'A Space Port in each system'

[Apheirox]

Space ports are bases that provide many important
services. Space ports must always be built at a colony.

They serve as a central trade point for the player, and mined
resources are brought to them by freighters and mining
ships. Space ports provide construction facilities for the
player, and both private and state-owned ships are built
at space ports. When private citizens purchase freighters
or other ships at these ports, the player earns income.

Space ports also have heavy weapons which protect its colony,
research facilities for scientists, medical facilities and recreation
centers which keep the population happy. The player should
have one space port in each system where they have colonies.

Resources collected by mining ships, as well as excess
resources at mining stations, are brought to the nearest
space port. Therefore, having space ports strategically spread
throughout the empire improves efficiency by decreasing travel
time for freighters. To cycle through space ports, press P.

Quote, the game manual.

I want to ask the experts around here, is it truly a good idea to have a space port in each system? I haven't tried custom-building a small space port yet, but I assume even if you do it won't exactly be light on maintenance.

[Sabin Stargem]

Ya. They help with boosting morale on planets if you use the Recreation and Medical components, plus they serve as a shipping, storage, and construction hub. I personally use Small and Large stations, with the latter having all of the goodies, while the former is just meant to entertain the masses until the larger station is finished.

[diablo1]

ORIGINAL: Sabin Stargem

Ya. They help with boosting morale on planets if you use the Recreation and Medical components, plus they serve as a shipping, storage, and construction hub. I personally use Small and Large stations, with the latter having all of the goodies, while the former is just meant to entertain the masses until the larger station is finished.

Agree ^ you need and should have Spaceports in every system. Think of them as Recreation and Rest Stop centers without having to land on planets like in Babylon 5.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Apheirox

Space ports are bases that provide many important
services. Space ports must always be built at a colony.

They serve as a central trade point for the player, and mined
resources are brought to them by freighters and mining
ships. Space ports provide construction facilities for the
player, and both private and state-owned ships are built
at space ports. When private citizens purchase freighters
or other ships at these ports, the player earns income.

Space ports also have heavy weapons which protect its colony,
research facilities for scientists, medical facilities and recreation
centers which keep the population happy. The player should
have one space port in each system where they have colonies.

Resources collected by mining ships, as well as excess
resources at mining stations, are brought to the nearest
space port. Therefore, having space ports strategically spread
throughout the empire improves efficiency by decreasing travel
time for freighters. To cycle through space ports, press P.

Quote, the game manual.

I want to ask the experts around here, is it truly a good idea to have a space port in each system? I haven't tried custom-building a small space port yet, but I assume even if you do it won't exactly be light on maintenance.

I build a small space port on every planet, and larger ports on more important planets.

1. The port gives the medical/recreation bonus to the planet, which should be affecting growth rate.
2. Planets with ports are far less likely to revolt.
3. Each port increases bonus income, which is the reason I can have 2+ million cash on hand by end game.

[J HG T]

Depending on my economy, small spaceport on every planet over 50% quality, medium spaceport on 75% and over planets and large spaceport to big planets of 80% and over. Has worked out nicely for me. Planets with loros fruit or some other super rare resource get at least medium spaceport.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: J HG T

Depending on my economy, small spaceport on every planet over 50% quality, medium spaceport on 75% and over planets and large spaceport to big planets of 80% and over. Has worked out nicely for me. Planets with loros fruit or some other super rare resource get at least medium spaceport.

I base mine purely on population. <500m = small, 501m-2b = medium, 2b+ = large. Basically it is just a personal preference though, everyone has their own system.

[Data]

I haven't played in a while but afaik you still have to design the small spaceport yourself in order to include the morale boosting medical and recreational centers.

[J HG T]

Depends on the race, Data.&nbsp;

[Data]

right, J, that is correct....I'll have to diversify the races with which I'm playing

[Haree78]

Has anyone cosidered when building a Large whether it is best to build a small then upgrade twice?&nbsp; Sometimes it's nice to get everything up and running on the port as soon as possible, Large can take a looooong time if the Colony is small.
Is there much difference in cost this way?

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Haree78

Has anyone cosidered when building a Large whether it is best to build a small then upgrade twice?  Sometimes it's nice to get everything up and running on the port as soon as possible, Large can take a looooong time if the Colony is small.
Is there much difference in cost this way?

In my case, a large has 12 construction bays, so it is prohibitively expensive to build a large on every planet.

[Data]

I think Haree78 said that even where you build a LSP it is best to start with a small one and upgrade it....and indeed this way is best as you get what you need faster and then can increase (by upgrading to larger versions) the number of construction yards, cargo bays, docking bays and all that stuff
this is how I do it also....expect late game when you already researched faster construction techs and even new planets have the potential to build faster

[Howard Mitchell]

Cost is based on components, so it if the end result is the same it shouldn't make any difference if you build a large space port straight away or small -> medium -> large, but with the latter route you get the benefits quicker.

Economics has changed in various patches and between DW and RotS, but I usually have a 'minimal' spaceport design which includes recreation and medical and build that one per planet, even if a system already has one.

[Apheirox]

Thanks for replies.

New question: You say one of the reasons to build the space ports is the morale boosting. But isn't boosting morale a moot point on newly founded colonies with 15M citizens? They provide exactly 0,0000001% of your income. All that matters are your main colonies, particularly capital. So, it doesn't really help increase revenue nor increase growth rate, since these colonies are max happy anyway?

[Data]

don't think only of taxes, Apheirox, think also of war weariness and possible rebellion....there is also development that is boosted by these facilites; and development is in everything: growth rate, research potential and many other aspects

[Larsenex]

I set colony building on auto and tell them to build a medium spaceport (mega) which is my custom one at every colony. Its about the same size as a Large but is classed as 'medium'. I find it really helps with rebellion and makes EVERYONE happy!

[Apheirox]

ORIGINAL: Data

don't think only of taxes, Apheirox, think also of war weariness and possible rebellion....there is also development that is boosted by these facilites; and development is in everything: growth rate, research potential and many other aspects

I understand about the value of keeping happiness high to prevent rebellion etc, but what is this 'development' you speak of? Both the medical and recreation centres of space ports increase only happiness as far as I'm aware - and unless excess happiness (15+) increases growth rate I don't understand its merits. As far as I know the only way happiness increases growth is by attracting emigrants better.

Also, if space ports everywhere are good, why isn't the AI building them? Most planets don't get one.

[Sabin Stargem]

That is because the AI is flawed in some respects.

[Data]

the more facilities you have at a colony or in orbit the more developed that colony is considered; there are also other factors (like luxury goods) that boost development but this is also one of them
development in turn is used to calculate lots of things like your strategic value and that in turn gives you other things...for example, strategic value / 16 gives you your research potential
these are all rough explanations as there are more complex elements to factor in

best is to check the galactopedia, it's in the game home under /help....search for "development" on that folder and check all the goodies [;)]

[Apheirox]

Well, the development concept is nothing new to me. I just thought it came from luxury goods only. Nowhere in the manual nor galactopedia does it say anything about increasing development through other means than luxuries.