Retrofiting space ports to larger designs

[Nade]

What i would like is to create my own space port designs and let the ai handle the retrofitting. Especially the move from small to medium to large depending on population on a given planet.
Now, i had one game where that actually worked, (or it was in my dreams of a better DWU) and i can not for the life of me replicate the settings to do the same.

Again:

I want to design my own spaceport.
Ai takes care of updating the design and upgrade to a bigger port depending on pop.

Is that even possible?

[vengen]

I've never used the feature, but in the Construction portion of the Empire Policy screen you can set the minimum population for each space port size. Those settings might allow your colonies to upgrade size as the colony grows in population.

[Chris21wen]

ORIGINAL: vengen

I've never used the feature, but in the Construction portion of the Empire Policy screen you can set the minimum population for each space port size. Those settings might allow your colonies to upgrade size as the colony grows in population.

What vangen said.

I never use AI for building stuff, it never seems to work as I want, and I can't be bothered to experiment with all the setting to work it out. How many spaceports do you want? I tend to have then 2-4 sectors apoart dpending on circumtances. Planets without a spaceport get simple starbases/defense base for protection and if extra defense is needed I build defense bases as well.

[Siddham]

AFAIK the AI cannot be used to retrofit to a different design template - ie small to large or escort to frigate
It will only retrofit to a design of the same template - ie small to small; escort to escort etc

I never use the AI to build or retrofit important infrastructure
I have a series of designs that allow me to quickly upgrade as necessary
Remember you can save designs; so once you fix on a set you're happy with save them and you can reload them when you start a new game
Or if you have saves from previous games with designs you like reload the game and save the designs you want and import them to your current game

I have a set of bare bones designs for all infrastructure at game start - this lets me get production activity going with minimal maintenance expenses
Eg I have a bare bones Port design that goes onto all new colonies - the only extra being med & rec facilities for the happiness boost; but no armor or weapons just an absolute minimal design
Next level is a Port for more developed colonies with more facilities and some armor & shielding sufficient for pirates or minor attacks - not every colony needs one of these
And then more serious Ports for my most valuable and/or strategically important ports

[Nade]

I tend to build a lot of starports so my ships are able to refuel and repair.

I would design gladly design a defense base with these functionalities if i knew how...
Ship repairs seem somewhat manageable later in to the game with the repair module. No idea about refueling tough...