Exactly what do ship roles do?

[dostillevi]

Does anyone know exactly what behaviors are linked to the various ship roles that can be assigned when creating a ship? [&:] I've got some rough ideas from playing but I'd love some specifics. For example, what can I expect an automated escort to be doing (yes, I know they escort things), compared to an automated frigate or destroyer? I can't find any documentation on these roles, please help!

[Arcatus]

Clever question.

I usually don't use any automation on ships, so I can't answer, but hopefully someone else can

[szabferi]

As far as I know, the roles are strictly used by the automation, if you let the AI control your ship. The AI will assign the tasks to a specific ship based on it's role.

[joeyeti]

Good question and I too would like to know the answer to that...

[Darkspire]

ORIGINAL: szabferi
As far as I know, the roles are strictly used by the automation, if you let the AI control your ship. The AI will assign the tasks to a specific ship based on it's role.

That has got to go down as the worst answer in history [:D]

From watching what the AI does with things Id hazard a guess that escorts get sent to escort frieghters, frigates get sent to attack things, like pirates, ive never really noticed though what it does with destroyers, cruisers, I normally have 4-6 destroyers on guard duty round important things like fuel bases, an important research base with a character assigned etc, cruisers i use in my attack fleets, to look after the troop transports. Carriers, yet again once the AI has asked to build them they dont seem to do much so I use them to as a first attack fleet, then send in the cruisers followed by the transports.

Darkspire

[Bleek]

ORIGINAL: Darkspire

ORIGINAL: szabferi
As far as I know, the roles are strictly used by the automation, if you let the AI control your ship. The AI will assign the tasks to a specific ship based on it's role.

That has got to go down as the worst answer in history [:D]

Sorry szabferi but I agree, lol! [:D]

[szabferi]

Ok, I misread the question. Happens But Bleek, at least try to be useful next time (like Darkspire).

[Bleek]

I don't there is any difference, on auto escorts 'escort' ships and sometimes defend mines, whereas all other ships just randomly patrol mines and bases.

I don't think it matters if they're a frigate or a cruiser.

I might be wrong of course - I haven't exactly sat studying this for hours on end.

[dostillevi]

I asked mostly because without behavioral distinctions there's no difference I can find between an escort and a capital ship. You can make any class of ship up to your size limit and put any equipment you want on them. Why have class distinctions at all if the roles aren't defined?

[Panpiper]

As I understand the inner workings of the game, if you design any ship with the escort, frigate or destroyer designation (not sure about cruisers), pirates will use your designs. To my mind that completely obviates the motive for designing those ships, as you will gain absolutely no advantage, you will be fighting your own designs. On the other hand, I do design my own capital ships to be the biggest hull size I can build at the time, and those are the ships I actually deploy. I leave the original escort, frigate and destroyer designs alone in their original state, and let my optimized capital ships deal with pirate chaff.

[Raap]

It's possible it's an artifact from a previous version of the game where the different roles did have size limitations.

At any rate, right now it's still useful for making different classes of ships since it allows for easier construction using the new('ish) build interface and the design interface when it's set to only show latest.

[Apheirox]

It might have an effect on how fleets are formed, as well. I suspect the automatic fleet formation will try to put just a single capital ship and lots of frigates and destroyers in a fleet, for instance.

[Erik Rutins]

The roles are most important for automation and default behavior settings. Apart from the private sector, if you are playing with no automation at all in the rest of the game, the roles are not especially important. Since most players do use some level of automation at least some of the time, matching your designs to the usage and behavior of each role will definitely help with the performance of your automated ships and with the judgements of your advisors.

To respond to the original poster, escorts will typically be assigned to patrol or escort ships and bases that are of value, but not of the highest value. Frigates are fairly multi-role as they will typically also do the job of escorts, but for higher value ships and bases, as well as perform system patrols and form the basis of early fleets for military actions. Destroyers will be used for some system patrols and defense, but will primarily be assigned to fleets. Your policy settings which can influence ship building and fleet size are also a factor in terms of what ships fleets will use.

Regards,

- Erik

[Bleek]

Thanks for clearing that up Erik.

[dostillevi]

Much appreciated!

[feelotraveller]

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

The roles are most important for automation and default behavior settings. Apart from the private sector, if you are playing with no automation at all in the rest of the game, the roles are not especially important. Since most players do use some level of automation at least some of the time, matching your designs to the usage and behavior of each role will definitely help with the performance of your automated ships and with the judgements of your advisors.

To respond to the original poster, escorts will typically be assigned to patrol or escort ships and bases that are of value, but not of the highest value. Frigates are fairly multi-role as they will typically also do the job of escorts, but for higher value ships and bases, as well as perform system patrols and form the basis of early fleets for military actions. Destroyers will be used for some system patrols and defense, but will primarily be assigned to fleets. Your policy settings which can influence ship building and fleet size are also a factor in terms of what ships fleets will use.

Regards,

- Erik

Perhaps this information could be put into the Galactopedia for next expansion?

I seem to remember you answering this query before. [:)]