Targeting and Priority - Revision history

Admin: Local CI auto-sync from TargetingAndPriority.wikitext

2026-09-13T11:14:57Z

Local CI auto-sync from TargetingAndPriority.wikitext

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:14, 13 September 2026
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	= Targeting and Priority =		= Targeting and Priority =
	Combat does not spray damage evenly across every enemy ship. Fire is biased toward '''front-line''' hulls first, then middle combat ships, then rear logistics and support.		Combat does not spray damage evenly across every enemy ship. Fire is biased toward '''front-line''' hulls first, then middle combat ships, then rear logistics and support. Planetary defenses use a separate '''dome-first''' order when they are the targets.

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	== Echelons ==		== Echelons (ships) ==
	Ships have a '''target priority''' tier in the catalog:		Ships have a '''target priority''' tier in the catalog:

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	\|1 — Front		\|1 — Front
	\|Screens & light combat		\|Screens & light combat
	\|Fighters, Corvette, Frigate, Interceptors		\|Fighters, Corvette, Frigate, Interceptors / Kamikaze
	\|-		\|-
	\|2 — Middle		\|2 — Middle
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	== How damage is shared ==		== How ship damage is shared ==
	When the front tier still has ships:		When the front tier still has ships:

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	Tier bias weights front much more heavily than middle or rear when computing shares, so fat fighter screens soak fire; thin screens leak hits into your battle line and backline.		Tier bias weights front much more heavily than middle or rear when computing shares, so fat fighter screens soak fire; thin screens leak hits into your battle line and backline.

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			== Who aims this way? ==

			* '''Attacking fleets''' use target priority against enemy ships.
			* '''Planetary turrets''' use the '''same''' ship tiers when they fire at an attacking fleet.
			* When a colony’s '''ships and defenses both fire''' in the same round, their damage is merged, then re-aimed with '''one''' target-priority pass before it hits the attacker’s shared [[Damage and Shields\|shield pool]]. That keeps turrets and ships focused on the same front screen instead of each volley picking its own mid/rear bias.

			Hull kills still resolve with the same front-first shot logic (see [[Rapid Fire]] — overkill does not splash).

			----

			== Defense targeting (dome-first) ==
			Incoming fire aimed at '''planetary defenses''' is not split evenly across every turret:

			# '''Soak domes''' ([[Small Shield Dome]], [[Large Shield Dome]], [[Planetary Dome]], and similar) tend to take hull damage first.
			# Remaining damage then hits '''armed turrets''' (flak, rockets, lasers, capitals, etc.).
			# While barrier / absorption domes are alive, total damage to the defense yard is also reduced (see [[Damage and Shields]]).

			This is the defense-side counterpart to ship echelons: protective structures soak so the guns stay online longer.

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	* Rear logistics and Carriers are hard to snipe while a solid front still stands.		* Rear logistics and Carriers are hard to snipe while a solid front still stands.
	* [[Rapid Fire]] interacts with this: high RF into the front clears screens faster and opens deeper tiers sooner.		* [[Rapid Fire]] interacts with this: high RF into the front clears screens faster and opens deeper tiers sooner.
			* On a defended colony, strip '''domes''' before you expect the turret wall to melt.
			* Soft defense spam (flak / rockets) still leans into the attacker’s front screen — the same priority rules as fleets.

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	== References ==		== References ==

	* [[Fleet Combat]] · [[Rapid Fire]] · [[Damage and Shields]] · [[Carrier]] · [[Fleet and Ships]]		* [[Fleet Combat]] · [[Rapid Fire]] · [[Damage and Shields]] · [[Carrier]] · [[Defenses]] · [[Fleet and Ships]]

Admin: Local CI auto-sync from TargetingAndPriority.wikitext

2026-09-13T07:19:40Z

Local CI auto-sync from TargetingAndPriority.wikitext

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Admin: /* How Target Selection Works */

2026-03-07T10:11:45Z

How Target Selection Works

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:11, 7 March 2026
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	During each attack cycle:		During each attack cycle:

	1. An attacking unit selects a valid target from the opposing side. 2. Target selection is influenced by that target’s priority value. 3. The attacker deals damage to the selected unit. 4. If Rapid Fire applies and the target is destroyed, another target is selected.		1. An attacking unit selects a valid target from the opposing side.

