Drones... droning on and on and on

[VoiceofReason]

drone issues always comming up.png (19.88 KiB) Viewed 3643 times

I see this ALL THE TIME.


...and I've been seeing it for months.


Is this how drones will always be? It was obviously a bad change, can we get it reverted? ...Maybe fixed?

[Iszh]

I thought it was a bug until people told me 2 days ago that it is intended

I would say better to fix them another way if i would know another but here in this case i have no idea at the moment. Problem is they cost like 2 engis but are shot times more easy even in the middle of your base. So you pay for a normal t1 engi without radar double prize with speed advantage but the disadvantage once it was scouted it is dead. Even like they are atm they are only useful for start reclaim abuse. Maybe simply increase e cost and leave them untargetable for planes. You cannot afford them from start but later you can use them save until you come in range of enemy gound aa gun.

[JaggedAppliance]

It should be fixed.

[IceDreamer]

Some of it is a bug.

Our testing has shown that the only AA unit which misses it is the Seraphim T1 Mobile. Interceptors hit it fine, as do FBs. ASFs cannot target drones. This is to prevent extremely nasty gameplay where an ASF swarm is used to level an entire UEF base in a single pass, dropping shields and overkilling buildings. It caused drones to be completely unbuildable out of that risk. It shouldn't be a problem, as defending against drones should be handled easily by AA. It's know about, but people are saying all AA misses and I can't reproduce that, not to mention neither Drones nor AA (Aside from the Sera one, where I have an idea what's going on) have been changed in the past year in any way which would change how they are hit.

[Iszh]

Icedreamer you re wrong i also thought the plan was that inties can hit them but they cannot target them. Watch here #4079659 small sandbox for you.

[d-_-b]

Interceptors hit it fine

How long ago were those tests done? Inties not targeting drone has been around for a while, and people are starting to seriously abuse it (taking reclaim right from under your nose, capture PD in base, reclaim your power/mexes, etc)

Try to scramble some engies to build AA? Engy is reclaimed.
Use Com to build AA? AA is reclaimed while it misses.

:\

[Zock]

Is this how drones will always be? It was obviously a bad change, can we get it reverted? ...Maybe fixed?

I thought it was a bug until people told me 2 days ago that it is intended

It's a bug. If someone can fix it, he'll be very welcome.

[IceDreamer]

I feel the need to point out again that the code around Drones and AA has not been changed in FAF. Their collision is untouched. So anything with AA not hitting is not a FAF introduced bug, it's always been there. ASFs I've explained, and Inties I can't reproduce. They engage fine.

Interceptors hit it fine

How long ago were those tests done? Inties not targeting drone has been around for a while

2 minutes ago. All four inties hit ACUs drones without any trouble whatsoever.

[VoiceofReason]

#1, if ASF can fly around your base unchallenged - Drones aren't what cost the loss.
#2, if you have a pile of drones and no Air force to challenge the opposing teams air - You need SAMS or t3MAA to protect your base and drones. If an opponent brings his ASF to your base riddled with SAMS & t3MAA, to target and kill Drones - Majority of his air should be lost.
#3, if structures and land units were immune to ASF fire, rather than the current implemented idea - Just might be the more practical approach. Is this not possible?

Drones are both a strength and a weakness; but where they stand now they are simply OP, and being abused.

[VoiceofReason]

Just tested. Inties are Disabled from targeting Drones, and WILL NOT fire.
Cybran ones anyways.

t1 static AA, hits it and kills it.
t1 mobile AA, hits it and kills it
Cybran stuff only is what I tested.

Regardless, the Interceptor CANNOT, and WILL not target, or kill a ACU drone.
This is current FAF balance. Not the FAF(Beta).
Replay of said test

4080045-Com.fafreplay

(9.5 KiB) Downloaded 81 times

Cybran Interceptors, if selected it shows you as you mouse over the drone that is is Not targetable. Just the same as trying to target a submerged sub with a t1 bomber - No can do.