Aurora 4x
New Players => The Academy => Topic started by: Iestwyn on November 21, 2020, 05:11:29 PM
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Getting back into Aurora has reminded me about how complex things are. "Good, that research is done. Let's make a design based on it... Oh, I nearly forgot to start new research. Crap, some construction is idle; how long has that been going on? Wait, I'm about to run out of corundium!?"
Other than long experience and habit, how do you guys keep track of everything? I've taken to checking construction and research before I click to get the auto-turns rolling, but that's not really enough. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!
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Getting back into Aurora has reminded me about how complex things are. "Good, that research is done. Let's make a design based on it... Oh, I nearly forgot to start new research. Crap, some construction is idle; how long has that been going on? Wait, I'm about to run out of corundium!?"
Other than long experience and habit, how do you guys keep track of everything? I've taken to checking construction and research before I click to get the auto-turns rolling, but that's not really enough. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!
I have a custom made dashboard done in excel.
You can see screenshots of it on my AAR.
It currently includes:
Home page where all stats and graphs linked to the other pages are
Plan page for notes and remembering stuff
Shipyard page for all designs and other infos
Missile page
Terraforming page
Ground Forces page
Logistic page to remember sizes of buildings, workers minerals needed etc
DTS page
then there is a section for my government mod.
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Well that's interesting... I'll have to look through your stuff for it.
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Well that's interesting... I'll have to look through your stuff for it.
It's not for public release so except for the screens and a portion of my government mod (I use a different and more complete complex one) there is nothing you can download.
This is the main naval screen
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Well, THAT'S impressive. You've put a lot of effort into it for something that won't go public; neat.
I don't suppose you (or anyone) have anything simpler? Maybe a mnemonic, or even just a list of stuff you try to keep track of.
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In asking Reddit the same question, I've realized I wasn't very specific. I don't need help remembering statistics. I'm fine with looking up things regarding ship design, colony management, combat, etc.
What I really need help with is remembering tasks. I forget to check important things like research and construction, to update ship designs and components with new technologies, etc. I'm curious to know how you guys keep track of all the activities that are involved with playing Aurora.
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What is 'decommissioned'? Is it possible to mothball ships?
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Wait, what're we talking about?
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What is 'decommissioned'? Is it possible to mothball ships?
I have 3 classifications to help me in indentifying if I need to refit, rebuild or produce a new ship.
ACTIVE is a design which most likely have the technology ideal for the task without the need of an upgrade or simply the best technology is already installed.
OBSOLETE: is a design which has been surpassed by a better tech or there is simply no need for such ship as another may have taken over that role.
DECOMMISSIONED: is a ship which has reached its natural development and will not be produced anymore but still be used until declared obsolete.
By looking at my main screen I know immediately if I need to do something on my fleets in these terms.
The other info help me to identify if the range I am operating suits the purpose etc.
As statistics are dynamic by hiding a column on the main sheet I can take out what I don't need from the graph so I look at what I need rather than the whole picture.
This should also answer the question how I remember to upgrade techs etc.
Regarding other stuff I also use the map a lot using notes and labels. That again you can partially see in my latest aar update.
If used properly the galaxy map is a huge tool. I wish there were more options in it. I have tried to replicate it using world anvil and I must say, some integrations were amazing, only problem is maintenance to keep all up to date. If Steve is reading he may look into it?
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For construction and research, I use the queue!
If a research task or construction order are going to finish in the next year or so, I pretty much always have the next job queued up ready to go. For clear "programs" like developing the components for a new ship class or updating my ground units, I'll queue them all up at once and just wait. I do the same for constructing ground unit hierarchies; I'll order all the formations that go into the hierarchy at once.
That takes care of research and all forms of construction. For shipbuilding, I find that I don't really need to have a plan. When the slipways empty, it's time to decide what is going to happen next. Shipyard size and retooling takes more planning; I don't have a great way of handling that aside from trying to standardize my ship sizes.
I also make very heavy use of the prototype component feature. I build ships out of prototypes, then hit the research proto button on all the components that make it into the final design. Then I go queue up the parts! This way I don't forget what I wanted to do with the new tech, and I can start increasing my shipyard size if I need to since I know how big the new ships will be.
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For construction and research, I use the queue!
If a research task or construction order are going to finish in the next year or so, I pretty much always have the next job queued up ready to go. For clear "programs" like developing the components for a new ship class or updating my ground units, I'll queue them all up at once and just wait. I do the same for constructing ground unit hierarchies; I'll order all the formations that go into the hierarchy at once.