	Target priority does NOT guarantee selection. It influences selection probability.		2. Target selection is influenced by that target’s priority value.

			3. The attacker deals damage to the selected unit.

			4. If Rapid Fire applies and the target is destroyed, another target is selected.

			Target priority does NOT guarantee selection. It influences selection probability, occasionally other priority ships can be also selected to fire.
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Admin: Created page with "= Targeting and Priority = Targeting determines which enemy unit is selected when a ship or defense fires. Each unit has a defined '''Target Priority''' value that influences how likely it is to be selected as a target. Target priority plays a major role in fleet survivability and battle outcomes. ---- == How Target Selection Works == During each attack cycle: 1. An attacking unit selects a valid target from the opposing side. 2. Target selection is influenced by tha..."

2026-03-02T19:22:09Z

Created page with "= Targeting and Priority = Targeting determines which enemy unit is selected when a ship or defense fires. Each unit has a defined '''Target Priority''' value that influences how likely it is to be selected as a target. Target priority plays a major role in fleet survivability and battle outcomes. ---- == How Target Selection Works == During each attack cycle: 1. An attacking unit selects a valid target from the opposing side. 2. Target selection is influenced by tha..."

New page

= Targeting and Priority =
Targeting determines which enemy unit is selected when a ship or defense fires.

Each unit has a defined '''Target Priority''' value that influences how likely it is to be selected as a target.

Target priority plays a major role in fleet survivability and battle outcomes.
----

== How Target Selection Works ==
During each attack cycle:

1. An attacking unit selects a valid target from the opposing side. 2. Target selection is influenced by that target’s priority value. 3. The attacker deals damage to the selected unit. 4. If Rapid Fire applies and the target is destroyed, another target is selected.

Target priority does NOT guarantee selection. It influences selection probability.
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== Understanding Target Priority Values ==
Lower numbers indicate frontline preference.

Typical values:

* Priority 1 → Frontline combat units
* Priority 2 → Midline / support combat units
* Priority 3 → Logistics / utility units

Example from ships:

Fighter → Priority 1 Battleship → Priority 2 Cargo Ship → Priority 3

This means Fighters are more likely to be targeted before Cargo Ships.
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== Example 1 – Mixed Fleet Engagement ==
Fleet A: 20 Fighters (Priority 1) 10 Battleships (Priority 2) 30 Cargo Ships (Priority 3)

Fleet B attacks.

Most early damage will hit Fighters first.

Only after frontline losses increase will Battleships and Cargo Ships begin taking consistent damage.

This is why frontline composition matters.
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== Example 2 – Shield Support Strategy ==
Fleet: 10 Heavy Cruisers (Priority 1) 5 Frigates (Priority 2) 2 Support Vessels (Priority 3)

Since Support Vessels have higher priority values (3), they are less likely to be hit early.

This allows them to provide sustain mechanics during early combat rounds.
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== Interaction With Rapid Fire ==
Targeting determines who is selected. Rapid Fire determines how many consecutive attacks can occur.

Example:

Destroyer has Rapid Fire against Frigates.

If Frigates are Priority 2, but Fighters (Priority 1) are present,

Destroyers will more often hit Fighters first, unless no Fighters remain.

Thus, target layering can reduce Rapid Fire impact.
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== Defensive Targeting ==
Planetary defenses also follow priority logic.

Turrets often eliminate:

* Frontline attackers first
* Swarm units before capital ships (if Rapid Fire applies)

This is why sending only Light Interceptors into Flak Cannons is inefficient.
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== Strategic Implications ==
1. Frontline units protect logistics. 2. Mixed fleets reduce catastrophic collapse. 3. High-value units should not be lowest priority. 4. Support ships survive longer in layered compositions. 5. Defense grids should counter expected attacker roles.

Target priority is one of the key tools for fleet design.
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== Common Mistakes ==

* Sending only one unit type (exposes Rapid Fire and priority focus).
* Protecting cargo without frontline buffer.
* Underestimating defense layering.

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== Related Systems ==

* [[Rapid Fire]]
* [[Damage and Shields]]
* [[Fleet Formations]]
* [[Fleet and Ships]]
* [[Defenses]]