Merc fleet controls.

[stretch]

Could we get some more control options on the merc fleet window please.

Something to get all mercs to resume formation and attack current target with one click. Right now it's a case of setting each one individually.

An explanation ie tooltip for the red/orange/green status of mercs. I understand the green and use the red but I have no idea what the orange does and no idea even what the red is supposed to achieve really. I need them red to go out of formation to kill stuff but they don't seem to follow any obvious rationale. Orange ? Well I assumed it was a defend me type thing but I don't know what it does. Nothing obvious to me at least.

I would like to be able to toggle a state where they:

#Defend me (So I can mine). Currently if I don't target individuals they aren't effectively selecting targets themselves and I have to fight myself as well or they just take soo long to kill stuff. Pootle around doing whatever they want being totally ineffective. If I set them to assist my target they do much better but I gotta go fight too. If I don't fight (try to mine) then more pirates spawn before they kill the last lot until I have 15 pirates on me, all my modules are busted and I gotta run around with no modules targetting everything manually just so my mercs can effectively kill anything at all. (Almost pointless really but it's for the merc combat xp so I do it anyway)

#Defend the space within a 2000m radius of me. Kill any enemy that gets into my orbit. Chase it to no further than 5000m and return if it runs away. Not follow it into another galaxy. (Values are settable by us but I like those numbers as an example) I see drones have orbits but I can't find combat drones and haven't found blueprints either. Got plenty of miners - combats eluded me.

#Hunt any and every enemy in the zone without having to be told but resume a loose formation on me when not in combat. So they return to me and not drift around 56 light years away doing whatnot.

#At some point be able to assign one of my gunship mercs as a wingman for a carrier merc and have the pair of them work together hunting an individual pirate. Automatically. Something for the future maybe. It's a bit specific but it would be nice I think. One day maybe?

Thanks.

[Blessed]

I too would like a clearer explanation of what the red, yellow and green blips do at merc orders. I am confused how to get my mercs to defend me smartly

[momoguru]

their tactics. The red means aggressive, they will target baddies and fight all on their own. Green is neutral, they do what they are told, regardless of being attacked or whatever. Yellow is evasive. If they take a hit, they will run tot eh nearest station all by themselves.

[MrBlonde[GER]]

Originally posted by momoguru:

their tactics. The red means aggressive, they will target baddies and fight all on their own. Green is neutral, they do what they are told, regardless of being attacked or whatever. Yellow is evasive. If they take a hit, they will run tot eh nearest station all by themselves.

is there a way to let mercs fire on the current target without them breaking formation?
edit: i just noticed they DO fire even in green alert... they just seem to be reluctant to do so sometimes.