Matrix Games Forums

Hello,

I have recently started playing Distant Worlds. So far so good, but I have a question regarding retrofitting. Is there a better way to do it than the way I am using now?
- For instance, I have obtained (via trade) the enhanced hab & life support modules. ALL designs need these, naturally, so I am manually editing every design in order to optimize it. If I press the auto-upgrade button, the design gets refitted, but not optimized (the number of modules won't change, if, say, it can run on four life supports now instead of five).
- The old design gets the 'obsolete' flag. This does not automatically make the old ships to retrofit to the latest version. If I have dozens of ships, sending each one to retrofit manually is a PITA.

So, is there any automation option I could use to help me with this? I only have the basic game, with no extensions so far.

Thanks!

You are right in that obsoleting a design does nothing to ships using them.

Keep in mind that I have not played the basic game for ages. So disclaimers...

What should work beautifully is to use the ship list. You can filter for ship type, and sort them according to class (or fleet, or whatever). You can multi select and give retrofit orders from here.

What ought to work to retrofit everything, is to open ship list, click the first, and shift-click the last to select all, then press retrofit in this screen.

My understanding is that upgraded components apply automatically without retrofitting.

Ex: Hab and Life support modules just get better with the new tech.

When you have to actually have to remove the old component and install a new one, that's when you need to retrofit.

Ex: Basic proximity ---> Advanced proximity

ORIGINAL: ReadeB

My understanding is that upgraded components apply automatically without retrofitting.

Ex: Hab and Life support modules just get better with the new tech.

When you have to actually have to remove the old component and install a new one, that's when you need to retrofit.

Ex: Basic proximity ---> Advanced proximity

True and not true.
IF they are upgrades of an existing tech and the ship item has the same name, then they upgrade automatically.
So, say the Fuel Cell, going from the Small Fuel Cell to the Standard Fuel Cell you will need to force the upgrade and pay for it. Going from the Standard to the Improved Standard just happens and costs nothing. However later you again have to pay and force the upgrade to the Ultra-Dense Fuel Cell.

Hab and Life DO get better on their own as they have no upgraded system name.
Cargo Bays go Small > Standard > Massive Bays, each step requiring a redesign

I have used the fleet button "Retrofit to Latest Designs". That seems to take care of retrofitting lots of ships at once.

That will handle the Military ships in fleets, not any assigned as escorts or any Private ships.
To upgrade those you will likely need to use the Ship tool button.