Matrix Games Forums

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ORIGINAL: Bingeling

Got to love it. Add more fuel cells and complain that ranges are too long [:D]

You know, I think it's beyond 'supply stuff' since I'm seeing the AI doing the similar things
I feel it might as simple as the speed difference (aka balancing) between Gerax and the warp bubble, after all, going from a warp bubble to a Gerax is an instant 6x-ish max speed increase (2,000 to 12,500 max speed) with a 40% energy requirement drop also, meaning you can fit for max speed alot easier

Quick math, 3 Basic reactors give 138 energy which is enough to full power the warp bubble with 6 energy spare for static... meaning on larger ships you simply won't have full warp speed without using a 4th reactor
However, using a Gerax, you can often get away with 2 basic reactors for full hyperspeed, total of 92 energy with 14 energy for static requirements, the larger beginning designs are still fine with two as you usually are only loosing 8-10% speed anyway
Infact, on the base constructor using 2x basic reactors a warp bubble is around 1,000 speed (0.92 sectors), a Gerax is around 11,200 speed (9.79 sectors)
This is what the game gives me when I first load up a pre-warp game with no changes to the design beyond the warp/hyperdrive
Other designs obviously are far less range due to less fuel cells by default (ignoring the fact that this could lead the AI building mines/bases outside of the range of any freighter)
Interestingly, a base explorer requires 4 for full speed, or leave 3 for 16 speed lose (so how badly do you want the full speed )

Perhaps the tech-tree prior to the 'classic-era' needs expanding further, atm it's just what? less than a dozen extra techs you need to research pre-warp vs classic?
And with the exception of Hyperdrive Tech. you can research all the initial classic tech from game start

Maybe even, a rebalance might work instead, consider lowering the Gerax speed and not have the energy drop so much
Of course that will lead to issues of rebalancing the other drives unless (for example) we then change the others requiring Tech 3 Gerax research prior

Sure it could be argued that we're intended to research Advanced Nuclear Fission first, but you still have the same issue as before, infact in a few designs the number of reactors needed is still the same, but you get the bonus of further ranges (better fuel efficiency, and more speed regardless when you're using a reactor lower than needed for full speed)

I took some notes in my AAR while selecting cruisers vs destroyers in fleets. This is typically at the border where you get the "mid tier" techs. Range displayed in the design was 3.4 vs 5.6 sectors. If you include some fighting in your trip, this is hardly the full galaxy.

3.4 sectors for destroyers is 1/3 of the width of a normal 10x10. It is not like the other edge of it seems close.

The gerax drive is fine. If you want more distances, go larger galaxy and less stars, and beg for 20x20 maps. There could be room for a "half-way" setting. If I could swap preWarp for that, I would be more than happy. Warp bubble is not half way, it is mostly "in system travel".

15x15, 400 stars is what I do, which is lower than 2 stars average per sector

And I've been asking Elliot for larger maps since... well, since the game was released

The problem with "more, more" distance, is that at some point it has no further effect than reducing travel speed and bumping fuel consumption

I think the game you dream of may require a whole new AI...

Oh ofc, the AI struggles with the current mechanics alot of times, multiply the factors and it'll cripple it lol

I'm currently playing a 999k game (I love the marathon pace) after abandoning a 460k game on a massive map (max stars, 19 races) because of the lag (despite engine improvements and my beastly computer). I noticed the same thing too...you still get out of the system way too easily, and it remains too beneficial to just ram through the hyperdrive technologies as fast as you can. The Gerax offers such an improvement over warp bubble that it is worth the investment over improved reactors, fuel storage, and most other research besides maybe energy collectors, shields and the first construction size upgrade.

After the Gerax you can travel the whole darn galaxy on most map sizes. Maybe it's because I'm loaded heavily up front on fuel storage but I still think there needs to be a more gradual improvement. Maybe increase the gap between the 2nd tier gens and the Gerax, and decrease the max speed of the Gerax to maybe 4000-6000. It would definitely improve the early era, but perhaps pirates would need re balancing due to their need to go distances early-game.

Perhaps "simply" adding in a upgrade of the Warp bubble would work, perhaps 2000 more speed and slightly less energy intensive?