It seems like I've read here on the forum that some of you are commanding a frigate in the game. How are you doing this? Am I miss reading it, or are you doing it in custom single missions? I am curious if it's possible to command a single starship in the campaigns (sp?) without having to command other vessels as well.
For once, I'd like to see a game truly simulate commanding a single ship in a fleet, instead of always commanding the entire fleet. SS comes close; at lease you don't have to command the CVBG, but you do still always have other ships that you have to watch and order around. I'd like to see a game actually place the player in one of those other ships being ordered.
Commanding an FF
RE: Commanding an FF
you just need to earn 5000 flight points, you can see them in your log book, when you earn 10000 point you can comand Destroyer, 20000 Cruiser, 40000 Carier!
if you already have more than 5000 point and you just dont know how to get a transfer to another fleet< then i can explain it to you!
push the boton forces, than you can see al the Fleets then you need to select one of them and push transfer!
good luck and SORY FOR GRAMMA
if you already have more than 5000 point and you just dont know how to get a transfer to another fleet< then i can explain it to you!
push the boton forces, than you can see al the Fleets then you need to select one of them and push transfer!
good luck and SORY FOR GRAMMA
Sfinx
RE: Commanding an FF
When I got to 5000 points, it said I could transfer to a DD Squadron. As far as I can tell, that is the smallest CAP ship group I can join.
Also, I'm having some problems commanding a DESRON. Is there any way to order the frigates to remain near the DDs and not charge into the first enemy they see? I have played about a half dozen missions now and every time I meet any other starships, one or both of my frigates charge ahead and get slaughtered before I can even get in range. With the dynamic element, those losses are a serious problem because I need the frigates to protect me against the inevitable bombers coming later.
Also, there needs to be a way to either reduce the damage bombers deal to starships (or increase the damage a starship can sustain), or there needs to be a way to repair the ship's hull after a mission. As it is right now, the ships take so much damage that after a mission or two, the ship can't take a single hit. I thought I read that with the latest version of the game, starships were suposed to regain some of their hull strength back after the mission, but mine don't seem to be regaining any strength back.
It's really annoying because if I take over a DESRON, I WILL lose the campaign. The computer never seems to loose any of these ships, but I loose them non-stop.
One last thing, is there any way to reduce the ships listed in the radio menu while commanding a DESRON? If not, how do you select ships above the "9" position? I found that if I order the ships to return to formation, that seemed to help. In the one mission I have flown that did not have that long list of ships, I ordered each ship to return to formation and they seemed to stay with me. Unfortunatly, most missions allow you to call every ship in the sector, and for some reason, it always places the frigates way down at the bottom of the list where you can't hit a key for them.
Thanks for any info.
Also, I'm having some problems commanding a DESRON. Is there any way to order the frigates to remain near the DDs and not charge into the first enemy they see? I have played about a half dozen missions now and every time I meet any other starships, one or both of my frigates charge ahead and get slaughtered before I can even get in range. With the dynamic element, those losses are a serious problem because I need the frigates to protect me against the inevitable bombers coming later.
Also, there needs to be a way to either reduce the damage bombers deal to starships (or increase the damage a starship can sustain), or there needs to be a way to repair the ship's hull after a mission. As it is right now, the ships take so much damage that after a mission or two, the ship can't take a single hit. I thought I read that with the latest version of the game, starships were suposed to regain some of their hull strength back after the mission, but mine don't seem to be regaining any strength back.
It's really annoying because if I take over a DESRON, I WILL lose the campaign. The computer never seems to loose any of these ships, but I loose them non-stop.
One last thing, is there any way to reduce the ships listed in the radio menu while commanding a DESRON? If not, how do you select ships above the "9" position? I found that if I order the ships to return to formation, that seemed to help. In the one mission I have flown that did not have that long list of ships, I ordered each ship to return to formation and they seemed to stay with me. Unfortunatly, most missions allow you to call every ship in the sector, and for some reason, it always places the frigates way down at the bottom of the list where you can't hit a key for them.
Thanks for any info.
RE: Commanding an FF
My guess is only way to control frigate in destroyer squadron is only when all destroyers have been destroyed. What comes to communications with other ships, click around with right mouse button in Orbit Cam (F3 key) and Nav Map (N key).
You know what they say, don't you? About how us MechWarriors are the modern knights, how warfare has become civilized now that we have to abide by conventions and rules of war. Don't believe it.
