Newb questions.

[Data]

Don't think that you are, this has been reported before. Command stickines in some situations is buggy, more so when it comes to fleets.

[Keston]

I usually use battleship hull classes even for frigates when I want to avoid this.

Data, can you (or can someone else) explain what this means and how to do it?

[Bingeling]

There are multiple ships of good firepower. How large are the fuel tanks of those ships? How much fuel is on the fuel source? I think all runs to one source when given the refuel order, and if the first two ships empty the fuel source the rest may give up.

When I got fleets with fuel issues like that, I usually know where my good fuel sources are, and I select the fleet, right click the fuel source, and say "refuel at ...". If you don't know where you have fuel, poke around in the inventories of likely candidates. If fuel situation in general is OK, a major space port should usually be able to refuel such a fleet. If you have a general fuel shortage, you won't find enough anywhere.

Gas mines on fuel sources are your friends. And resupply ships are the friends of fleets once your fleets become large like that one. I can imagine the AI controlling the fleet helps, as it could be fast to pick up ships that "give up" on refueling, and when looking for a new fuel source, it selects another one.

On a proper local shortage, consider the following. Giving a fleet an order will give every ship in the fleet an order. A ship in the fleet that finishes its order will go to fleet leader. The fleet leader will hang around wherever the order sent him, until another order is given. So consider to treat the fleet on a single ship basis. Send two ships to refuel at spaceport A, another two on gas mine B, another two on spaceport C, etc. This of course only works if multiple sources are nearby. Hopefully most will appear with decent fuel loads. Make sure to send the leader to refuel where you want the fleet to end up.

Once you have done this a few times, learn to be aggressive in building gas mines and in deploying resupply ships.

[Data]

Well, the design is exactly the same as for a friagte only it uses a battleship class hull (the role box in the upper left in the design screen, choose capital ship role).
Since it's practically the same design as a frigate it will cost the same and use the same space but the design will not be taken by the pirates as it's not a frigate class ship.

[Bingeling]

Oh noes, Cdr Data abuses exploits [:-]

[ehsumrell1]

You should see what he does to Igard's cargo bays! [:D]

[Data]

Actually I'm preventing an AI exploit, it's self-defence [:)]
None of that about the cargobay, I agree [:)]

[feelotraveller]

You don't want the pirates exploiting the computer players, how gallant of you. [:D]

[Data]

I exist only to serve [;)]

[feelotraveller]

I'm sure you say that to all the aliens. [:)]

[ehsumrell1]

ORIGINAL: feelotraveller

I'm sure you say that to all the aliens. [:)]

ESPECIALLY to the Mechanoids (and other Machine Races)! Right Data! [:D]

[Data]

Just to avoid any suspicions, that was a Bene Gesserit reference. It's not related to me, no way.....that being said, it's no fun with machine races [:)]

[Keston]

ORIGINAL: Data

Well, the design is exactly the same as for a friagte only it uses a battleship class hull (the role box in the upper left in the design screen, choose capital ship role).
Since it's practically the same design as a frigate it will cost the same and use the same space but the design will not be taken by the pirates as it's not a frigate class ship.

Thanks. So long as the ship names make sense to keep functions straight, and the fleet is run manually rather than by the AI, is there any other game downside to blocking design piracy this way? (An entirely virtuous counter-attack on intellectual property pirates, IMHO.)

[feelotraveller]

Well assuming you have good tech and good designs you are potentially weakening the pirates. This means that they will be less of a thorn in all players sides, yours and the computers. Remember you have the chance that pirate factions may join your empire - and they bring their ships with them. If you don't have good designs and good tech what are you worried about? weakening the pirates?

Personally I like the pirates (and space creatures for that matter) and always put the slider to maximum in game setup. The computer seems to have more problems dealing with them than I do and every so often I inherit a bunch of ships... sometimes even some of my own designs!

[Data]

De gustibus....[:)]
Just for the record, I like them too....good relations farming / training / stuff.

[Bingeling]

I don't like the farming potential of the pirates. When you are of a decent size, you are the angel of the galaxy just from being a bit dutiful about killing pirate bases. It is far too important when it comes to reputation.

[feelotraveller]

As the, er, 'man' says - there's no accounting for taste.

I don't have any problems with the reputation boost although I rarely go after pirates specifically for that reason, generally only when I have been nasty to lots of minor races and the whole galaxy thinks I stink in a big way. The thing I don't like about pirates is buying information from them... it just makes it too easy. My solution - don't do it. [;)] I also very rarely pay them protection, only if I am really desperate, or perhaps right at the start of the game if it is my only fuel source or something. But often I will just wear it and note which faction it is (since they will be growing then).

If you really don't want the reputation bonus just don't destroy their bases...

[Data]

Yap, they have many uses...much more when they're alive [:)]