My Ships Won't do What I Tell Them to Do

[malthaussen]

Just started playing this thing, so indulge my ignorance.

I have everything set to "manual," and my ships have Automation turned off.

Yet my State ships still refuse to do what I tell them to do.

Example 1: An undamaged Construction Ship, with plenty of fuel, was ordered to build a station in System X. Fine, it did that, so I ordered it to build another station at a different planet in the same system. Again, undamaged, plenty of fuel.
Instead, it jumped out of system and headed for home.

Example 2: An Exploration ship got chewed up pretty good by a Kaltor, but it can still burn and has plenty of fuel. I ordered it to just hold in-system and wait for a construction ship to get there and repair it.
Instead, it jumped out of system and headed for home.

And when I tell ships to "Clear All Queued Missions," they ignore me and continue about the next queued mission.

So how do I get these suckers to do what I tell them?

-- Mal

[Retreat1970]

#1 It has to go back to get more construction resources

#2 a ship that can move will go to a repair point instead of waiting

[malthaussen]

Thanks. I'd seen references to #1, but #2 is just plain annoying.

Here's a related question: I want a fleet to move to a planet, and just sit there. But the only option I get when I mouse over the planet is "Patrol Planet," which is not want I want at all. How do I park them without them burning fuel patrolling?

-- Mal

[Retreat1970]

ctrl-right click for more options

[Chris21wen]

Thanks. I'd seen references to #1, but #2 is just plain annoying.

Here's a related question: I want a fleet to move to a planet, and just sit there. But the only option I get when I mouse over the planet is "Patrol Planet," which is not want I want at all. How do I park them without them burning fuel patrolling?

-- Mal

As for #2 I don't know what triggers it but you can still tell a constructor to repair a ship even if the ship is still moving. In this case the expl is heading home, the constructor is heading out thus cutting distants between them and reducding repair time.

For queued ships hit the stop(s).

Use move to instead of patrol, uses less fuel and tends to keep them there until the planet moves. Also change the engagement stance of the ship/fleet.

[Chris21wen]

Thanks. I'd seen references to #1, but #2 is just plain annoying.

Here's a related question: I want a fleet to move to a planet, and just sit there. But the only option I get when I mouse over the planet is "Patrol Planet," which is not want I want at all. How do I park them without them burning fuel patrolling?

-- Mal

As for #2 I don't know what triggers it but you can still tell a constructor to repair a ship even if the ship is still moving. In this case the expl is heading home, the constructor is heading out thus cutting distants between them and reducding repair time.

For queued ships hit the stop(s).

Use move to instead of patrol, uses less fuel and tends to keep them there until the planet moves. Moving to a sun overcomes this. Also change the engagement stance of the ship/fleet.