MekWars
MekWars
RE: Commanding an FF
To command a frigate (FF), all you have to do is load a campaign, click the "Forces" tab, and select which ship you want. If you select the squadron name, you'll get the lead ship of that squadron, which is always going to be a destroyer, cruiser, or carrier; rather, highlight the individual ship that you want, and click "Transfer." Then, when you go to the missions, you'll be looking at the mission selections for that specific ship.
This is incorrect; you may choose any ship in any squadron for which you have the requisite rank. Though I always prefer to command the squadron, one may choose a ship that is not the leader of the squadron. However, if you do this, you will have a much harder time of ordering around your fellow ships, as the "right click and command" method will be unavailable to a subordinate ship. To command other ships, you'd have to use your radio, which can be a pain.
Make sure you're putting your shields all the way up when in a combat situation; press S to bring them up by fourths, or Shift+S to bring them up all at once. If you haven't been doing this, you'll take massive damage from hits that wouldn't even scratch a fully shielded ship; your shields start out at 50% on each mission, so I almost always bring them up to 100% immediately, even though it does slow you down a bit.
Hope I was able to help.
ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen
My guess is only way to control frigate in destroyer squadron is only when all destroyers have been destroyed. What comes to communications with other ships, click around with right mouse button in Orbit Cam (F3 key) and Nav Map (N key).
This is incorrect; you may choose any ship in any squadron for which you have the requisite rank. Though I always prefer to command the squadron, one may choose a ship that is not the leader of the squadron. However, if you do this, you will have a much harder time of ordering around your fellow ships, as the "right click and command" method will be unavailable to a subordinate ship. To command other ships, you'd have to use your radio, which can be a pain.
ORIGINAL: n003lb
It's really annoying because if I take over a DESRON, I WILL lose the campaign. The computer never seems to loose any of these ships, but I loose them non-stop.
Make sure you're putting your shields all the way up when in a combat situation; press S to bring them up by fourths, or Shift+S to bring them up all at once. If you haven't been doing this, you'll take massive damage from hits that wouldn't even scratch a fully shielded ship; your shields start out at 50% on each mission, so I almost always bring them up to 100% immediately, even though it does slow you down a bit.
Hope I was able to help.
RE: Commanding an FF
Thanks,
I did not know I could select an individule ship from the forces tab. Not sure why I never tried that.
As to communication, the problem with the right-click menu is it does not allow any formations orders to ships. I found in further testing that this really doesn't matter because if you order a ship to return to formation, he just turns somewhere and flies away.
I am running my shields to 100% as soon as I detect hostiles. Shields are always at 100% by the time I start taking fire. Unfortunatly, I can't find any way to order my other ships to raise their shields, so I lose them quickly. Also, I can't tell my FFs to stay with the DDs and intercept missiles/torpedos. Instead, they charge into the enemy ships much faster than my DDs and get slaughtered.
And lastly, my PDBs suddenly decide to stop intercepting inbound torps. I think the problem here is I may be getting in too close to the target. I think the PDBs are retargeting to the ship rather than the torpedos and allowing them to pass. This seems like a fault IMO because the PDBs should never target a ship and ignore the torps/bombers. In my opinion, PDBs should not be allowed to target other ships, only fighters/bombers and torpedos (combat drones I guess).
I also have a problem with bombers. If I get a bomber wave comming at me, there is absolutly nothing I can do about it. My PDBs apperantly can't target ASMs, and since the shields do little or nothing to protect against missle attacks, I am guarenteed to take hits. Since the ship absorbes so little damage, a bomber strike is all but guranteed to kill me. The only one I've managed to survive was when I still had both FFs. I managed to vector them between the DDs and the inbound bombers. They destroyed all of the bombers without a single ASM hit on my ships. A resounding success. Unfortunatly, 90% of the time, my FFs are lost in the first encounter with enemy warships, so I can't depend on them to protect me from the bombers.
Maybe I'm just ranting. This does seem more realistic. In reality, there may be no way to repair hull damage in the middle of operations, and quite often a strike on a ship will result in that ship's loss. It's just annoying when I can't seem to succeed at any mission except "Clear the Minefield."
Those were easy, albeit boring missions [>:].
Sorry about such a long post. I get to talking and I just can't shut up.
I did not know I could select an individule ship from the forces tab. Not sure why I never tried that.
As to communication, the problem with the right-click menu is it does not allow any formations orders to ships. I found in further testing that this really doesn't matter because if you order a ship to return to formation, he just turns somewhere and flies away.
