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Author Topic:   Possible Bug

Al Gore Rythm posted 05-02-99 12:16 AM ET
I don't know if this has ever been posted before, or if this is another "feature" but here's something to know:
There's a quick and easy way to get free clean reactors, without the SA space and without Gene Splicing (or whatever it's called.)
Instead, when the need arises merely slap a Probe Team unit where the free unit's weapon would be. Now, slap on whatever else you want. Thick armor, Hypno-Trance, Cloaking Device, whatever.
Build the unit, and it has no upkeep.
Of course, the unit cannot be offensive (atleast not conventionally offensive) but it is a great way to make massive garrisons for less.
Another thing to note is that these 'probe-wannabees' do not incur rioting when under a police hurting SE choice.
JAMiAM posted 05-02-99 12:42 AM ET
Al,
Nice catch on that one! Another of those "Now, why didn't I think of doing that before?" But then, I'm kinda slow witted. It took me a month before I figured out how to build probe teams.
JAMiAM
still wondering just what the heck is going on.
Smeagol posted 05-02-99 12:54 AM ET
GREAT catch. This is why I stick around these forums. I'm going to exploit this to the fullest.
Chowlett posted 05-02-99 09:45 AM ET
Neat. Democracy, here I come!
WyldKarde posted 05-02-99 01:42 PM ET
Y'know, I just finished my first game as Morgan, and quickly cottoned on to the idea of using probe foils instead of the usual synthmetal for my sea based scouting (lots of water on that map, happens with 200x200) but I never quite took the idea to the next step... probe police plasma sentinels would've been bloody handy, too. Good call Al!
Glak posted 05-02-99 02:20 PM ET
but in combat probe teams always lose without hurting the other guy, at least my probe teams always do. Is there some way that you are getting around this? I'm not talking about the distinction between combat and non combat units either. Probe teams always seem to have 0.00 power.
Al Gore Rythm posted 05-02-99 02:28 PM ET
Glak:
This is because your probe teams are unarmoed, and are considered Non-Combat and have the special Non-Combat Probe .00 hp thing. Once a Probe unit is armored he is treated like a regular unit when attacked.
Other Folks:
I forgot to mention some things about this -
Probe Team Morale is, as far as I know, completly unrelated to Regular Morale. So you could, theoretically, create a large mob of these guys under Demo/FME/Wealth and all the penalties of those SE choices would be lifted when dealing with them.
Probe Teams cannot equip certain specials. So they are limited, but in all the times I've tried this Probe units seem to be cheaper than a Clean Reactor equivelant.
Be warned, you must remember your probe garrisons ARE probes. So they will defend against enemy probe teams. This can be seen as a weakness or a strength, depending on your general strategy and SE choices. But you will want to keep atleast one or two regular troops to guard your bases when you do this, so you aren't swamped with a barrage of probes and left defenseless.
Al Gore Rythm posted 05-02-99 02:29 PM ET
One other thing -
Probe Team Garrisons fit really well to defend Morgan - since all your infantry garrisons will now hold briefcases instead of guns
Bingmann posted 05-03-99 10:28 AM ET
This is a really good idea.
Advantages:
1. Free support.
2. Possible high morale with otherwise low Morale SE.
3. Can do probe functions when needed.
Drawbacks:
1. Since it doesn't have an attack value, it can't be used as a police unit. (OK if SE is Police -2 or less)
2. It is vulnerable to attack by enemy probe teams in a morale vs. morale battle. (no perimeter defense, etc.)
3. It can be expensive - the same as a garrison unit with a particle impactor weapon. (perhaps the free support offsets this)
4. It can't attack anything other than probe teams, including worms.
sandals posted 05-03-99 04:01 PM ET
On #3 above -
Once you hit defense 5 (Photon Wall?), a 4-5-1 garrison costs the same as a 1-5-1 garrison. Try it. At that point probes are usually coming out Commando or Elite, so they should do well against worms too.
Nice idea. I'll have to try it. I like the idea of being able to try a probe action for 'active defense.' Could be risky though...
