Mites

commanderkoski

How to launch a mite ( https://planets.nu/#/howtoplay/abil-mite ):

in order to launch a mite the planet needs 27 clans, 9kt of each mineral and 100kt of fuel. The fuel requirement is not mentioned anywhere so it is usually the cause for not launching a mite.
The target must be in open space and not cloaked. If a ship is cloaked or on a planet when the mite is launched the mite just doesn't launch. It is not created.
You click the ship in open space AND you also need to select the target ship from the list.
You can select warp speed after this.

About mite flight:
Warp 9 mite lasts 1+1 turns, warp 7 (Ghipsoldal planet) 10+1 turns, warp 6 10+1 turns, and warp 3 indefinitely.
EDIT: 1+1 turns for a warp 9 Mite means it flies 81 ly per turn, but in host order the mite is destroyed NEXT turn AFTER movement and hit. So in practice, the mite flies (and has effect) for two turns, over 162 ly radius.

The Horwasp player cannot alter the mites in any way after launch. When they are homing their target they react a bit erratically when they cannot reach it in warpwell. Static mites have most likely just lost their target.

Tactics to counter mites: 1. planet-hopping, 2. cloaking, 3. warp wells, 4. zig-zagging, 5. outnumbering rush on planets.

Most useful use of mites: target small support ships which try to flank you. Especially Cobols and Geminis doing fighter sweeping and towing Virgoes.

EDIT: 16/09/2024 - the cost of a blue and red mite is 9 of each mineral and 27 clans, but green mite costs 3 of each mineral and 9 clans.

Alioth

commanderkoski

If 100kt of fuel is the final requirement, then I thank you for giving me the missing ingredient. Several messages to admins over the past year have gone unanswered about this. I never really figured out the rhyme or reason for why pods were or weren't launched.

The lack of documentation about the mechanics of mites is concerning. If planets were a job, I would never validate using mites in a production environment.

commanderkoski

And mites are PODS. Not starships. Pods are launched and after that their settings/missions/waypoints can't be altered in any way by the Horwasp player.

https://planets.nu/#/race/12/hulls/213

Vindicator

Will confess, never really used them. Tend to be old skool wasp player using nests, stingers and clan spread vs these toys.

commanderkoski

Vindicator as I've been a victim of a multi-race coalition with Cobols towing fighter sweepers along my flanks, I wholeheartily welcome these mites. Great addition!

Dioxymoronic

Koski, that is a very good post. Thank you!

commanderkoski

EDIT: a more detailed example on why and how a warp 9 mite is able to fly 162 ly:

in Turn 0 you set orders for a W9 red mite.
In Turn 0+1 it intercepts target up to 81 ly and hits the target if target conditions match in that turn. Turn 1 begins.
In Turn 1+1 it intercepts target up to 81 ly and hits the target if target conditions match in that turn. IF it doesn't hit target, it is destroyed (vanishes). Turn 2 begins.

So the warp 9 Mite is able to fly up to 162 ly in two turns.

commanderkoski

Mites seem to come out of nowhere because you can only see them if you are close. Mites are pods and have the limited visibility scan range pods have.

If one knows what one is doing one can also go fast against the Horwasp. As the Privateers I killed Horwasp and won the game in 88 turns. I didn't take it nice and slow, and that was one of the reasons I won there - the Horwasp going warp 6 and warp 7 can't keep up with the speed.

The anti-Mite tactics can be summarized to:

planet-hopping,
cloaking,
warp wells,
zig-zagging,
outnumbering rush on planets.

About these:

and 2.: The Mites can't be targeted to vessels on planets or if they are cloaked, meaning the mites will not launch. BUT. If the ship was in open space OR un-cloaked when the mite was launched, the target is acquired and it WILL follow and hit the target even if it goes to a planet or is cloaked!

3.: BUT. It moves with the warp it has. It can't reach you in a warp well.

4.: if you have many little ships, you can use a zig-zagging movement and if done skilfully, the other ships see the mite and can intercept and destroy it safely.

Each planet can only launch one mite each turn. So if there is only one planet shooting mites, approach it with 5 ships and one will make it... Or more, if you combine these various tactics and are more successful in the mind-games against your opponent.

commanderkoski

Important addition

This warning message is a bug.
Don't pay attention to it.
In reality, you cannot target a planet and the target MUST BE in open space!