Fleet still taking on mission while being greatly overmatched

[100thMonkey]

Platform: Steam
Build version: v1.3.1.0 Beta + Expansion and all DLCs
Severity: Low
Annoyance factor: Medium
Confusion for new players: High
Saved game:

The Culture - Wekkarus - 2767-05-20.7z

(4.99 MiB) Downloaded 3 times

Another example of automated fleet taking missions they shouldn’t (see also https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=410921).

3rd Fleet, an automated defense fleet, as taken upon itself to investigate the Andat Asteroid Field, where the threat is Vordikar(s) with a strength of 5,284. But the fleet’s strength is only 795, and the overmatch factor in my policies is set to 1.5.

Dangerous Locations.png (136.36 KiB) Viewed 246 times

Overmatched.png (176.41 KiB) Viewed 246 times

Clearly, 3rd Fleet isn't a match for what's in that location. But, it's still merrily going there.

To make things worst, if 3rd Fleet would have waited a little for 2nd Fleet (being refueled from its tankers), and then coordinate with it. In which case, it might have had a change against the Vordikar(s).

And, as I’ve seen in similar situations many times before, 3rd Fleet did indeed run away when confronted with the Vordikar! Loss of fuel, time and opportunities to do something useful with the fleet.

And I’m sure, a mix of confusion and frustration for inexperienced players.

[MaximKI]

Was the 2nd fleet available to help with the investigation at the time the 3rd fleet was sent to investigate?

Do you happen to have a save from just before the 3rd fleet was assigned to investigate the target?

[100thMonkey]

I’ve loaded the closest save I had that was made before the one I’ve already posted (it is from 2 years before: 2765-02-06). In it, 3rd Fleet is on its way to Shadur 5 Mining Station, it’s home base.

From there, I’ve let the game run.

For a while, the advisor suggestions made sense. But at 2767.03.06, the advisor suggested 2 missions that didn’t made sense (even though involving coordination of 2 fleets). The mission: sending 2nd and 3rd Fleet to YU804, where the threat strength is 17,107 (against 795 + 4732 for 3rd and 2nd Fleet respectively). As usual in my games, the overmatch factor is set to 1.5.

The cherry on top is that I had not even queued that location in Dangerous Locations! Yet, the advisor suggests sending both fleet there... Something’s wrong!

I made a save (attached) at that point, without having accepting or declining the advisor suggestions. So you’ll be able to see them.

Saved game:

The Culture - Wekkarus - 2767-03-06.7z

(4.96 MiB) Downloaded 4 times

[MaximKI]

Thanks, we'll investigate.

Are you still seeing this behavior on 1311?