You're more correct for MP than you are for SP. In single-player, I've sicced the pirates on enemy AI factions and they've successfully wiped weaker planets while I've been elsewhere.

It's glorious when you find out where the pirates are going and arrive with your own forces to see the enemy's AI's ships fully caught up in battle with a pirate fleet. I've used this to annihilate much stronger forces and take planets much faster than I could have myself.

Pirates are also really good for exposing weaknesses in your own defensive ring. A player that is not experienced enough to build turrets on planets they've claimed and keep a reasonable force close will get whomped by them.

-- Retro

I'm mostly interested in online games vs. competent human opponents.

I understand what you're saying. I'de still very much like to hear some alternative view points before totally declaring this neat new feature completely null and void.

It would be awesome to see Frogboy or someone come in here and tell us a bit about pirates.

I'm continuing to explore and experiment.

I'm finding that there are so many ways to exploit the Pirate AI and distract them from being dangerous it's scary.

I believe they're targeting priority is 1) Trade Ships. 2) Defeding Fleet and Static Defenses. 3) Other structures.

But when it comes to 2) they don't function tactically at all. They just shoot the first thing they come in contact with. So my favorite exploit is to build a hangar bay, and let the pirates come. THen my strike craft fly out to the edge of the grav well to meet them, and they all spin in circles trying to shoot the strike craft. Over the course of 20 minutes a single bomber squadron will eventually kill the entire raid. THe seige frigates go straight for the planet, and that will make a difference (take out my taxincome), but it's nothing a couple of turrets can't solve.


If there are trade ships, that makes things even sillier, because the pirates just fly back and forth across the grav well as chasing trade ships that are jumping in and out from different places, rarely getting a shot off.


The pirates seem soo easy to exploit into irrelvance. But this feature was so hyped, seems so important, I'm afraid I'm missing something. Any suggestions? I'm not seeing any reason to bid on the pirates ever. Please show me what I'm missing.


PS: I'm well aware that there's an active thread with a title suggesting the exact opposite. But the general assessment there is that the pirates are quite easily managed. I'm approaching the game as a serious strategy gamer, looking to exploit every mechanic to crush my opponent (a human whose trying to do the same thing) in the most optimal way. From this point of view, I'm not seeing the pirates taking a very important role in my gameplan. I want to be wrong, pleeeeaaase show me how I'm wrong.

Thanks.

Well damnit, I want to be able to exploit them offensively against a competent player!!

It just sounds like so much fun! :/