check boxes just below the Reply box: Do you have "Disable BBCode in this post" checked? If so, then uncheck it. You can then edit your previous posts and fix them, as well.)

[dispostableatheist]

It is simple, we kill the Tax Man.

[DrBullwinkle]

Robin Hood may have gotten away with that, but the IRS is hard to kill. They took out the largest organized crime rings in the country, and are backed by US military.

I imagine it is similar elsewhere. There are only two things you can count on in life: Death and Taxes.

[leko]

That is a terrific idea, leko. It would be an easy way to increase "trading challenge".
I could balance it by the size of the player's empire. More ships and stations = more cost per hour. It could be called "The Tax Man".

Hi, DR B,

Give them choices, your balancing or their own !

Taxman ? Why not, leko

[leko]

...@leko: And thank you for your report!

Hi, DrBullwinkle,

again same server error, kill this !

[leko]

...fixed patrol route, say Sactor 01 - Sector 20. Set the Drone amount to say 1500, and set the Homebase to my Drone Production Complex/Drone Storage Station.... resupplies automatically and jumps back to the previous combat zone...

Hi , dispostableatheist,

Just an idea :
Let your HQ produce carriers, give them DCS ... let them go out and be killed when they run out of drones, in between the new one should be ready, and so on. This way you will need more production for the HQ, and the price of your carrier would be your price to pay ! (Not ready at HQ, buy one - put a M5 docked where you buy them)

CU, leko

[leko]

server error

kill me !

[X2-Illuminatus]

@leko
Please use the Edit-button (at the top right corner of your posts) instead of creating several posts directly after each other.

[leko]

@leko
Please use the Edit-button (at the top right corner of your posts) instead of creating several posts directly after each other.

Hi, X2-Illuminatus,

My computer said your server went down when I was doing just that, editing, and when it came back two entries where double, I can not remove them so I explained and said "kill me", meaning : Moderator, delete this post !

Sorry I did not make it clear enough, mea culpa ! leko

ps: maybe a delete button in the editor would be nice ?