That takes care of research and all forms of construction. For shipbuilding, I find that I don't really need to have a plan. When the slipways empty, it's time to decide what is going to happen next. Shipyard size and retooling takes more planning; I don't have a great way of handling that aside from trying to standardize my ship sizes.
I also make very heavy use of the prototype component feature. I build ships out of prototypes, then hit the research proto button on all the components that make it into the final design. Then I go queue up the parts! This way I don't forget what I wanted to do with the new tech, and I can start increasing my shipyard size if I need to since I know how big the new ships will be.
Thank you so much for giving me things I can use. You're the best!
I don't know how I'd forgotten about queueing. That'll help a lot.
I haven't been able to find anything on how the prototyping feature works. Would you mind explaining it?
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For construction and research, I use the queue!
If a research task or construction order are going to finish in the next year or so, I pretty much always have the next job queued up ready to go. For clear "programs" like developing the components for a new ship class or updating my ground units, I'll queue them all up at once and just wait. I do the same for constructing ground unit hierarchies; I'll order all the formations that go into the hierarchy at once.
That takes care of research and all forms of construction. For shipbuilding, I find that I don't really need to have a plan. When the slipways empty, it's time to decide what is going to happen next. Shipyard size and retooling takes more planning; I don't have a great way of handling that aside from trying to standardize my ship sizes.
I also make very heavy use of the prototype component feature. I build ships out of prototypes, then hit the research proto button on all the components that make it into the final design. Then I go queue up the parts! This way I don't forget what I wanted to do with the new tech, and I can start increasing my shipyard size if I need to since I know how big the new ships will be.
Thank you so much for giving me things I can use. You're the best!
I don't know how I'd forgotten about queueing. That'll help a lot.
I haven't been able to find anything on how the prototyping feature works. Would you mind explaining it?
When you design stuff lookout for the prototype button. Prototype components cannot be built, however they can be included in designs without being researched by a scientist. They are supposed to help you actually design a ship without wasting your time to research sub-par garbage.
A ship design that has any prototype designs cannot be built or tooled for. In order to do that you have to (i forget where the button for this is) designate the prototypes to be researched, turning them into "research prototypes" and creating relevant research projects. Once these are researched the relevant component will be treated as a normal component and the ship design will be ready for tooling and construction in a shipyard.
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For construction and research, I use the queue!
If a research task or construction order are going to finish in the next year or so, I pretty much always have the next job queued up ready to go. For clear "programs" like developing the components for a new ship class or updating my ground units, I'll queue them all up at once and just wait. I do the same for constructing ground unit hierarchies; I'll order all the formations that go into the hierarchy at once.
That takes care of research and all forms of construction. For shipbuilding, I find that I don't really need to have a plan. When the slipways empty, it's time to decide what is going to happen next. Shipyard size and retooling takes more planning; I don't have a great way of handling that aside from trying to standardize my ship sizes.
I also make very heavy use of the prototype component feature. I build ships out of prototypes, then hit the research proto button on all the components that make it into the final design. Then I go queue up the parts! This way I don't forget what I wanted to do with the new tech, and I can start increasing my shipyard size if I need to since I know how big the new ships will be.
Thank you so much for giving me things I can use. You're the best!
I don't know how I'd forgotten about queueing. That'll help a lot.
I haven't been able to find anything on how the prototyping feature works. Would you mind explaining it?
When you design stuff lookout for the prototype button. Prototype components cannot be built, however they can be included in designs without being researched by a scientist. They are supposed to help you actually design a ship without wasting your time to research sub-par garbage.
A ship design that has any prototype designs cannot be built or tooled for. In order to do that you have to (i forget where the button for this is) designate the prototypes to be researched, turning them into "research prototypes" and creating relevant research projects. Once these are researched the relevant component will be treated as a normal component and the ship design will be ready for tooling and construction in a shipyard.
Oh, excellent! That helps a lot. I assume you can't prototype with techs you haven't researched yet? Like designing INTE when you could only actually build NTE?
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For construction and research, I use the queue!
If a research task or construction order are going to finish in the next year or so, I pretty much always have the next job queued up ready to go. For clear "programs" like developing the components for a new ship class or updating my ground units, I'll queue them all up at once and just wait. I do the same for constructing ground unit hierarchies; I'll order all the formations that go into the hierarchy at once.
