How do you usually decide on whether to stabilize a jump point

[alex_brunius]

Wrecks being visible is covered in the Lore post. Ships travel in the Aether, but wrecks return to normal space and can be detected as normal matter, like system bodies.
http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=10239.0

You used to have to detect them, but it led to tedious micromanagement to search for them without really adding any gameplay decisions.

Im aware of the lore but that doesn't mean think it's consistent or logical.
For example why isn't Space Stations without engines orbiting a planet also visible just like wrecks then if it's the travel through the Aether that cause them to become harder to spot?

Some brainstorming ideas:
- If it was too much micro to detect the them then maybe give wrecks a say 10 times as large apparent tonnage signature (because it's presumably spread out over greater area)
- Improve the intel system to better display immobile or orbiting contacts (like say wrecks or space stations) indefinately if detected once
- Make it possible to tug the wrecks or load them in hangars for easy recovery (common suggestions around here already)

Jump point are substantially more important than wrecks, so they are harder to detect.

It's true but there are two gameplay considerations of making them easier to detect. First it makes it less of a no-brainer choice to stabilize all JPs. Second it makes it easier and faster to track down where those aliens are (and for them to track down you) leading to more potential fun and interactions.

[Steve Walmsley]

The technobabble is that all TN ships operate in the Aether, regardless of whether they are moving. Wrecks have lost integrity so cannot remain in the Aether. If you don't accept that as reasonable, that's fine, but the lore is there to provide some rationale for the game mechanics, not vice versa. It's also not logical that ships in Aurora function like ships in the sea, but the gameplay is better with that paradigm, so the Aether exists to provide a rationale.

You used to have to find wrecks, but it was tedious so they became visible in later versions. At the time, everyone agreed with the change.

I'm not adding tugging wrecks because it makes recovery too easy, especially for wrecks in contested system, claimed systems or in orbit of NPR home worlds. Sneaking in to salvage key wrecks creates some fun situations.

I don't think stabilization is a no-brainer. For example, Invaders don't have jump drives. It also makes them easy to detect. I have several jump points in my current campaign that I won't stabilise, for both those reasons.

[Erik L]

I stabilis(z)e the ones in my core systems.

[Zeradash]

It's very fun to see how stabilization seems to reflect on different playstyles.

I normally stabilize from the home world to every world I colonize, even if it's just an outpost with some sensors or some automated mines. I always keep a buffer of a few systems with the unexplored parts though, and I keep everything well scouted and tight on security.
I personally think it can make the late game a lot more entertaining, depending on what you do and how things go. It also frees me of headaches if I want to roleplay, or make really big ships/stations to wander around.

[skoormit]

One point that hasn't been mentioned in this thread. You can detect a stable jump point on active sensors (without the need for gravitational sensors), so when deciding to stabilise, you are also making it easier to detect.

For active sensor detection purposes, what is the size of a stable jump point?
Or are they detected whenever in range of any active sensor, regardless of resolution?

[paolot]

...
For active sensor detection purposes, what is the size of a stable jump point?
Or are they detected whenever in range of any active sensor, regardless of resolution?

Don't think stable JPs can have various sizes. Or, at least, I never saw a stable JP different from another one.

[Steve Walmsley]

One point that hasn't been mentioned in this thread. You can detect a stable jump point on active sensors (without the need for gravitational sensors), so when deciding to stabilise, you are also making it easier to detect.

For active sensor detection purposes, what is the size of a stable jump point?
Or are they detected whenever in range of any active sensor, regardless of resolution?

For detection purposes, stable jump points are resolution 500, or 25,000 tons.

[Ulzgoroth]

I pretty much stabilize any jump point where I've found the far side of it unoccupied. I use civilian lines heavily and usually have a relatively limited number of jump tenders, so I welcome adding more jumps to the 'I can build here' and 'I can move the tender forward' list.