Defensive probe units

[Mart]

I just got how to make a guarding probe unit for AI. It does not work perfectly, but using it, no longer all AI bases are so much prone to probing by human players. Some factions seem to take a hint, but other do not build them, just keeping in bases those given to them at the game start.
Unit is predefined, so human players can use it.
When I made regular probe teams, AI was massively sending them for action. assigning the "plan" as defensive unit for that predefined probe team, it now stays in a base. The way it should.

[#endgame]

Give it synthmetal armor?

[Mart]

I havent give them that, but anyone can. Actually, there is no problem in defining like 2 or 3 such units. the one i did so far, are available at InfNetworks. They are plain foot probes 0-1-1. Cost 1 row only. They ae going to be possibly preferred by AI then. With better armor, AI might make more, though there is a problem for human player then. The armor may be omitted when the unit is attacked by other probe team. Only morale counts then just like in regular probe team fights.

[binTravkin]

In my expierence synthmetal armored probes are twice more resilient to probe attacks..
At least I've heard much about such.

[johndmuller]

As I understand it, the lack of armor casts the unit as a non-combatant, which is an additional detriment (50%?). So having the Synthmetal is not only beneficial in its own right, but also takes away the non-combatant penalty.

Does making a unit 'defensive' really help keep it at home? Cool.

[#endgame]

I'm pretty sure that armor value is ignored in probe vs probe.

[Chaos Theory]

Not only are unarmored probe teams non-combat, but they actually have a combat strength of roughly .01 when attacked by a military unit. Every now and then, a defending unarmored probe team will do a single point of damage to an attacking unit before dying, which is silly to behold, as I have to imagine someone whacking a soldier with a briefcase full of delicate electronics.

[Mart]

Originally posted by #endgame
I'm pretty sure that armor value is ignored in probe vs probe.

This is the problem. When you see an armoured probe team defending a base you do not send an impact infantry there to defeat it. Another probe team with decent morale will be sufficient

[Mart]

No luck. My resent findings say, that when a unit having "probe team" weapon has simultaneously assigned plan as "defensive" it no longer is considered a probe team. That would be it as for good defensive probe team for AI from this side. I have to check other ways.

[GeoModder]

But as long as it stays in the AI's bases, that's no problem I guess? Whatever the AI may think of it, it's still an obstacle against easy player probing.

Or did I interpret your original post the wrong way?

[Mart]

Originally posted by GeoModder
But as long as it stays in the AI's bases, that's no problem I guess? Whatever the AI may think of it, it's still an obstacle against easy player probing.

Unfortunately they do not serve as probe teams. They do not protect against probe team actions. They seem also not be able of performing such...

[GeoModder]

So... they look like probe teams, have the probe team weapon on them but don't have the 'qualifications' ? That's it?

[Mart]

Exactly, I think that a crucial for probe teams is that plan has to be 11, which is intelligence type unit. In other words, every probe team has to have that plan and any different plan renders the unit as "non-probe team"

[#endgame]

Does a similar effect occur for formers? because then you'd have units that are 0-X-1, which means they're only good on defense and don't cost a fortune.

[Mart]

what kind of arrangement you mean for formers?