Ringworld/Sphere World

Codo · #1 February 28th, 2001, 05:59 PM

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

Suicide Junkie · #2 February 28th, 2001, 07:25 PM

Big problem with your plan, though.

The construction bases are pennies to maintain, compared to the cost to either maintain or unmothball the SM bases.

The best way, would be to build using 11 or 21 Space-station based spaceyards.

You just have to hold the queues when they reach 1-turn to completion, and you then don't have to pay any maintenance on SM.

would you rather pay for the unmothballing of 10 cables and 10 plates, ALL AT ONCE, or just 12% of the cost of the SpaceYards each turn?

even a small empire can support 21 spacestations with SpaceYards.

When all of the SM is ready, unhold the queues, and they all finish next turn. Use them right away, and you pay ZERO maintenance on all that SM. You can now scrap the construction bases.

Drake · #3 February 28th, 2001, 08:15 PM

Better yet, build a plating component two turns early and retrofit-upgrade to the core while the rest of it is being built so that you finish with a repaired core component at the same time all the other pieces are done.

rdouglass · #4 February 28th, 2001, 08:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Drake:
Better yet, build a plating component two turns early and retrofit-upgrade to the core while the rest of it is being built so that you finish with a repaired core component at the same time all the other pieces are done.

Can you do that now? I thought the 50% upgrade thing prevented you from doing that...

Suicide Junkie · #5 February 28th, 2001, 08:51 PM

If you really want to get cheap/cheat.

Just build 21 empty base hulls, and design a series of bases, 40% more expensive than the previous, and retrofit all your bases until you work your way up to the core component, plating & cables.

You then pay lots for retrofitting repeatedly, but finish your sphereworld in two turns.

alasyr · #6 February 28th, 2001, 10:04 PM

My vote goes for building the first starting design and retrofiting up to final starbases.With balanced design (equal use of all resources) first design can be build in 1-3 turns (3 turns with SYI).Only the Last retrofit costs more than normaly building (of course it is the biggest step,2 times more, other retrofit are 20% cheaper) but 10-12 turns for building a RW kind a makes up for it.I've posted a spreadsheet that can help in planning base designs for retrofit.

Taqwus · #7 February 28th, 2001, 11:37 PM

Hrm. It makes one wonder whether each ship/base should have a pointer to its original design, or at least its initial costs, and use *that* as a basis for refitting eligibility. That would end the stranger refit chains. Alternately, slow it down by stipulating that components (better, whole ships) must be repaired before being refitted...

------------------
-- The thing that goes bump in the night