Build version: v1.1.6.0 (Beta)
Severity: Low
Annoyance factor: Maximus Annoyus
Saved game:
This is a bug report, but it contains also (at the end) what I think is an important suggestion to improve the game.
I’ve used the topup button with 2nd Fleet. Some ships were added, some very far from the current fleet’s position (see screenshot). Which, already, isn’t good. It would have been way faster to build new ships in one of my big colonies, one of which is where the fleet is curently located. Even taking into account the wait time at the spaceport.
Some of those far-away ships have no fuel. The topup button results in them having an order to refuel. Which is good.
What isn’t good at all is WHERE they’re ordered to refuel!
Look at the screenshot below. Overpowering Invader is a destroyer that was added to 2nd Fleet with the topup button. And it has been ordered by the game to refuel at the Dildiraan spaceport, where the fleet is (not its homebase).
There are 2 problems with this:
- Dilderaan is very far from the ship’s current position. Without fuel, it’s going to take forever to get there
- There’s a refueling point near the ship’s current position, in the Yaga system, where it could go to refuel (there's plenty of fuel there, more than enough for the ship). From there, given the current fuel range of my ships, it should be able to reach the fleet’s position.
- Situation overview (2).png (846.32 KiB) Viewed 590 times
I understand that, at any given moment, there’s a lot going on in the game, in term of processes. And that taking the time to analyze properly what’s the best place to refuel for every ships added with topup is probably also demanding (in term of processes).
But, I think it is necessary to do so. Situations like the one described above aren’t fun. In fact, they’re frustrating. And I would say that they’re even immersion breaking: what high-command would do such a thing (sending a ship refueling far away while there’s a refueling point nearby)!
Since toping up a fleet is a very important operation, logistically speaking, I think it deserves almost as much attention as the initial creation of the fleet. So why not, when the topup button is used, paused the game temporarily, show a message saying “The admirals are analyzing the logistics for the fleet’s operation” (or something along those lines). And take the time to analyze properly where the added ships should refuel.
I’d much rather wait a few seconds for that process to take place, than having to deal with those annoying refueling problems! And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this...