automated ship designs

[Kayoz]

I'm not sure if this is a bug, or as designed, but I have some concerns about the default ship designs. It forces the player to micromanage, and it makes the AI players rather weak.

1. lack of energy
From what I've seen, most designs lack enough energy with their default layouts. That results in slower fleets which take longer to reach their target, and them not having enough power to keep their weapons going in a scrap. This also affects their civilian ships, as I've noticed both my own automated designed ships and the AI's, going far slower than they should, even when they have fuel.
I believe the simplest solution to this would be to try and pop in an extra reactor if engine output isn't up to consumption.

2. weapons for non-aggressive races
Specifically, the - er - the green skinned desert chicks. I can't remember their name, sorry. Their default small space port, for example, has NO weapons - while other races I've had a play with seem to. Also, they for some reason don't put recreation or medical bays on their bases. As well, their ships seem to be woefully underpowered in comparison to the ships of other races.
Is there a correlation between race aggressiveness and the number of weapons they put on their ship? If so, perhaps it should be reconsidered. Low aggression races already have sucky troops - giving them an enfeebled navy as well seems over the top.

Anyhow, it's something I've come across. Perhaps someone can explain or confirm?

[forsaken1111]

Yes, as far as I know aggressiveness plays a big part in ship design weapon content,

[the1sean]

ORIGINAL: Kayoz

2. weapons for non-aggressive races
Specifically, the - er - the green skinned desert chicks. I can't remember their name, sorry. Their default small space port, for example, has NO weapons - while other races I've had a play with seem to. Also, they for some reason don't put recreation or medical bays on their bases. As well, their ships seem to be woefully underpowered in comparison to the ships of other races.
Is there a correlation between race aggressiveness and the number of weapons they put on their ship? If so, perhaps it should be reconsidered. Low aggression races already have sucky troops - giving them an enfeebled navy as well seems over the top.

I can confirm and explain. This is as designed. Races definitely build ships according to their characteristics (like aggressiveness) and settings in the "races.txt" file. Often those feebler ships are very efficient on fuel consumption and cost much less to maintain. Utopian freelove green hippy chicks often dont use many guns on their designs intentionally. However, the AI ship designer does have some wrinkles that havent been fully ironed out yet, Securan (green-chick) spaceports should have recreation and medical bays. If they dont for whatever reason post that it tech support pronto!