I am running my shields to 100% as soon as I detect hostiles. Shields are always at 100% by the time I start taking fire. Unfortunatly, I can't find any way to order my other ships to raise their shields, so I lose them quickly. Also, I can't tell my FFs to stay with the DDs and intercept missiles/torpedos. Instead, they charge into the enemy ships much faster than my DDs and get slaughtered.
And lastly, my PDBs suddenly decide to stop intercepting inbound torps. I think the problem here is I may be getting in too close to the target. I think the PDBs are retargeting to the ship rather than the torpedos and allowing them to pass. This seems like a fault IMO because the PDBs should never target a ship and ignore the torps/bombers. In my opinion, PDBs should not be allowed to target other ships, only fighters/bombers and torpedos (combat drones I guess).
I also have a problem with bombers. If I get a bomber wave comming at me, there is absolutly nothing I can do about it. My PDBs apperantly can't target ASMs, and since the shields do little or nothing to protect against missle attacks, I am guarenteed to take hits. Since the ship absorbes so little damage, a bomber strike is all but guranteed to kill me. The only one I've managed to survive was when I still had both FFs. I managed to vector them between the DDs and the inbound bombers. They destroyed all of the bombers without a single ASM hit on my ships. A resounding success. Unfortunatly, 90% of the time, my FFs are lost in the first encounter with enemy warships, so I can't depend on them to protect me from the bombers.
Maybe I'm just ranting. This does seem more realistic. In reality, there may be no way to repair hull damage in the middle of operations, and quite often a strike on a ship will result in that ship's loss. It's just annoying when I can't seem to succeed at any mission except "Clear the Minefield."
Those were easy, albeit boring missions [>:].
Sorry about such a long post. I get to talking and I just can't shut up.
RE: Commanding an FF
Yea, in my opinion bombers are too much of a threat to capital ships... (thats why I removed all missiles from my mod 
). I mean they should be a threat... but they shouldn't be guaranteed to down an FF or DD without any trouble (since the enemy carrier mostly is far enough away). If bombers were that successful in real life no one would care to build larger ships because of it. It would just be too expensive to lose a ship in a single much cheaper fighter/bomber-strike. Even modern ASMs can be intercepted by warships with onboard anti-missile batteries or even anti-missile guns. They should be interceptable in SS too...
). I mean they should be a threat... but they shouldn't be guaranteed to down an FF or DD without any trouble (since the enemy carrier mostly is far enough away). If bombers were that successful in real life no one would care to build larger ships because of it. It would just be too expensive to lose a ship in a single much cheaper fighter/bomber-strike. Even modern ASMs can be intercepted by warships with onboard anti-missile batteries or even anti-missile guns. They should be interceptable in SS too...RE: Commanding an FF
First press W key, then click on DEF for PDB sections. Should help bit.ORIGINAL: n003lb
And lastly, my PDBs suddenly decide to stop intercepting inbound torps. I think the problem here is I may be getting in too close to the target. I think the PDBs are retargeting to the ship rather than the torpedos and allowing them to pass.
And they are. Just try it yourself with Stormhawk: take full load of ASMs, fire them all against enemy frigate from max. range and see if it gets any scratch. Most likely not. Or try it with torps of DD Spectre. Not much better luck with this either: most torps are shot down from great distance.ORIGINAL: Adonnay
Even modern ASMs can be intercepted by warships with onboard anti-missile batteries or even anti-missile guns. They should be interceptable in SS too...
You know what they say, don't you? About how us MechWarriors are the modern knights, how warfare has become civilized now that we have to abide by conventions and rules of war. Don't believe it.
MekWars
MekWars
RE: Commanding an FF
There you are wrong Matti, sorry 
Fighter/Bomber launched ASMs are not interceptable... capital ship launched torpedoes are actually drones, not missles and can therefore be shot at.
Fighter/Bomber launched ASMs are not interceptable... capital ship launched torpedoes are actually drones, not missles and can therefore be shot at.
RE: Commanding an FF
ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen
First press W key, then click on DEF for PDB sections. Should help bit.
I do have the PDBs set to defence. They work great for a time, but then for some reason, they just stop firing. At first, I thought this was due to getting too close to the enemy ship, but this is not the case. My guns stopped firing at inbound torpedos while the target was still around 40km away. Then I thought it might be damage to the PDB, but the engineering screen indicated no damage to the weapon systems. I can't explain it, but it's annoying as hell.
