Two Random Drones - Why

[Mr. Harley]

I'm in a PBEM, and am playing as a replacement player (Pirates). No SP's, it's 2157 when this happens, and suddenly, out of nowhere, I get two drones and of course drone riots. I'm NOT running free market and did not make any SE changes, neither base increased in population, and at least one could not have a probe team operation that I didn't know about (I'm just getting a proper sensor net up), and I don't believe that happened to the other one. Both bases were at two population. Any thoughts?

[Vev]

Well, could be the dreaded B-Drones, Bureacracy drones. Firstly, do you have enough bases to incur B-Drones. With -1 effic, very likely at turn 57.

What may have happened is that there are probably bases obliterated (or size 1 bases taken over). This will cause a recalculation of B-Drones and your poor two bases have unfairly copped an unlucky break. I don't have time or the full knowledge at the moment to explain B-drone stuff.

[Mr. Harley]

No change in base numbers - should have mentioned that. Very familiar with b-drones and the guy I inherited the faction from had absolutely NO idea about them, which is why I've stopped making bases. Plus, nothing conquered this turn.

[Vev]

Not just your bases, need to consider all bases on the map. It is a very strange algorithm they used.

[Jamski]

Each base has a number depending on when it was built, and then there's some crazy formula to work out WHICH bases get the B drones.

Kody was working on a way to give OTHER factions B drones by timing the building of your bases.

-Jam

[GeoModder]

Ah, I heard he succeeded?

Or was this way still under investigation?

[Jamski]

I think he managed to give the Uni a Drone riot. The trick lies in working out how many bases the other factions have by looking at the pattern of B-Drones in your own bases. It was WAY over my head.

-Jam

[Jamski]

http://www.apolyton.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=92096

Its worth a look

-Jam

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Jamski
I think he managed to give the Uni a Drone riot. The trick lies in working out how many bases the other factions have by looking at the pattern of B-Drones in your own bases. It was WAY over my head.

-Jam

Then I think Impaler's trick of locating bases on a black map came as a gods gift then?

Jeezz, why making all that effort for a game?

It's not like he gained a lot from it, looking in hindsight, he got banned...

[Jamski]

Nope. He resigned.

-Jam

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Jamski
Nope. He resigned.

-Jam

I suppose it's not as a lot of Hive members tried to stop him, or was it?

[Mr. Harley]

Way too much SP - I had understood B-drones from an SP aspect, I had NO idea that if other people (the #$%@ with the SP's who don't have drone problems) keep building bases, I'm stilled screwed. Oh well, now I have a strategy for a game I'm playing in PBEM to turn that around.

[Vev]

The story with Kody is that he cannot maintain the intensity without his work suffering the consequences. The fact that he was so invaluable to the hive, they won't let him leave really. He tried a few times to leave, unsuccesfully as he kept being dragged back. In fact he wanted to be banned so that they can leave him at peace.

But the B-Drones thing requires the knowledge of the exact order of bases built. Knowledge of location will help if you pay attention every turn.

[Jamski]

Wasn't the whole aim of Kody's research to work out the order that other factions bases were built by looking at the current B-drone distribution in his own bases?

-Jam