[Codo]

But it is a waste of time to send 11 shipyards to build a ringworld. (I don't know about the sphereworld, I would *assume* it is similar) You are better off sending Six shipyards. Why? Simply that a ringworld generator takes twice as long as HyperCable or GravPlates. (Actually I think its one turn difference than twice as long) This means obviously that one ship can build a HyperCable AND a GravPlate in the same time that the other ship is building the RingWorld Construct. MUCH more efficient to just send SIX shipyards to the star in question. Have one build the RingWorld Construct, and have the other five first build GravPlates, and then after the Plates are done, have the same five build the HyperCables. This is much more efficient from a resource utilization standpoint. You're paying to maintain only six shipyards, not eleven. You also only have six construction projects going on, not eleven, AND you don't have to pay to maintain 10 starbases while you're waiting to finish the construct, you only have to maintain five.... And, in theory, (I have not yet ran the numbers) It might be best to mothball those first five bases immediately, and....Hey, can you build a Ringworld out of mothballed bases?? Hmmm, that'll be something to try... Anyways, I've been told that maintenance is 25% of cost every turn. This means you're better of mothballing these first five bases and unmothballing them once everything else is done (Which would certainly be more than four turns later)

Codo