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Author	Topic: Possible Bug
Al Gore Rythm	posted 05-02-99 12:16 AM ET I don't know if this has ever been posted before, or if this is another "feature" but here's something to know: There's a quick and easy way to get free clean reactors, without the SA space and without Gene Splicing (or whatever it's called.) Instead, when the need arises merely slap a Probe Team unit where the free unit's weapon would be. Now, slap on whatever else you want. Thick armor, Hypno-Trance, Cloaking Device, whatever. Build the unit, and it has no upkeep. Of course, the unit cannot be offensive (atleast not conventionally offensive) but it is a great way to make massive garrisons for less. Another thing to note is that these 'probe-wannabees' do not incur rioting when under a police hurting SE choice.
JAMiAM	posted 05-02-99 12:42 AM ET Al, Nice catch on that one! Another of those "Now, why didn't I think of doing that before?" But then, I'm kinda slow witted. It took me a month before I figured out how to build probe teams. JAMiAM still wondering just what the heck is going on.
Smeagol	posted 05-02-99 12:54 AM ET GREAT catch. This is why I stick around these forums. I'm going to exploit this to the fullest.
Chowlett	posted 05-02-99 09:45 AM ET Neat. Democracy, here I come!
WyldKarde	posted 05-02-99 01:42 PM ET Y'know, I just finished my first game as Morgan, and quickly cottoned on to the idea of using probe foils instead of the usual synthmetal for my sea based scouting (lots of water on that map, happens with 200x200) but I never quite took the idea to the next step... probe police plasma sentinels would've been bloody handy, too. Good call Al!
Glak	posted 05-02-99 02:20 PM ET but in combat probe teams always lose without hurting the other guy, at least my probe teams always do. Is there some way that you are getting around this? I'm not talking about the distinction between combat and non combat units either. Probe teams always seem to have 0.00 power.
Al Gore Rythm	posted 05-02-99 02:28 PM ET Glak: This is because your probe teams are unarmoed, and are considered Non-Combat and have the special Non-Combat Probe .00 hp thing. Once a Probe unit is armored he is treated like a regular unit when attacked. Other Folks: I forgot to mention some things about this - Probe Team Morale is, as far as I know, completly unrelated to Regular Morale. So you could, theoretically, create a large mob of these guys under Demo/FME/Wealth and all the penalties of those SE choices would be lifted when dealing with them. Probe Teams cannot equip certain specials. So they are limited, but in all the times I've tried this Probe units seem to be cheaper than a Clean Reactor equivelant. Be warned, you must remember your probe garrisons ARE probes. So they will defend against enemy probe teams. This can be seen as a weakness or a strength, depending on your general strategy and SE choices. But you will want to keep atleast one or two regular troops to guard your bases when you do this, so you aren't swamped with a barrage of probes and left defenseless.
Al Gore Rythm	posted 05-02-99 02:29 PM ET One other thing - Probe Team Garrisons fit really well to defend Morgan - since all your infantry garrisons will now hold briefcases instead of guns
Bingmann	posted 05-03-99 10:28 AM ET This is a really good idea. Advantages: 1. Free support. 2. Possible high morale with otherwise low Morale SE. 3. Can do probe functions when needed. Drawbacks: 1. Since it doesn't have an attack value, it can't be used as a police unit. (OK if SE is Police -2 or less) 2. It is vulnerable to attack by enemy probe teams in a morale vs. morale battle. (no perimeter defense, etc.) 3. It can be expensive - the same as a garrison unit with a particle impactor weapon. (perhaps the free support offsets this) 4. It can't attack anything other than probe teams, including worms.
sandals	posted 05-03-99 04:01 PM ET On #3 above - Once you hit defense 5 (Photon Wall?), a 4-5-1 garrison costs the same as a 1-5-1 garrison. Try it. At that point probes are usually coming out Commando or Elite, so they should do well against worms too. Nice idea. I'll have to try it. I like the idea of being able to try a probe action for 'active defense.' Could be risky though...