TACOPS Zoom To function while observing planet or moon:

[Thermidor]

I posted this to the newbie forum but it wasn't getting a response. I'm beginning to think it may not be a newbie question as I think I've tried everything. If someone can try this I would appreciate it.

OK I have deployed a mining drone and a shuttle nearby. I cannot figure out how the "Zoom To" button on the right side of TACOPS is supposed to be used. I click on it, then click Support Craft (or similar) and then select either my shuttle or drone from the list but nothing at all happens. Yet if I manually find the drone and hover over it, the default option of "Zoom To" is shown and when I click it actually does "Zoom To" it. Thus I am assuming that this "Zoom To" icon in TACOPS can be used in a similar fashion to locate support vehicles.

UPDATE:

I've been using this "Zoom To" function of TACOPS in space and it works as I thought it would. Very convenient. Just wish I could get it working on planets and moons. Hopefully I'm just missing something here. Thanks

[ 12-14-2001: Message edited by: Thermidor ]

[Supreme Cmdr]

Read the VCF

[Thermidor]

The VCF says:

"You will no longer be able to use Tacops to zoom-to any space region that do not contain the CC, the AE or a probe. Similarly, planet regions are viewable if the CC is in the same space region as the planet; otherwise the zoom-to object procedure does not work - making it possible to lose support units on a planet. Some were using this exploit to view regions they had support units in even though there was no probe there."

The thing is, my CC is in the same space region as the planet in question (Earth). In fact I hypered to just within 150KM (simulated orbit). Perhaps I need to enter the atmosphere with my CC? I'm guessing that there is something obvious I'm missing as it seems no one else is experiencing a problem with this. Am I supposed to send a probe down to each planet I send support units to? Other than this one thing I'm experiencing true bliss with this incredible simulation.

[ 12-14-2001: Message edited by: Thermidor ]

[Emmett.hendrick]

If a probe or your CC is in a region you will be able to view it in your case you should be able to use the zoom to feature to zoom to your support craft if they are on a planet however you will need to observe the planet first.

The quote from the VCF stops you from viewing a region that you CC or probes are not in but you do have support craft (read IC's shuttle and OC's)

[Thermidor]

Thanks for the assistance. Of course I am using the "Observe" to view the surface of the planet. And it's OK with me if you have to send a shuttle or probe down to the surface of the planet to Zoom To the mining drone, but the VCF seems to indicate that you should be able to "Zoom To" a support vehicle on the planet's surface if your CC is in the same "space region" as the planet.

So again, I just want to know how it's supposed to be done; am I supposed to send a probe or shuttle to the surface of the planet in order to then be able to Zoom To bases and support craft on the planet or should I be able to do this by simply having the CC in the "same space region as the planet"?

[Thermidor]

Update after having spent a few more hours with TACOPS:

Well it seems as if I can only use the "Zoom To" function to quickly locate my support crafts on a planet's surface if my CC is within the atmosphere of the planet. I guess this is the way it's supposed to work. If my CC is in space even just 150KB away from the planet I can't use "Zoom To" on the surface of the planet within TACOPS. This is also the case if I have sent a shuttle down to the surface of the planet and also if I have launched a probe in earth's sector of space.

Does anyone's mileage vary?

[Thermidor]

I guess all the regulars can't stop playing long enough to answer my question.

A new point of confusion for me: the manual states on page 22 "When it first enters orbit, the probe will announce the name of the planet or moon." But there doesn't seem to be any way to tell a probe to enter the atmosphere or orbit a planet or moon. So now it appears as if I really must have my CC or at least AE in a shuttle or fighter fly down within the planet's atmosphere so I can locate any other crafts which may be on its surface. Again this is all fine with me, but I'd really like to know if this is the best and only way. Thanks.

[Supreme Cmdr]

Thats only for multiplayer because you can't observe a planet unless you are in orbit around it (allowing you to be shot down by STO silos) or have a probe. In multiplayer mode the probe can be giving a planet as the destination.