[TC] Drones drones drones

[sleepy_head]

I haven't really used these things much, so here are some drone questions.

1. I assume that Drone Mk2 is better than Mk1. But is Mk2 better or worse than Keris? And why?

2. What ships will auto launch drones? And how many maximum will the ship launch? I assume a big TS will launch more than a TP assuming they both have the same amount in the cargo bay?

3. I was IS when one of my TS got attacked and 8 or 10 drones came out. They killed the pirate and followed the TS, even through a gate. But once they are out, how do I get them back inside? IS and OOS?

4. If I cram 2000 Mk2 drones in a TL and move it near a Q then tell it to launch, OOS, will that be enough to whack the Q?

5. I assume that a ship will launch drones when it gets attacked by the enemy. Is there a way to tell the ship to launch drones if there are enemies NEAR, instead of only when taking damage because that might be too late?

6. How do I tell my UT's and ST's and CLS's to stop stocking those crappy Mk1's and only buy Mk2's? At what level of experience do they start auto stocking drones?

Thanks.

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

1. Each of the three drones have an advantage/disadvantage. Main differences are what weapon they use, how much punishment they can take, and how long their timer is.

2. Any, I think as long as they have some on board. They probably would launch all or at least most of them.

3. If the ship has a free hanger spot (ie 29/30 filled) order them to dock, otherwise you have to tell the drones to stop and run them over to get them back.

4. Maybe, but it'll be a nightmare getting them back and if IS you framerate will take a hit with that many drones about.

5. Not sure.

6. Same as above.

[perkint]

Only TS (and maybe TP) will auto launch drones. And Trade Command MK3 pilots (which can be in TM/M6/etc). And you can't control what drones MK3 pilots buy.

The MK1 drone is fastest (I think) and only has IREs. The MK2 carries PACs and therefore packs a much bigger punch. Not sure about the Keris.

And yeah, drones will wipe out a Q quite happily - you don't need that many...

Tim

[pjknibbs]

Mk 1 drone is fast with a single IRE. Mk 2 and Keris are about as fast as each other, but the Mk 2 drone has 2xPAC and 5MJ of shielding while a Keris has a single EMPC with 25MJ, IIRC.

[sleepy_head]

Is there a web page with the exact stats of all the drones?

[Catra]

drones

[Berserkenstein]

Whoa, is that webpage right? It says the Mk II and Keris drones have more laser energy than any M4!

[Alan Phipps]

XModels 3DViewer which derives the stats from my vanilla 2.7.1 gamefiles says the same as that webpage.

[pjknibbs]

Hmmm, looks like a Drone MK 2 only has a 1MJ shield--could have sworn it was 5MJ, for some reason.

[Alan Phipps]

@ pjknibbs: Yes this is where everything becomes confusing. When you actually eject any type of fighting drone (Basic, Mk2 or Keris) in vanilla 2.7.1, they have no shield at all. Going by the cargobay space, you could theoretically transfer aboard the following:
Basic: 1 S vol (ie 1x 1 MJ shield)
Mk2: 4 S vol (ie 4 x 1 MJ or 1 x 5MJ + 1 x 1 MJ)
Keris 95 L vol (ie 3 x 200 MJ and 20 space left or 9 x 25 MJ and 5 space left)

Whether they could fit/use them as actual shields is another matter - and whether you are prepared to lose that value.....

[Laden Swallow]

The website also says that they have maximum shields (0x1MJ) and (0x25MJ) respectively.

[Kor'ah]

2,000 Mk2 drones is overkill for Q hunting....by alot. 50 have no problems tearing those things up in a timely manner. Go with 75-100 if feeling paranoid at the time.