Confused.com

[JudgeDredd]

Well, I decided to leave automation on, but I have to say, I probably find it more confusing than if I controlled things.

Fleets appear then disappear. As an example, I had 1st Fleet. My colony made a load of ships, and I decided to create another fleet using these (it didn't seem like the AI was going to create a fleet with them and I much prefer having pockets of ships than individual ones kicking around)...so I highlight the ships and select New Fleet - I get a message asking if I want to turn off automation - well, I don't really - I just want to create a fleet - so I say no...so it disbands my 1st fleet and creates 2nd Fleet.

Anyway, I send 2nd fleet off to destroy a pirate base...when it's complete I use the Cycle Fleets button so select 2nd Fleet so I can send it for refuelling...but it's not there anymore...apparently disbanded. So I highlight all the ships again and select Nw Fleet...same message about turning off automation to which I again so no to, and then I send my fleet off for fuel.

Later, when I try to select my Fleet, it's not there again! I'm very confused about how the AI is creating and disbanding fleets. Is it meant to do this?

Some other functions (when you are asked if you want to turn off automation and say no) allows you to do that task with that ship, apparently whilst leaving automation on. But this doesn't seem to be the case for a colony ship I have. I've sent a colony ship to a system where there is an Ocean Planet (29.7k and Quality 100%) but I have no option in the menu for colonising.

I'm very, very confused at the moment. I've been through both tutorials twice now and I don't get why I cannot colonise this planet. Is it because it's Unoccupied?

I think I'm getting my knickers in a twist over the "automate" "no automation" thingy...I'm not sure I like the automation...I like to know what things are doing. I know there will be a time when I need automation on...it's probably just something I have to get used to.

[ASHBERY76]

You need tech to colonize non continental worlds at the start.

The A.I seems to disband fleets so I control them all,and hotkey them to 0-9 for easy control.I only automate patrol,escorts itl works well.

[Nemo84]

I've seen the exact same problem, even when AI fleet control is disabled. Ships seem to leave fleets for a wide variety of reasons, such as fleeing an opponent and refuelling. If the ships in the fleet are automated, they'll even leave just to transfer to another system. I've also noticed fleets seem to switch HQ planets sometimes. I'd assign one fleet per solar system, put the main planet in each system as HQ and 30 minutes later half the fleets have disbanded or are now far under strength, others have changed their HQ to a planet half a sector away. I'm starting to think there are some serious bugs in the automation AI routines. I can't even imagine what it would be like to attempt a minor war against a neighbouring empire, with my fleets acting so randomly.

[HsojVvad]

You can hot key them? I don't remember reading this. So how do we do this?

[JudgeDredd]

ORIGINAL: Nemo84

I've seen the exact same problem, even when AI fleet control is disabled. Ships seem to leave fleets for a wide variety of reasons, such as fleeing an opponent and refuelling. If the ships in the fleet are automated, they'll even leave just to transfer to another system. I've also noticed fleets seem to switch HQ planets sometimes. I'd assign one fleet per solar system, put the main planet in each system as HQ and 30 minutes later half the fleets have disbanded or are now far under strength, others have changed their HQ to a planet half a sector away. I'm starting to think there are some serious bugs in the automation AI routines. I can't even imagine what it would be like to attempt a minor war against a neighbouring empire, with my fleets acting so randomly.

I suppose when you create a fleet (and have automation off for fleets) then the ship automation is still there, hence they may well come and go. I suspect once you create a fleet, you have to give it an order to remove all ships in that fleet from automation.

If this is the case, then I would like to see it that when you create a fleet, those ships being used in the fleet are removed from automation..if this is indeed part of your issue.

[ASHBERY76]

0-9
Selection hotkeys for stored items – press key once to select, twice to move to item

Ctrl 0-Ctrl 9
Hotkey storage – store items for later quick selection

It makes the game so much easier.You just press 0-9 for your fleets and right click on enemy to attack,ect.

[Jim D Burns]

Don’t let the AI handle your fleets, it has a plan and that plan is most assuredly not what you want to do, so it’s going to disband your fleets forever and try and form fleets that conform to its plan. I think the AI only views fleets as military function units, not patrol type units, so the AI will only use them to try and attack other powers or pirate bases, the rest of the time it sits at your home world doing nothing.

I’ve never seen it use a fleet to go after a creature or large concentration of pirate ships, so that’s up to you to handle and you’ll need control if you want to do stuff like that.

It’s actually a good thing fleet and individual ship automation is separate. By keeping my fleet under my control, I can use it as a fire brigade and send it where needed, while all the AI controlled individual ships get sent to patrol worlds and the various civilian miners by the AI.

The AI even does a passable job of engaging pirates and creatures with the individual ships if they appear in a developed system with a lot of individual AI ships around. But on the fringes you’ll need a fleet or two and the AI simply can’t handle that kind of need for you.

Jim

[Nemo84]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

The AI even does a passable job of engaging pirates and creatures with the individual ships if they appear in a developed system with a lot of individual AI ships around. But on the fringes you’ll need a fleet or two and the AI simply can’t handle that kind of need for you.

