SDB require carrier?

[plasticpanzers]

I built some 'gunboats' but evidently they all require the carrier. is this
true of the SDB (which i have not seen so far in the tech tree if they
exist as such). Why would ships in reserve not fight in a system attack.
some ensign could command them, admirals for commanding fleets going
out-system is ok but insystem defence requireing a command ship and
admirals? thats alot of gold braid to use! LOL!

 

[Agent.nihilist]

Ships in reserve have no assigned crew, no supplies, no leader, they aren't battle ready. You can make them battle ready in the 3 month period represented by a turn.
What you are thinking of are defense assets, and yes the SDB is one. You can build a stealth base to house the SDBs, that works as their base of operations. You can also place defense satellites, with drones or battleriders, torpedo sats and Minefields; none of these things require an Admiral to use. However they do require a naval base to support more than 3 CPs worth.

Battle riders need a carrier ship, or a sat to launch from. Not sure if your "gunboat" is a rider or a SDB, but either way they need the corresponding carrier, whether ship or base, to launch from.

 

[plasticpanzers]

thanks!

 

[unmerged(409964)]

There are also police cutters, which are about equivalent to a corvette. Not brilliant, but three of them can take out a cruiser, and they're only 1CP. They can also be deployed anywhere, whereas SDBs need a large object for their base. Police cutters also spawn semi-randomly in pirate and slaver random encounters. Apparently convoy systems increases the probability that one will spawn near pirate attackers.