That takes care of research and all forms of construction. For shipbuilding, I find that I don't really need to have a plan. When the slipways empty, it's time to decide what is going to happen next. Shipyard size and retooling takes more planning; I don't have a great way of handling that aside from trying to standardize my ship sizes.
I also make very heavy use of the prototype component feature. I build ships out of prototypes, then hit the research proto button on all the components that make it into the final design. Then I go queue up the parts! This way I don't forget what I wanted to do with the new tech, and I can start increasing my shipyard size if I need to since I know how big the new ships will be.
Thank you so much for giving me things I can use. You're the best!
I don't know how I'd forgotten about queueing. That'll help a lot.
I haven't been able to find anything on how the prototyping feature works. Would you mind explaining it?
When you design stuff lookout for the prototype button. Prototype components cannot be built, however they can be included in designs without being researched by a scientist. They are supposed to help you actually design a ship without wasting your time to research sub-par garbage.
A ship design that has any prototype designs cannot be built or tooled for. In order to do that you have to (i forget where the button for this is) designate the prototypes to be researched, turning them into "research prototypes" and creating relevant research projects. Once these are researched the relevant component will be treated as a normal component and the ship design will be ready for tooling and construction in a shipyard.
Oh, excellent! That helps a lot. I assume you can't prototype with techs you haven't researched yet? Like designing INTE when you could only actually build NTE?
Actually when prototyping you can make designs that use the next technology in the line. However, such prototypes cannot be researched until you actually research their prerequisite tech.
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Oh, excellent! That helps a lot. I assume you can't prototype with techs you haven't researched yet? Like designing INTE when you could only actually build NTE?
Actually when prototyping you can make designs that use the next technology in the line. However, such prototypes cannot be researched until you actually research their prerequisite tech.
Actually there is a bug where "Future Prototypes" cannot be researched (these are prototypes made with the next tech in the line). You can still design the future prototype to design the ship, and then when the techs are available create an identical component to be researched once you have the requisite techs, which is a little bit more micromanagement but doable.
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Huh... that's interesting. Helps a lot!
I think the only thing that leaves is for me to get used to resource management. I lose track of important resources (wealth, workers, minerals, maintenance, fuel) and end up having to deal with the consequences.
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No great solution for minerals, maintenance, people, or fuel.
But wealth is actually tracked in the upper left corner of the tactical window. It's the number in the header bar! And the value in parentheses is the change during the previous increment.
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Right, that I remember. But there isn't a way to track changes in minerals, fuel, and maintenance, at least on the colony level? I can calculate or at least eyeball net changes in minerals from the relevant screen (though I have no idea what the "SP" column means), but it'd still help to have a dedicated column. And I have no idea how to track changes in fuel and maintenance.
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I just carefully go through everything when I start playing, I don't forget anything once I have done that. I also keep notes so if I intend to start a project, I can remember what I need for it.
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No great solution for minerals, maintenance, people, or fuel.
Aurora Dashboard (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=11123.0) works wonders for all of these.
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Why has no one mentioned this before??? Thanks so much!
No great solution for minerals, maintenance, people, or fuel.
Aurora Dashboard (http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=11123.0) works wonders for all of these.
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SP is stockpile; i.e. how much of that mineral you currently have. That's the Stockpile column.
You can see the change in mineral stockpile in the last increment in the Recent SP column.
SP+Production is stockpile + 1 year of on-planet mining at current production.
No way to track fuel and maintenance changes, sorry.
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"mental checklists" are how i pretend to myself that im keeping track of things, when i don't really care enough to keep track of things. feel like i might not be the only one.
one of the benefits of a physical checklist (aside from it *working*, i mean) is that after every catastrophic failure, you get tangible improvement in improving your checklist.
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"mental checklists" are how i pretend to myself that im keeping track of things, when i don't really care enough to keep track of things. feel like i might not be the only one.
one of the benefits of a physical checklist (aside from it *working*, i mean) is that after every catastrophic failure, you get tangible improvement in improving your checklist.
I am in this picture and I don't like it.
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"mental checklists" are how i pretend to myself that im keeping track of things, when i don't really care enough to keep track of things. feel like i might not be the only one.
one of the benefits of a physical checklist (aside from it *working*, i mean) is that after every catastrophic failure, you get tangible improvement in improving your checklist.
You mention physical checklists: do you keep one? What's on it?