I've been trying to figure out how the integrated PD system works. When I set it on automatic, I tend to see a lot of weapons losing targets. This has provoked the following questions:
1. How exactly does the PD system prioritize targets? I've heard that it's by closest salvo, then largest (either size of missile or number in salvo), but I'd like confirmation.
2. The above, if applied individually to each PD system, would mean that the entire TG would target a single salvo. This obviously doesn't happen. How are targets allocated amond various fire controls and various ships in the fleet? In other words, why am I overkilling so much? (I have a couple of theories. First, I was shooting bus CMs at 1v1, so it's possible these were follow-up salvos. I've asked for a 1 CM/salvo button to fix this. Second, if the target switched fire control, it could have the same result).
I was operating under the mistaken assumption that missiles needed independent terminal guidance systems, so all of the CMBs launched during the battle had resolution 1 sensors, usually in the 10k km range. I was running for the jump point, and the enemy was directly behind me, firing salvos of size 6 missiles.
Why do I recount all of this? Of the dozens of CMBs that lost targes, I don't believe a single one picked up a new target dispite being in the middle of the incoming missiles. I thus assume that independent sensors only pick up targets during the 5-second break, but I'd like confirmation before posting a suggestion to change that.
The above brought a question to mind. If a bus loses lock, and picks a new target, do it's submunitions need independent sensors? What if it's outside of fire control? What about bouys?