Escort through Jump Point

[Sarganto (OP)]

Hi folks,

after hours of playing, reading the forums and the wiki, I almost thought "well, I guess I can actually handle this game quite ok" I have run into my first problem that I don't understand at all, because I thought I did everything right.

I want to colonize in a different system and I have 2 coloships with Jumpdrives and 2 freighters without.
So I thought I can get those freighters through the jump together with my coloships, as the jump drive is bigger than the freightersize and allows for a squadron size of two.
I tried it with all of the 4 ships together in one task group, I tried 1 colo + 1 freighter in one task group and I tried letting the coloships stay at the jump point in one task group and set the freighters to standard transit.

Nothing works.
The Wiki said the last thing should work.  Or am I missing something?

The message I get in the event log:
Colony Task Group cannot carry out its standard transit order as at least one ship is larger than the ship with the highest jump rating.  No friendly or allied jump ships are available for escort.


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Gaia class Colony Ship    37400 tons     473 Crew     951. 5 BP      TCS 748  TH 500  EM 0
668 km/s    JR 2-25     Armour 1-99     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control 2     PPV 0
Maintenance Capacity 32 MSP
Colonists 40000   Cargo Handling Multiplier 5   

JC40K Commercial Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 40500 tons    Distance 25k km     Squadron Size 2
Nuclear Pulse Engine E0. 8 (5)    Power 100    Fuel Use 8%    Armour 0    Exp 1%    Hyper Capable
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres    Range 30. 1 billion km   (520 days at full power)


This ship is classed as a commercial vessel for maintenance purposes

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Burro class Freighter    39150 tons     367 Crew     512. 5 BP      TCS 783  TH 1000  EM 0
1277 km/s     Armour 1-102     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control 1     PPV 0
Maintenance Capacity 8 MSP
Cargo 25000   Cargo Handling Multiplier 10   

Nuclear Pulse Engine E0. 8 no HS (10)    Power 100    Fuel Use 8%    Armour 0    Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres    Range 114. 9 billion km   (1041 days at full power)


This ship is classed as a commercial vessel for maintenance purposes


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[scoopdjm]

well there's your problem you can't 'standard transit' you need to issue a squadron transit order

[Thiosk]

Ah ha this is a commonly noted problem.

So your jump drive is "big enough" for both ships... but.... the size of the ship spawning the portal is actually the limiting factor, not the jump drive.  The jumpship is the absolute largest entity that can transit a jump portal.  Your freighters are too big to squeeze through!  The reason for this is technobabble technobabble technobabble.

Since you are colonizing, though, you'll have lots of problems with this setup anyway.  Install jumpgates.  It will enable civilian trade, as an added bonus, and then your freighters need not have jump escorts.

Another method is to put a larger jumpship on the site, and then anything smaller can transit as though there is a jumpgate (but civvies do not seem to be able to handle this).

Good luck!

[Sarganto (OP)]

Now I can see my mistake.  First design flaw in my Aurora career yaaay
But well. . . that is rather counter-intuitive and there is no description of that anywhere.  Everything always only points you to the size of the jump drive engine.

I may SM me 2 gate opener ships for that matter, as my jump gate construction ship will only be ready in 2 to 3 years.

[Hawkeye]

While there is no description of this mechanic inside the game, there _is_ the FAQ board

http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php/topic,2090.0.html

[Sarganto (OP)]

Well I searched for this problem in the Wiki and the description seemed to be clear.  That's why I asked here.
Maybe the info should be added to the Wiki, as it only refers to the size of the jump engine and not to the size of the ship with the jump engine.

[Charlie Beeler]

Well I searched for this problem in the Wiki and the description seemed to be clear.  That's why I asked here.
Maybe the info should be added to the Wiki, as it only refers to the size of the jump engine and not to the size of the ship with the jump engine.

The information is also on the Wiki, it's just not easy to find.
http://aurorawiki.pentarch.org/index.php?title=Aurora_Player_Designed_Systems#Jump_Engines

[Sarganto (OP)]

Actually. . . you are right.

The maximum size of ship that can be escorted through has to be less than the jump ship and the jump drive rating.  For example, if you have a 28 000 tons jump ship, you will only be able to open a wormhole for ships of 28 000 tons or less, regardless of your jump drive efficiency. 

Luckily I am just playing my first game to learn the game and therefore don't mind correct-SMing mistakes like that.
Better to make that mistake now!

On a different note. . . if I want my (now correctly sized) ships to function as permanent gate opener, do I have to station 1 ship on both sides or is 1 ship on any side enough?
I guess it is 1 ship on both sides, but I could of course use just one ship and micromanage it from side to side.  As if there wasn't micromanagement already 

[Thiosk]

One gateship should be sufficient to allow 2-way traffic.

[LtWarhound]

well there's your problem you can't 'standard transit' you need to issue a squadron transit order

Common misconception, but not true.  For example, I normally have one civilian jump ship with a max squadron size 2 (the default) jump drive, as the ferry for 4 or 5 geosurvey ships.  I never issue squadron transit orders to these survey task groups, only standard transit orders, and the jump ship automatically shuttles all the ships through each jump point.

Once the OP resizes his jump ship to the tonnage the jump drive is rated for, he'll be able to do just what he was trying to do with all the ships in one task group, given a standard transit order.

[blue emu]

One gateship should be sufficient to allow 2-way traffic.

Correct... the Jump Tender can be parked at either end of the jump connection. No micromanagement needed.

[Sarganto (OP)]

Correct. . .  the Jump Tender can be parked at either end of the jump connection.  No micromanagement needed.

That's what I wanted to hear.  Thanks.

On a side note:
I am currently reading your Ad Astra AAR.  Already on page 95 and having a blast reading it and I learn so much about the game.
Page 95 is shortly after the visit of the Grooms to Sol.  How tense!

[blue emu]

That's what I wanted to hear.  Thanks.

On a side note:
I am currently reading your Ad Astra AAR.  Already on page 95 and having a blast reading it and I learn so much about the game.
Page 95 is shortly after the visit of the Grooms to Sol.  How tense!

Glad you liked it. If you want "tense"... just wait for the Battle of Wolf 294, coming up very soon after page 95.

[Sarganto (OP)]

Glad you liked it.  If you want "tense". . .  just wait for the Battle of Wolf 294, coming up very soon after page 95.

Awww no spoilers please :<