Jim

That's why I was creating fleets in the first place. For some reason, when individual frigates get automated, they constantly fly across the galaxy, wasting fuel, adding downtime and leaving me with systems which are either massively under- or overdefended. When I put them in fleets, they at least stayed put for a while and engaged local threats more consistenly (though rather piecemeal). Until they ran off to refuel, or had to flee, or... and the fleet disbanded.

[JudgeDredd]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

Don’t let the AI handle your fleets, it has a plan and that plan is most assuredly not what you want to do, so it’s going to disband your fleets forever and try and form fleets that conform to its plan. I think the AI only views fleets as military function units, not patrol type units, so the AI will only use them to try and attack other powers or pirate bases, the rest of the time it sits at your home world doing nothing.

I’ve never seen it use a fleet to go after a creature or large concentration of pirate ships, so that’s up to you to handle and you’ll need control if you want to do stuff like that.

It’s actually a good thing fleet and individual ship automation is separate. By keeping my fleet under my control, I can use it as a fire brigade and send it where needed, while all the AI controlled individual ships get sent to patrol worlds and the various civilian miners by the AI.

The AI even does a passable job of engaging pirates and creatures with the individual ships if they appear in a developed system with a lot of individual AI ships around. But on the fringes you’ll need a fleet or two and the AI simply can’t handle that kind of need for you.

Jim

Yep - I believe you are correct and therefore I will be taking Fleets under my control.

[JudgeDredd]

I meant to say though - have posted in this games forums several times now - congratulations on a great game.

Looks like the first 4x game I've ever enjoyed. [&o]

[Erik Rutins]

Serious praise, thanks!

I agree with Jim on how to use fleets at present. After some testing with 1.02 I think we may also have an auto-fleet disband bug in there when you have fleet automation on and assign some manual mission to them. It's on the list for further investigation and fixing.

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd
Yep - I believe you are correct and therefore I will be taking Fleets under my control.

Forgot to add one trick I’ve learned. If you have fleets under manual control, but you then assign the individual ships in that fleet automation on the ships list (right hand column, click it and they get automated), the AI will take care of keeping them refit and refueled while you have nothing you want them to be doing.

When you need them simply select the fleet, order them to top off their fuel and they're ready to go. When you're done with the task, pull up the list, automate the ships and then forget about them till you need them again. Cuts down on all the micromanaging of having to order them to refuel all the time under manual control.

Jim

[Gertjan]

Can you please post a screen shot how to do that last trick? What do you mean by right hand column and click?

[Jim D Burns]

Sure, here you go. You can click the word auto on top to filter all your automated/non-automated ships to make it easier to find them.

Jim

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns
Forgot to add one trick I’ve learned. If you have fleets under manual control, but you then assign the individual ships in that fleet automation on the ships list (right hand column, click it and they get automated), the AI will take care of keeping them refit and refueled while you have nothing you want them to be doing.

When you need them simply select the fleet, order them to top off their fuel and they're ready to go. When you're done with the task, pull up the list, automate the ships and then forget about them till you need them again. Cuts down on all the micromanaging of having to order them to refuel all the time under manual control.

That's exactly how I use my fleets too, for what it's worth.

[Nemo84]

ORIGINAL: Jim D Burns

Forgot to add one trick I’ve learned. If you have fleets under manual control, but you then assign the individual ships in that fleet automation on the ships list (right hand column, click it and they get automated), the AI will take care of keeping them refit and refueled while you have nothing you want them to be doing.

When you need them simply select the fleet, order them to top off their fuel and they're ready to go. When you're done with the task, pull up the list, automate the ships and then forget about them till you need them again. Cuts down on all the micromanaging of having to order them to refuel all the time under manual control.

Jim

Jim, if I do that my fleets keep disbanding. Is it because those ships are classed as frigates, or because their nearest fuel source is in a neighbouring system, or merely because of a bug?

Also, if I make two different designs for the same ship class (think short-range brawler and long-range torpedo boat), how will the AI decide which design to use for an automated refit?

[Jim D Burns]

ORIGINAL: Nemo84

Jim, if I do that my fleets keep disbanding. Is it because those ships are classed as frigates, or because their nearest fuel source is in a neighbouring system, or merely because of a bug?

Also, if I make two different designs for the same ship class (think short-range brawler and long-range torpedo boat), how will the AI decide which design to use for an automated refit?

Go into game options and turn off auto fleet control, the AI can't touch your fleets when you turn that off. Matrix will have to answer your second ?.

Jim

[Coupon]

ORIGINAL: Nemo84

Jim, if I do that my fleets keep disbanding. Is it because those ships are classed as frigates, or because their nearest fuel source is in a neighbouring system, or merely because of a bug?

Also, if I make two different designs for the same ship class (think short-range brawler and long-range torpedo boat), how will the AI decide which design to use for an automated refit?

I'm also seeing that. Automated ships in fleets will refuel but not rejoin the fleet.

[Webbco]

That's a good question Nemo, I've been wondering that too.

Just quickly going back to controlling fleets... if it hasn't been said already, even if you decide to Ctrl + number them to assemble a fleet, I notice that they still disband [:(]

[dawilko]

Erik is there any plans to be able to automate an individual fleet via the right click context menu? For the same purposes as you mentioned before, refitting and fuel management while being ignored by the player.