More targets for auto defense

[R.K.]

As far as I can tell, the only valid target for an AutoDefenseDevice is "missiles". There are several other possibilities that could be useful, for example:

Lasers - solid projectiles can stop lasers.
Hostile ships - especially useful for crossing systems patrolled by weak enemies without forcing the captain to come out of autopilot suspension.
Friendly ships - a hostile ROM or unknown device could cause lots of trouble with this.
Stations - a heavy weapon dedicated to disabling stations would allow the player to concentrate regular weapon fire on the defending fleet.
Debris - useful for clearing away dead ships. Note that the missile defense currently targets some harmless debris.

Using the same syntax as the item table modifiers, the device could target any combination of object types.

Code: Select all

<!-- Deionizer -->

<ItemType UNID="&itDeionizer;"
   ...
   description="Keep your flight path clean with this ion neutralizer."
>
   <AutoDefenseDevice
      target="+ion; +hostile; +friendly; +intersect"
      weapon="&itRecoillessCannon;"
      ...
   />
</ItemType>

The above example would fire on any ion weapon likely to strike the player.

It may be helpful to have a default target of "+hostile; +friendly; +intersect", which would simplify devices intended for the most important situation (any weapon that will hit the player should be stopped). With default modifiers, the target for a station disabler might be "+intact; +station; -friendly; -intersect", while the deionizer would only need "+ion".

A few shortcuts could simplify target specifications: "+energy" (all energy weapons), "+weapons" (all weapons), etc.

[FAD]

Have you tested this to see if it actually works or not? Sounds interesting.

[Burzmali]

Well, it only shoots at missiles, it can hit whatever gets in it's way.

[Burzmali]

I believe he means that it shoots at projectiles launched by friendlies.

[FAD]

I wonder how that would do...I mean, it targeting friendly fire. I can see you launching a missile and your own ICX takes it out everytime.

[OddBob]

Friendly ships - a hostile ROM or unknown device could cause lots of trouble with this.

[FAD]

I just tested all those codes and none of them work. Get this error message when loading the game; Unable to load defense device descriptor

It would appear that "missiles" is the only acceptable one in the code.