Can we make upgrading starbases a little less tedious?

from GalCiv3 Forums

Just played a long game in a huge map.  First full game since before Crusade, all DLCs and patches now, so I was learning along the way.

Upgrading hundreds of starbases in late game is really, really, annoying and not fun at all.

See, at first, we had to build constructors and send them.  Then we could request constructors.  Then we could auto upgrade starbases where our shipyards would build mini-constructors to upgrade the module.  I think this was a good model, a step in the right direction.

I like the new system, administrator points and resources needed for upgrades.  It makes the game funnier to play, avoiding problems with starbases spamming.

However, once you want to upgrade them...  <sigh>.  I need resources.  Ok, it makes sense, it's much less abstract that way, I like it.  The starbases seems to disproportionaly favour some resources over others for their upgrades, I don't like it much, but I've started another thread for that.

So, upgrading my starbases, I need to cycle through hundreds of them, upgrading them till I lack the required resources, buy them or wait, repeat the process.  It's a click fest, really.  I spend more time clicking on market resources and starbase upgrade than planning strategies to beat the AI.  I find it tedious.

I was wondering if it would be a good idea, if it would even be feasible, to automate this process, sort of how it was before Crusade?  Some check on the starbase menu, or elsewhere, when I can select if I want my starbase to be automatically upgraded?  That way, I can leave it manually and prioritize what I want (mining, economy, influence,etc) or leave it automated (or change it along the way) to have the starbase upgrade itself, prioritizing the first modules of the starbase and each starbase from the order they appear in my side-list?  Assuming I have the resources required, my module is upgraded.  If I don't, the game cycles through the next modules to see if I have the required resources, then the next starbases and so one.

It would likely make turn times longer, but right now, starbases are ruining the fun for me.

29,395 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock.net Forums Top

Yes, an "upgrade as resources permit" button would be nice. There's only two decision points on a starbase - type and mining focus. Exempt those two upgrade types and allow everything else to auto upgrade.

 

As a bypass, I have a keyboard macro that just clicks the left mouse button every couple seconds. Position the cursor over the top of the queue and push the left arrow key to switch to the next base when the clicking sounds stop.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

It is not so bad as long as you do not use weapon upgrades too because those are useless.

 

But yeah, +1 for making it less of a click fest.

SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

You asked if this was a good idea. If we just automated the process, then no. For two reasons. You could end up spending money, so you can't rush buy, buy mercenaries, or trade with the ai. In the late game you could end up using resources on starbases that you would rather use on ships. In the early to mid game you could end up using resources that you would want to upgrade buildings instead.

Their is a third reason if you want to maximise performance this would be bad. Starbases would be getting upgraded you wouldn't upgrade first. Bases with only resources, and missing bases with three or more resources. Or maybe types of resources ie. Thulium gets upgraded first. 

The solution to third is two things. First the ai could search by default which starbases has more resources, even prioritising which is better. This could change depending on the different species. This could be a default setting for idea two. Which is the player could set the priorities for this.

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I think the original poster would have been really put off with pre-crusade starbases if he is unhappy with the system now...... 

 

No to automation. The process of a 4x game is cumulative or additive actions as time progresses. turn one > 1 or 3 clicks..., turn 386 > I dunno but its a shit ton of clicks and really fun a this point! 

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I could see some sort of starbase upgrade automation being made an option, but I doubt I'd use it very often.  While it can be a bit tedious to upgrade on larger galaxies with potentially hundreds of starbases, I like to keep resource and cash expenditures under my control.  They can be pretty expensive.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Larsenex, reply 4

I think the original poster would have been really put off with pre-crusade starbases if he is unhappy with the system now...... 

I play the game since its release...