Forcing orbiting ships to stay put?

[Mansen]

I can't for the life of me get my fleet to stay put in orbit of an enemy planet while I send in troops and invade it - they keep running off and hunting space monsters, construction ships and whatnot. It's ruining my +25% space control bonus like mad. [:D]

[Raap]

When you've the fleet selected, change the range and posture settings in the lower left corner.

Eh, they might get overridden by the default settings though.

[Constantine XI]

This is a problem for me as well. I have all empire policies set to manual control, and my fleets on manual. However, I still find the fleet settings going back to default on a regular basis. This is a real problem early on especially when I might have only a few weak ships, and they go running off willy nilly to get eaten by space monsters. Especially annoying because it might be one or two ships from a fleet running off, instead of the whole fleet moving as a unit.

I assume I am doing something wrong, because otherwise is means the basic system is kinda broken.

[Bingeling]

ORIGINAL: Mansen

I can't for the life of me get my fleet to stay put in orbit of an enemy planet while I send in troops and invade it - they keep running off and hunting space monsters, construction ships and whatnot. It's ruining my +25% space control bonus like mad. [:D]

To stay in orbit make sure the order is "move to planet". That will leave them on top until distracted.

Since invaders are very likely to be distracted by arriving ships, it is easier to give them blockade order. That will make them return even if distracted, and keep some ship close.

[Mansen]

Move to planet makes them stay in the gravity well as well? *derp*

Already tried blockade but they fly off to destroy mining stations and whatnot - I've already pacified the planet itself. No space ports or military installations (or ships) around. I just want my death fleet to hover above to ensure no reinforcements fly in.

Why didn't I think of trying that [8|]

[Bingeling]

Blockade works reasonably well for me. I usually leave my large fleet that busted the defenses on the spot to stop reinforcements, and in Shadows, to provide the 25% space control bonus.

And yes, "move to planet" is the way I have found to catch the gravity way. Moving to a spaceport probably works too, while ships exiting the spaceport won't be in the gravity well. And probably not ships undocking from planet either.

[TanC]

I've always used Blockade for invasions. It does a very good job of mopping the system up AND giving me the +25% bonus. [:D]

[Bebop Cola]

Personally, I prefer to scrub the system before invading. I either destroy(or now capture) any and all ships/bases in system, scatter civilians, and kill space monsters prior to invading a colony.

[Plant]

Ctrl+right click select patrol command, and the fleet should stay in orbit all the time, albeit whilst burning fuel.

[scotten_usa]

ORIGINAL: Bebop Cola

Personally, I prefer to scrub the system before invading. I either destroy(or now capture) any and all ships/bases in system, scatter civilians, and kill space monsters prior to invading a colony.

I agree, but find it tough. IIRC, any enemy ships warping into system (even civilian ones) will cause your fleet to chase them down and leave orbit.