Asking your allies for help

[catuk1181]

I don't bother with federations often, but am in a war with my federation partners "helping".

There's quite a large enemy fleet making its way through my sectors, while a large allied fleet is sitting with "no orders". There doesn't seem to be any way to ask him to help and it's irritating.

Looking online revealed someone with a similar problem 3 years ago, but can't believe this oversight would still exist.

Anyone know how to command allied ships to help out? (Take point doesn't affect them).

[Rord64]

There's a take point command in the ship window, but it's not guarunteed to work

[tempest.of.emptiness]

You'll need to be prepared to defend yourself without any help from your allies, because there's never any guarantee that help will come or that it will actually help. If you are in charge of your federation fleet, then at least you can control all the ships that your federation members contribute to that fleet. Make sure you keep the ship designs updated so that they ships they are building will be as effective as they can be.

[Meewec]

Originally posted by tempest.of.emptiness:

You'll need to be prepared to defend yourself without any help from your allies, because there's never any guarantee that help will come or that it will actually help. If you are in charge of your federation fleet, then at least you can control all the ships that your federation members contribute to that fleet. Make sure you keep the ship designs updated so that they ships they are building will be as effective as they can be.

this, even if you're in a federation or defensive pact always assume you're on your own. if you're not the war leader and some part of your stuff is part of the war goals make sure you keep your allies from losing, if they surrender you lose your stuff too.

[NixBoxDone]

Federation allies are, right now, more of a preventive measure. The combined fleet strength keeps lesser enemies from even trying and the federation fleet allows you a big fat club to smack down stronger ones.

Other than that your allies are mostly just useful as distractions.
Don't expect your allies to actually do useful stuff unless they're fellow players. ^^

[Army Pea]

Did something ring? Looking for allies?

Army Pea is back baby!

Also the little icon in the fleet bar will make your ally fleets follow you

[Meewec]

Originally posted by Army Pea:

Army Pea is back baby!

now stay away from those that'll argue with you until you're both banned

[Army Pea]

Originally posted by Meewec:

Originally posted by Army Pea:

Army Pea is back baby!

now stay away from those that'll argue with you until you're both banned

I have a long term strategy that is playing out perfectly.
Although i do appreciate your concern :)

[tempest.of.emptiness]

Originally posted by Army Pea:

Also the little icon in the fleet bar will make your ally fleets follow you

Except when it doesn't:

Originally posted by catuk1181:

(Take point doesn't affect them).

catuk1181 has tried that and it isn't doing anything.


PS: For the record this is not an attempt to get Army Pea banned.

[NixBoxDone]

The taking point thing -sometimes- works. I don't think I've ever seen anyone find out for sure what modifies the likelihood of your allies deciding to actually honour that option, but I'd imagine proximity, enemy proximity to their own territory and your own naval strength might factor in.

All I know is that sometimes the AI follows you if you use it, and sometimes they just decide to stay home anyways.

[Jagothegamer]

The AI in this game is quite erratic, I think it mostly depends on the AI personality, as I have seen my federation allies send fleets to aid me in war (They have smaller fleets follow me into battle) as well as sometimes even offering offensive support. I have also seen enemy AI with massive fleets just sitting around doing nothing, and other AI that will suicide multiple small fleets on your starbases and fleets. In my current game, I actually witnessed the AI trying to be clever. After unsuccessfully moving their larger fleet straight on into my territory, they used another fleet to go through carvaneer space and attempt to assault an undefended system. Granted, I knew exactly what they were doing so I simply moved my fleet into said system as it was only two jumps away, but I was impressed that the AI suddenly changed tactics on me. Even though they were still destroyed in the end. It was kind of funny.

[EvilxFish]

Similar thing happened to me, was in a federation and we have war declared on us, the enemy is tearing through my systems, my AI buddy who has a fleet literally 3X stronger than their strongest did nothing. Then my capital gets taken, I get some hope as he moves in to retake it... Then heads back home with his fleet and troops after doing so contributing nothing to the war again even after the planet gets retaken. It was so infuriating. Really the developers should fix this kind of thing and I should not have to search for people who as a passion project have created better AIs, it really does affect the playability of the game. I don't want to have to play a conquering style empire every time and like the idea of a group of people (AIs and humans) working together against common threats. But here's the thing, generally in a 1v1 the AI isn't that bad, it's just when they need to help an ally they don't seem to...

[Cyxes]

Just consider federation partners as trading partners at best... they wont help you in any fight unless it is a coincidence. No matter how often i played with a federation, they NEVER helped in any fight. The personality of the allied race also didn't make any difference. Even when my federation partners started the war they just watched the enemys raging through our space XD . Completely useless in any regard.
The enemy forces on the other hand can even coordinate their fleets and defend friendly space. This just seems to me like the game programmers know how to do it right but simply dont care or even worse.... it is intended!
That`s why i dont buy any more DLCs. I like the game but i will not spend any more money on a product that cant or dont WANT to fix something basic like this.