More help with starbases

[Guest Lug]

I tried to follow the instructions from an early post about docking with starbases.

I tried to what was said, but I couldn't target the starbase with the shuttle, even with my radar set to ground mode.

I could target it with the Cygnus (My BC) but when I tried to dock, the screen went black for a few seconds and I was back on the planet surface.

What am I doing wrong?

On a funny note, in frustration I picked it up with my tractor beam and took it into space, I was able to give it to the star station.

Other than this problem I really love this game, I haven't played a game this ambitious for a long time.

[ 08-02-2001: Message edited by: Lug ]

[Supreme Cmdr]

The Battlecruiser cannot dock with a planetary base. Only the IC/SC/ATV can.

The planetary base can be detected in Tacscan ground radar. It has to be visible in the CVD camera mode, before the docking can occur.

[Guest Lug]

Ahhh, finally got it to work, all I had to do was make it so it wouldn't target enemy units or crafts, and it eventully cycled around and targeted it.

Thank you very much.

[Supreme Cmdr]

...and thats what the radar target filter is for

[Menchise]

I tried docking at a starbase for the first time today (I've been pre-occupied with space until now ). I managed to locate and dock with Sygan on the planet, but when I tried to launch, the game quit to the desktop. There was an error message in the DOS box that said something like "Error finding start location in EARTHZ".

[ausraider2]

Hi,

I've been playing the Sygan mission where the spies are sneeaked past to Toron 1.

After I captured Sygan Starstation I figured it would be a good idea to take the planetbase aswell.

So I set up the operation.

Located the planetbase(starbase) on the surface in tacops.

Zoomed in to the appropiate compound.

1st, I nuked the adjoining compounds which contained launch pads etc.

Half-nuked the Sygan Starbase compound to get rid of the launch pads.

brought in the BC to PTA the ground units from above the clouds and IOD-ed the other buildings until only the Sygan Starbase was left.

Took the BC back into orbit and sent down an interceptor to laser-down the Sygan starbase shield/armour etc from overhead - expecting that at a certain point the base would start emmiting an SOS so I could capture the base.

But alas, they weren't for giving in.

I'd gotten the base name to turn grey on the CVD (still no SOS) and tried docking the interceptor then, but no luck.

Is this par for the course so to speak with planetbases...ie un-capturable?

Thanks

Ausraider2

[ausraider2]

Ehh...sorry,

I'd just like to get confirmation on that issue...

Are Starbases(planetbases) capturable ala Spacestaions?

Ie - fire down the shield and the armour until an SOS dockable is emmited?

(maybe I should post this as a seperate thread?)

Thanks

Ausraider2

[Cmdr Nova]

Don't know, haven't tried it or heard of anyone try it.

[Rico Jansen]

I don't know either. Don't come down there much.

I just thouroughly searched the (latest) version control file that came with the freeware version, and it only mentions capture together with (star)stations, never with (star)bases. And there is a very strickt distinction between stations and bases, being spacebound and surface bound respectively. So my guess is you are not supposed be able to. You can allways try, but it could allways be that that causes problems to your savegame further down the road. Try it with a new profile.

And your bc was never designed to go planetside anyway, so if you do try, don't use that one.

[ausraider2]

Thankyou for your replys,

I suspect not then - ala - the VCF.

So I suppose I'll just nuke them all then.

Question:

I notice that the destroyed buildings all turn CVD blue - does this mean that the starbases and buildings will be re-built as Galcom allied buildings and base or neutral?

Or will they go back to red Insurgents - type?

I'm now wondering what the point is in launching an all out planetary assult if there is no way the ground territory can be brought under Neutral or Galcom control.

This would be to minimize planet based enemy attacks on the newly captured starstation.

Or, just because it makes me very nervous to think of them sitting down there eye-ing the new Galcom Sygan Starstation in the night sky.

I mean anything could happen - those Insurgents are known for it.

Ausraider2

[Rico Jansen]

quote:

---

I'm now wondering what the point is in launching an all out planetary assult if there is no way the ground territory can be brought under Neutral or Galcom control.

This would be to minimize planet based enemy attacks on the newly captured starstation.

---

Simple, the sadistic fun of watching the NPCs suffer under your wraith. It takes quite a while before those objects are recovered to fun strength. True though, there's a whole planet full of them, so you'll have your hands full keeping them down in the mud.

I'm not absolutely sure, but since I haven't seen much (or any really) planet-space NPC traffic lately I doubt planet-based forces wil try to retake the station up in orbit. Space-based NPCs are a higher priority for you.