Topic: Possible to put your ship under AI control?

[Gargantou]

Sorry to ask such a newbish question, but in StarFleet Command 2, is there a way to put the players ship under AI only control?

Some of the more repetitive missions are becoming dull to play out in campaign mode so..

Thanks for any helpful reply!

[Beeblebrox]

I'm afraid there's not a way to do that.  The player's (yours) ship must be under his or her direct control.  However, you could give consideration to fleeting with one or two other ships.  Those will be under AI control for the most part.  You also have the option of transferring your flag to any of the ships in your fleet. 

[Gargantou]

I'm afraid there's not a way to do that.  The player's (yours) ship must be under his or her direct control.  However, you could give consideration to fleeting with one or two other ships.  Those will be under AI control for the most part.  You also have the option of transferring your flag to any of the ships in your fleet. 

Thanks for the reply, I guess the best thing I can do is transfer my flag to my least powerful fleet ship and stay back until its really necessary to intervene.

[Beeblebrox]

I'm afraid there's not a way to do that.  The player's (yours) ship must be under his or her direct control.  However, you could give consideration to fleeting with one or two other ships.  Those will be under AI control for the most part.  You also have the option of transferring your flag to any of the ships in your fleet. 

Thanks for the reply, I guess the best thing I can do is transfer my flag to my least powerful fleet ship and stay back until its really necessary to intervene.

Rather than that, you might try altering the formation your two AI partners take in relation to you.  For what it sounds like you want to do I would recommend having them both fly ahead of you--sort of a triangular formation with you as the point in the rear and the AI as the base up front.  That way your AI attracts the attention of the opposing AI instead of you.  They'll also act as ablative armor for you--until they die, that is.  That formation would allow you to mostly sit back and let your fleet buddies do the dirty work and then swoop in for the clean-up at the end.

[Gargantou]

I'm afraid there's not a way to do that.  The player's (yours) ship must be under his or her direct control.  However, you could give consideration to fleeting with one or two other ships.  Those will be under AI control for the most part.  You also have the option of transferring your flag to any of the ships in your fleet. 

Thanks for the reply, I guess the best thing I can do is transfer my flag to my least powerful fleet ship and stay back until its really necessary to intervene.

Rather than that, you might try altering the formation your two AI partners take in relation to you.  For what it sounds like you want to do I would recommend having them both fly ahead of you--sort of a triangular formation with you as the point in the rear and the AI as the base up front.  That way your AI attracts the attention of the opposing AI instead of you.  They'll also act as ablative armor for you--until they die, that is.  That formation would allow you to mostly sit back and let your fleet buddies do the dirty work and then swoop in for the clean-up at the end.

Hey thanks, that worked really well!

One gameplay related question, toggling ship in and out of formations, does out of formations mean they're able to act more to their own accord?

[Beeblebrox]

As far as I know any particular formation of ships doesn't affect how autonomous your AI partners are.  The deciding factor for that lies in the firing orders.  The first option "Fire at will." gives your fleet total individual control--that is, each ship will do its own thing.  The second option causes your AI fleet to focus and fire at whichever target you are currently locked onto.  The third option is to completely control weapons fire yourself by using the red button next to the firing orders.  When it's lighted that particular ship has one or more weapons ready to fire. 

Personally I always stick with having allied AI locking onto my target.  Allowing them to fire at will means they'll eventually wind up far away from you exposing you and the AI to risk.  If they're locked on your target they'll stay reasonably close most of the time.  The third option will keep your fleet much closer to you but it's very tough to judge from your command bridge just what weapons are available and in what quantity on the other starships.

Anyway, that's my opinion.  Play around with things and see what happens.  Sometimes you may be pleasantly surprised.