Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nitram Draw:
Do facilities produce while they are upgrading?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes. At least we're all pretty sure they do... although I've obviously been proven wrong at least once in this thread alone... http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Spyder:
Well, I've prob forgotten more statistics than I care to admit that I knew http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif but:

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1000*[(2N-1)+(2N-3)+(2N-5)+...+5 + 3 + 1] minerals produced, from the time building starts until the turn the Last facility starts producing....
=========================================

this part of his note specifically addresses production during building.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, the MMF3 part was fine, which is what that refers to.

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

Um. minor patch suggestion...

Make the construction column title buttons actually sort the list.
In the colonies view you can sort the list by any of the columns by clicking the top of the column (picture, production etc.) but it doesn't appear to work in the construction list.

It may already be fixed, I'm not sure I've tried it since 1.19

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

So, since it looks like you all finally came to an agreement, how about posting a one sentence no formulas included summary for those of us who got headaches trying to follow this stuff?

------------------
Compete in the Space Empires IV World Championship at www.twingalaxies.com.

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

I second that statement.

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Nyx:
So, since it looks like you all finally came to an agreement, how about posting a one sentence no formulas included summary for those of us who got headaches trying to follow this stuff?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If your planet builds at a rate of 2000-2499 minerals per turn, it's better to build Mineral Miners II and then upgrade them to Mineral Miners III later. Because you can build an MM2 in one turn, but it takes two turns to build an MM3.

If your planet builds at a rate equal to or greater than 2500 minerals per turn, start with the Mineral Miner IIIs. Because it takes one turn to build either the MM3 or the MM2.

BTW - if you're building at a rate of 1250 - 1999 minerals per turn, you'll also get better results building the Mineral Miner III's. Because it would take two turns to build either an MM3 or an MM2.

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Drake:
I usually just build the most expensive facility I can that only takes one turn. The difference between the individual resource facilities isn't that much, and I try to fill a planet as fast as I can, and upgrade later.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think it bears repeating. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Although if you want to be picky, replace the one turn bit with whatever is quickest.

-Drake

[This message has been edited by Drake (edited 10 February 2001).]

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DirectorTsaarx:
BTW - if you're building at a rate of 1250 - 1999 minerals per turn, you'll also get better results building the Mineral Miner III's. Because it would take two turns to build either an MM3 or an MM2.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'd build an MM1 if you had 1500-1999 per turn. The upgrade to a MM3 later is the same as if you'd built an MM2, hence the MM1 is even more economical.

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

(The Last few Posts should probably all be in their own message thread, but oh well...)

Just so y'all know, I found a couple minor errors in the calculations; it doesn't change the final conclusion, it just means the spreadsheet is a tad inaccurate. I also did some tweaking for production and/or construction bonuses; nothing really changes until you can build the better facility in a single turn.

The corrected equation would be:

Upgrade plan net gain: 1387*N*N - 2700*N

where N=number of Mineral Miner Facilities being built.

Oh - minor point on build rates of 1250-1999; if the rate is 1500-1999, it's better to build the MMF1's and upgrade to MMF3's later. If your build rate is 1250-1500, it takes two turns to build any of the three MMF facilities, so it would be best to build the MMF3.

In case anyone missed it, the above information only applies if you have all three tech levels available; if you only have access to MMF1's or MMF2's, by all means, build them and don't worry about upgrading until you get the right tech level. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Next Patch Suggestion
 

Look the bottom line is wasted construction.

If a miner II takes 2 turns to build (who cares why, maybe a race has lower production) and a minter II takes 3 turns. It may make sense to build the M-2 and upgrade to M-3 later because the upgrades can be grouped and you'll get to all M-3s faster (less wasted construction). However it depends on why they each take that many turns. If the M-2 takes 2 turns because it's really 1.1 and the M-3 takes 3 turns because it 2.95. Then the M-3s may be a better build.

All this ignores intermediate output and only considers fastest time to maximum output. It works better with ship design. If you have a ship design that takes 1.02 and thus 2 turns to build. Redesign an intermediate design (which differs by less 3 components) which can be build in 1 turn and then retrofit. Your first ship still takes 2 turns to full operation status, but you get 1 ship a turn after that instead of every other turn.