"Protect" command not hazard aware

[Scoob]

Hey all,

I set a new station build in a certain hazardous infested Boron-adjacent sector. I placed the build plot within a safe area, near the "asteroid highway" but bordering hazardous space. Any ships of mine or others stuck to the safe passages and had no issues. However, due to the local Kha'ak presence, I thought it worth assigning some Fighters to "Protect until further notice" the build site. However, this went badly...

While ships with regular move-type commands will stay in the safe areas, those with a "Protect until further notice" command on a build plot do not. They behave the same regardless, wandering many km from the station they're assigned to protect. After managing a few things on the map screen, I went back to this sector to be greeted by a dozen fighter wrecks and just three surviving pilots. As I was on the map screen, I was not notified of them being in danger (if this is even a thing) let alone their death. In the space of just a couple of minutes, all 12 Fighters were dead. No warning, no chance to counter and no recent save.

Now, of course I could have used a Protect Position command and kept it tight on the build plot, but that's entirely missing the point. Ships assigned in such a Protect role, seem to lose any hazard avoidance logic that's present in regular move commands. Building here was fun, due to the environment - it really is spectacular when standing on a station - and the Kha'ak threat. I wanted to be there just for the experience, nothing else. However, it did highlight this issue.

Perhaps this is a very niche situation I've put myself in here and of course I'll not use either a "Protect until further notice" order, nor assign defence ships directly (I assume they'll work the same way) again. However, should ships in these roles perhaps be a little more aware of their surroundings?

[El Chancho]

The AI pilots (regardless of faction) have ZERO regard for their own safety.

The Protect Station command needs a radius feature.

Tell me if I am wrong but you would not have posted this if you had a ticker in the Holomap screen?

You would have been alerted that there was a problem right away after the first ship was destroyed.

Dislike having to micromanage what should be instinct in regards to my pilots (like not flying a freighter right over a XEN Defense Platform )

Not knowing that I am losing ships until I leave the map screen really irks me!

I understand that the AI is not really an intelligence and programming such would slow down the game even more than currently but real time data in the holomap shouldn't be hard to do considering the script is already written.

I don't think I am the only one who spends about half of the game in the holomap?

[Tranxalive]

Can you provide a save for us to test this issue easily?

[Scoob]

Can you provide a save for us to test this issue easily?

Ah, sorry, I cannot. I actually started a fresh game recently with a few mods. I think doing a custom start with the Boron plot complete would allow you to build where I did though. I could potentially create a custom start with a station where I placed mine in that game. The station was safe from the effects, but assigned ships (Defend role or Protect Station) roamed too far.

Would that be something you could use?

[Tranxalive]

Sure. Even if it doesn't help, it's still closer to the issue.

[Scoob]

Sure. Even if it doesn't help, it's still closer to the issue.

I'll try to set up a game start - and likely just create a Save showing the issue - tomorrow evening all going well. Just need to chill this eve and not think lol.

[Scoob]

Sure. Even if it doesn't help, it's still closer to the issue.

I'll try to set up a game start - and likely just create a Save showing the issue - tomorrow evening all going well. Just need to chill this eve and not think lol.

Not forgotten, just life doing its thing....