drones will sometimes fire but not deal damage and still take your energy rockets etc

Happens me, just make an action while looking at specific HP bar. e.g While you move, attack etc. check that HP bar. the damage that "does-not-seem-to-be-inflicted" will get, well, inflicted. No problem. It is just visual. a genjutsu!

Happy hunting!

it happened to me to when i use my rocket drone, i switched to my energy one and so far its fine.

I never used a drone in the whole game.

If the drone doesn't fire, you:
1. Don't have enough energy
2. Still overheat when did it twice
3. Don't have enough ammo/rockets
4. Don't do anything when the time ran out or it's too late to do your 2nd move

If non of those, you encountered a serious bug