Is there a way to mod in targeting for ASMs? I am designing a mod right now, and this is something I'd definately like to add in.
RE: Commanding an FF
Quick answer to your questions:
The PDBs stopping firing may well be due to you manoevering your ship so their fire-arcs no-longer overlap with the incoming torps. I've had many a "Noooooo!" moment when a destroyer has exposed itself to a hail of incoming torps by turning when it really shouldn't have. This of course, is also why I always have my torp button on manual... save 'em until they'll actually hit.
And no, I don't think you can mod targetting for ASMs - any missile simply isn't targetted. From a game perspective given that its entirely possible to have many bombers launching many missiles at one target, asking the poor software to track that many items and make prioritisation decisions is a bit much :> Within the game universe, I guess the argument is that the PDBs wouldn't generally be able to hit them.
Back on topic - other than for the simple reason that its nice to be able to command all of the ships, Frigates are (in starshatter) pretty much bomber screen/patrol ships. In general, missions involving them should be things like "Defend your destroyers", which if the enemy didn't know the location of them would be rather dull...
Oddly enough, in terms of their apparent use (fighter/bomber suppression) they ought to be called Destroyers. That name is a contraction of "Torpedo Boat Destroyer" - the torpedo boat was originally very much the small, fast craft that delivered a large anti-ship warhead before anything that could actually hit it got in range. Destroyers were basically frigates with much bigger engines so they could chase down the smaller boats. With the development of torpedo bombers & submarines, Destroyers grew Anti-Aircraft weaponry & depth charges, and stuck to their role of protectors of the fleet.
Frigates today share that role to a certain degree, but are smaller, and also can be used more appropriately for patrol and policing.
Modern naval strategy isn't really applicable to Starshatter - its not far off, but SS has important things missing (submarines for one thing), and extra bits (quantumn drives - the ultimate cap ship defense against bombers).
The PDBs stopping firing may well be due to you manoevering your ship so their fire-arcs no-longer overlap with the incoming torps. I've had many a "Noooooo!" moment when a destroyer has exposed itself to a hail of incoming torps by turning when it really shouldn't have. This of course, is also why I always have my torp button on manual... save 'em until they'll actually hit.
And no, I don't think you can mod targetting for ASMs - any missile simply isn't targetted. From a game perspective given that its entirely possible to have many bombers launching many missiles at one target, asking the poor software to track that many items and make prioritisation decisions is a bit much :> Within the game universe, I guess the argument is that the PDBs wouldn't generally be able to hit them.
Back on topic - other than for the simple reason that its nice to be able to command all of the ships, Frigates are (in starshatter) pretty much bomber screen/patrol ships. In general, missions involving them should be things like "Defend your destroyers", which if the enemy didn't know the location of them would be rather dull...
Oddly enough, in terms of their apparent use (fighter/bomber suppression) they ought to be called Destroyers. That name is a contraction of "Torpedo Boat Destroyer" - the torpedo boat was originally very much the small, fast craft that delivered a large anti-ship warhead before anything that could actually hit it got in range. Destroyers were basically frigates with much bigger engines so they could chase down the smaller boats. With the development of torpedo bombers & submarines, Destroyers grew Anti-Aircraft weaponry & depth charges, and stuck to their role of protectors of the fleet.
Frigates today share that role to a certain degree, but are smaller, and also can be used more appropriately for patrol and policing.
Modern naval strategy isn't really applicable to Starshatter - its not far off, but SS has important things missing (submarines for one thing), and extra bits (quantumn drives - the ultimate cap ship defense against bombers).
--
"I've never met a piece of chocolate I didn't like.."
"I've never met a piece of chocolate I didn't like.."
RE: Commanding an FF
I've found that if you are the squadron leader and you radio command your FF's to "cover me" - R - # of ship - 2.(Combat) - and my memory fails me but "Cover Me". The ships will hang around close to you and act as a fighter/missile screen.
I've also noticed that ship hulls do NOT get repaired.
I've also noticed that ship hulls do NOT get repaired.
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Incendiary Lemon
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 3:54 pm
RE: Commanding an FF
ORIGINAL: Illrain
I've also noticed that ship hulls do NOT get repaired.
There is baseline it should return to, perhaps 30% or something of the sort. In 4.0 the only fighters would be repaired after a mission. Milo added the limited repair to the cap ships because they were far too disposable otherwise.