A small clutch of questions.

[Erik L]

It's a feature, not a bug. I consider it part of their charm.

Oh I know... Just a warning for those not expecting their entire minefield to obliterate one lone single poor pathetic little solitary ship.

[Gump (OP)]

I know I've mentioned this before...

One caveat with mines is if you drop 100 mines on a JP, and all 100 detect a ship... All 100 fire. So you will get a smegton of overkill. Once.

If a fleet of ships encounter the Mine would all the submunitions target the same ship in the fleet?  Or would each target a random ship?

[Bremen]

I've always wondered, if you put an EM detecting mine on a warp point would it only activate when a vessel recovered from jump prep and turned on its active sensors?

I haven't tested it but that always struck me as a particularly diabolical jump point defense strategy. Have a few ships there to deal with scouts and small raiders, but if a major force jumps in the defenders can take their free shots, then if the enemy survives long enough to recover BOOM.

[Erik L]

If a fleet of ships encounter the Mine would all the submunitions target the same ship in the fleet?  Or would each target a random ship?

Not sure on their target order, but if you put sensors on them, they will retarget. Hopefully. If they didn't die in the first orgiastic mass of blow up.

[MarcAFK]

That's why you would stagger the minefield somewhat, if placed 150k apart and equipped with 30k speed missiles each salvo should be be an increment apart and able to retarget once primary target is destroyed.

[Theodidactus]

That's why you would stagger the minefield somewhat, if placed 150k apart and equipped with 30k speed missiles each salvo should be be an increment apart and able to retarget once primary target is destroyed.

this is sorta what I do. It will get aliens.
Human players would probably be more cautious.

[MarcAFK]

Can thermal or em mines sensors be used on mines? I just ran a test and it seemed that the thermal and EM payloads jumped out of the mines by themself, possibly triggered by the thermal emissions of the other mines and the EM of the active mines also being tested in the same area. However neither of the payloads actually hit anything, despite the mine droppers only travelling at 7,000 km/s while the payloads had a speed of 29,000 km/s.
The active mines however performed admirably, Each of 2 size 20 mines dropping 3 size 6 missiles at the 4000 ton target ship from 200,000km range, 4 payloads connecting successfully and doing significant damage with it's 10 strength warhead.

[joeclark77]

Can thermal or em mines sensors be used on mines? I just ran a test and it seemed that the thermal and EM payloads jumped out of the mines by themself, possibly triggered by the thermal emissions of the other mines and the EM of the active mines also being tested in the same area. However neither of the payloads actually hit anything, despite the mine droppers only travelling at 7,000 km/s while the payloads had a speed of 29,000 km/s.
The active mines however performed admirably, Each of 2 size 20 mines dropping 3 size 6 missiles at the 4000 ton target ship from 200,000km range, 4 payloads connecting successfully and doing significant damage with it's 10 strength warhead.

I had thermal mines once and they triggered on a friendly ship, starting a war.  That's why I don't advise them.  I've also tried to use thermal sensor bouys (with no payload) to monitor jump points, and often they would detect a transit or a signature without telling me who or what it was.  So I think it's best to stick with actives.