Dynamic missions

[Yorkshire Tea]

First off - just want to say I love this game and it's just what I was looking for. Seriously, Doom3's been sitting on the shelf while I try and complete Firestorm.

Now a query:

As commander of a DESRON I'd been assigned to attack a Cruiser. Started the mission and our group was surrounded by the cruiser, two of it's mates and another DESRON due south - so to try and save the group I quantumed out and ended the mission, hoping that my group would follow me to the new sector[1]. Now I've got a Destroyer all on it's lonesome, getting missions to destroy the cruiser I failed to destroy in the previous mission. Only trouble is if you try to start the mission I get an error saying that the cruiser isn't in the same sector and the mission won't load.

[1] A tactic I've been using to avoid patrol missions after you've cleared out one sector is to quantum the lead ship of a group to a sector you know there are enemies in, ending the mission and then starting a new mission. First thing that happens is the remainder of the group quantum to your location.

I think I need a "How to use quantum jumps 101" [:)]

[John DiCamillo]

First, please send me your save game (milo@starshatter.com) or post it in an attachment here.

Second, before you quantum jump to safety, you should order the rest of your squadron to do the same. Pause the game if necessary. Go to F3 view, select each ship in turn and use the right-click menu to tell them to quantum to some other sector.

Third, when you are really outnumbered like this, you need to divide to conquer. Pick one of the cruiser's weaker escorts and organize your forces to concentrate fire on that one ship. Try for a missile kill at maximum range and then run to safety.

Of course, the AI isn't going to just let you in and out without a fight...

[Yorkshire Tea]

John,

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, having just checked my saves from last night I don't have one at the exact time the DESRON problem showed up [:(] - that was day 4 of Firestorm, I'm now on 19... I got round the problem by transferring to a cruiser group elsewhere. I'll go back to the save from the day before and try and reproduce what I did.

As for the second point, could a "Quantum to my location" radio command be added, or the "return to formation" command be changed, so if you foolishly jump before issuing the order to your charges (ooops - missed that!), you can get them to show up directly?

[Yorkshire Tea]

Just wanted to say that I would have posted the save - but one of my hard drives (80Gb Seagate Barracuda) has gone tits up...

Repartition, Reformat and Reinstall windows here I come... sigh... [:(]