Question about construction ships...

[Nephrinn]

How long do they usually take to build a mining base? I've had two stuck on 96% for several years and I don't understand why. Also, do the construction ships get used up or can I use them again to build something else?

[Cindar]

Something material that is required to build the base is not available, so the construction ship can't finish it. Construction ships generally build pretty fast as long as you have all needed resources, and will never be 'used up'. You may still want to refit them from time to time with better stuff, though.

[HsojVvad]

I am not shure if this is correct. I thought the construction ship had to get gather all the resources first and then it starts to build what ever it was ordered to do. I thought if it didn't gather the resources it wouldn't go. Well if it is stalled then the only thing I could think is that it dosn't have any resources.

Try giving the ship a different order, by saying it to move off to the side. Then stop it. Hopefully you will be able to order the constructionship to repair the mine or what ever it is now.

Good Luck hope this works.

[Nephrinn]

ORIGINAL: Davor

I am not shure if this is correct. I thought the construction ship had to get gather all the resources first and then it starts to build what ever it was ordered to do. I thought if it didn't gather the resources it wouldn't go. Well if it is stalled then the only thing I could think is that it dosn't have any resources.

Try giving the ship a different order, by saying it to move off to the side. Then stop it. Hopefully you will be able to order the constructionship to repair the mine or what ever it is now.

Good Luck hope this works.

Okay, I tried moving one of them off the mining base then back to repair it, sped up time, and still nothing. In fact, I just noticed all 4 of my construction ships are stuck at 96% (two of them for 3 years). I have plenty of money, although I'm not sure about resources (I just started playing the game). Also, I'm playing with the 1.03 beta patch. Maybe this is a bug?

[Resan]

Maybe it's a bug. If you check the constructors cargo bay you should see if it's missing some resources. It would be listed as more reserved then in the cargo hold.

[Nephrinn]

ORIGINAL: Resan

Maybe it's a bug. If you check the constructors cargo bay you should see if it's missing some resources. It would be listed as more reserved then in the cargo hold.

I think that's it. They say 0/6 Dilithium crystals. How would I fix this? Wouldn't I need to build a mining base to mine those crystals?

Also, I started a new game and didn't have any problems with building mining bases. I just don't really get how the resources work...

[forsaken1111]

ORIGINAL: Davor

I am not shure if this is correct. I thought the construction ship had to get gather all the resources first and then it starts to build what ever it was ordered to do. I thought if it didn't gather the resources it wouldn't go. Well if it is stalled then the only thing I could think is that it dosn't have any resources.

Davor: If you have the resources available yes this is true. If you are missing some it will go and start building anyway and if you get those resources later then civilian ships will bring them out to the construction ship. This is why it has a docking bay or two.

ORIGINAL: Nephrinn

I think that's it. They say 0/6 Dilithium crystals. How would I fix this? Wouldn't I need to build a mining base to mine those crystals?

Also, I started a new game and didn't have any problems with building mining bases. I just don't really get how the resources work...

Ways to fix this:

Colonize a planet with the resource.
Conquer an enemy planet with the resource.
Scrap ships/bases which used the resource. (Not sure what % of resource you get back from retiring ships but should help a bit)
Open trade with another empire who has the resource.

In the expansion planner you can see every resource. Do you have at least 1 source of the crystal? If so it will just take a long time to build. If not, you may be somewhat hosed if you cannot trade for it.

[taltamir]

how do you guys see the cargo hold of a constructor and the missing resources?
I couldn't find a button for that.

[Elrohir525]

If you start in the main screen, first select the construction ship, then double-click on its name in the lower-left selection window.  In the example here, "Stellar Quest":
 

 
This takes you to the Ships and Bases screen, and again at bottom left you have all the details about the selected ship, including cargo.
 

[taltamir]

thank you. this clarifies it