Automatically prevent stations from killing docked ships

Wed Jan 28, 2015 12:24 am

Currently, a station can kill its own docked ships if they're between it and the thing it wants to shoot. This suggestion would see the game automatically apply a no-FF check to any docked ship, so that weapon shots fired from the station pass through them without damaging them. This prevents hilarious freighter deaths, and adds to immersion (Why are the docking bays in front of the defense battery?).

JohnBWatson · Wed Jan 28, 2015 9:26 am

Better yet, have a station's firing trigger docked ships to act accordingly. Should a station come under attack, civilian ships should immediately flee and guards should immediately engage. It's a bit strange that they wait to be hit(the latter acts if the station becomes repeatedly damaged, but could still use the adjustment).

Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:54 pm

JohnBWatson wrote:Better yet, have a station's firing trigger docked ships to act accordingly. Should a station come under attack, civilian ships should immediately flee and guards should immediately engage. It's a bit strange that they wait to be hit(the latter acts if the station becomes repeatedly damaged, but could still use the adjustment).

Actually, I think having the freighters stay docked and out of the line of fire is safer....if they immediately undock then they are 100% going to get shot.

JohnBWatson · Thu Jan 29, 2015 12:02 am

Shrike wrote:
JohnBWatson wrote:Better yet, have a station's firing trigger docked ships to act accordingly. Should a station come under attack, civilian ships should immediately flee and guards should immediately engage. It's a bit strange that they wait to be hit(the latter acts if the station becomes repeatedly damaged, but could still use the adjustment).
Actually, I think having the freighters stay docked and out of the line of fire is safer....if they immediately undock then they are 100% going to get shot.

That isn't what I've seen with Korolov, where freighters under attack are almost always destroyed. Of course, Korolov stations aren't armed...

Would it be practical to have the station check the level of the enemy attacking it, and have freighters docked to it retreat if they are of a significantly lower level?

Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:25 am

Civilian ships do flee. That's what the gateonthreat order does.

Also, be very careful about making stations too touchy about damage: it makes the game nearly unplayable under certain circumstances.

JohnBWatson · Sat Jan 31, 2015 4:42 pm

Atarlost wrote:Civilian ships do flee. That's what the gateonthreat order does.

I thought that only occurred when they are attacked directly.

Also, be very careful about making stations too touchy about damage: it makes the game nearly unplayable under certain circumstances.

Right. A stray howitzer shot shouldn't shut a system's economy down, but a Xeno worldship should cause most things in the area to run away.