Just bought the games, looks addictive so far. I read the manual but still have a few questions.
1. Resources:
I started a game, got me a 1-planet Sol system worth $4/year, then figured I only have two $3 and $5/year planets within 4 parsecs, the rest were at a 7+ range. Since I already built 3 scouts with about 8 specialists in each and about 10 on the home planet, had about $3000 in the bank with -$15/year income I figured it was time to restart
.Second try: I start in a Solar system with 3 planets and about 10 planets within 4 parsecs (type-1 freighter range). Cool! Now I start assessing the revenue and start wondering:
The little number below the system 'mini-map' on the top-right corner says the Sol system is bringing in $10/year. When I check all the planets in the system I get the following: é planets 'Capable of' $3/year each, the the homeworld says it 'Nets $2/year'. How come the sum says it brings $10/year instead of $8/year?
In my first game I figured that a system's net worth for non-homeworld systems was the sum of the worth of the planets (is it always true btw?), but then how is is calculated for the homeworld?
Also, I haven't built any freighters so far, yet I noticed a freighter going from the homeworld to one of the uninhabited Sol planets. Where did it come from?
If I have a traderoute into a system then want to colonize one of its planet, what will become of the freighter? Will the net worth (sum of planets' worth, or other?) of the system be added to my bank account and the freighter will be lost? Or will I have the opportunity to reuse it on some other traderoute?
Also, seeing how much specialists, buildings and ships cost in both purchase price and yearly maintenance, don't you think that the systems bring a bit too little revenue? From the (very) few systems I've seen, if the the average income per system is about $5/year, 10 systems will bring what, the equivalent of the maintenance of 50 specialists? Or do people play with very few specialists on every planet and half a dozen ships and manage OK? Some hints and/or some kind of strategy guide will be more than welcome.
2. Exploration:
For instance I first explore a system with a tiny scout, 1 computer and 1 scientist and find no artifacts. Then, in the same age, I send in a bigger ship with 5 computers and 20 scientists, will I have another (hopefully better) chance at discovering an artifact? Or, once I have explored a system the 'Explore <already_explored> system' option will remain greyed-out until the next age?
3. Ranges:
How do I find the range between two systems? On the 'Map' screen I see a vertical and an horizontal line on my home system, but can't find a way to focus it on another system. Besides using the 'Planets' menu, and looking at the 'Nav' menu for a ship, how can I find the distance between two systems in which I have no ships?
4. Renaming ships
Is there a way to rename ships, and if so, how?
5. Freighters:
I have played with the 'Automatically build freighters' option. According to the manual I am supposed to be able to build them manually even when this option is in effect. Yet, when a system has become explored, the advisor does not add a freighter by itself. And I even have trouble doing this manually.
For instance, the last planet becomes 'explored', I check the map and see the system is has become a white circle. I focus on the homeworld, go to map, select the just explore system, click on build, and the option to 'Build a Freighter to...' is still grey. I unpause, let some time go by, then click on build. The queue is still empty, and the option is greyed out. After some more time, the option becomes purple and I add a freighter manually. I've only built two routes so far but still haven't figured out when the option to build a freighter becomes available. It doesn't seem to be a set amount of time, nor is it the status of the build queue (empty or with one other item being built), nor is it the presence of the scout within the explored system. How is it supposed to work then?
That's all for now
. Thanks for reading.
