Posted by: Michael Sandy
« on: October 26, 2007, 01:54:39 PM »Yes, survey ships without jump drives are often idle.
On the other hand, if you put jump drives on them then you have jump drives +engines to push them that are idle for far longer.
My theory would be to have a survey fleet composed of:
2-4 grav survey ships
2-4 geo survey ships
2-3 tenders
1-2 dedicated scout
The survey ships would have either 2 survey sensors and a size 5 sensor package, or 2 survey sensors, a size 2 sensor package, and an extra engineering system.
My theory would be that for civilian ships, the only safety is in speed and sensors.
Escort warship designs would not be expected to keep up with the survey fleet. There would naturally be some delays in getting them in position, but they would be more to bottle up warp points behind the survey fleet. They could show the flag with the survey fleet, if necessary. For example, there might be a race that would only negotiate with another race if they had a warship present. After all, civilian ships would not be expected to have officers empowered to negotiate.
I would be sure to have at least one troop transport that could be escorted by the survey jump tenders, and at least one bombardment capable ship that could be escorted by them as well.
My plan would be to then have _lots_ of jump tenders. There is a slight problem that the jump tenders themselves would lack serious sensors. But I would rather have a jump tender and a dedicated scout than to have a jump tender with its own sensors, even if it costs a bit less.
If I discovered at any time that I was losing significant survey time, I would just build more jump tenders.
On the other hand, if you put jump drives on them then you have jump drives +engines to push them that are idle for far longer.
My theory would be to have a survey fleet composed of:
2-4 grav survey ships
2-4 geo survey ships
2-3 tenders
1-2 dedicated scout
The survey ships would have either 2 survey sensors and a size 5 sensor package, or 2 survey sensors, a size 2 sensor package, and an extra engineering system.
My theory would be that for civilian ships, the only safety is in speed and sensors.
Escort warship designs would not be expected to keep up with the survey fleet. There would naturally be some delays in getting them in position, but they would be more to bottle up warp points behind the survey fleet. They could show the flag with the survey fleet, if necessary. For example, there might be a race that would only negotiate with another race if they had a warship present. After all, civilian ships would not be expected to have officers empowered to negotiate.
I would be sure to have at least one troop transport that could be escorted by the survey jump tenders, and at least one bombardment capable ship that could be escorted by them as well.
My plan would be to then have _lots_ of jump tenders. There is a slight problem that the jump tenders themselves would lack serious sensors. But I would rather have a jump tender and a dedicated scout than to have a jump tender with its own sensors, even if it costs a bit less.
If I discovered at any time that I was losing significant survey time, I would just build more jump tenders.