Pre-fab PDCs

[SteelChicken]

I don't have CF at the destination.  Will a Construction Battalion do the job?

They will indeed, the more the merrier.

[Bandus (OP)]

Indeed. A construction batallion will produce construction points, however, even en masse it has been my experience they won't do the job fast enough. I typically transport 40-50 construction factories to the destination for the job.

[Traveler]

That's what I needed to know Bandus.  Thanks.

[Conscript Gary]

A Construction Brigade rather, but yes they'll act as a single CF

[Traveler]

That raises another question.
Will I be able to transport missiles, FC sensors, turrets, etc from stock piles on Earth to stock the assembled (but empty) PDC at Mars?

All this time I've pictured a PDC as an orbiting Death Star type of structure.  I came to that conclusion by the fact that it is desgned in the same window as ships.  The light bulb just went on that it is a structure that is based on the surface.  I guess I've answered my own question.  I should be able to transport weapons from Earth to stock the PDC on Mars.

[strych90]

I find the extra minerals required at the destination to build these an unnecessary micro-management hassle.   If its a cost issue, roll it up into the manufacturing process.   I just SM the minerals needed at the destination if I need them.

+1

I would think that all the parts to put them together would be created with and for the parts to be assembled, or at least come pre-packaged with . I think giving us a 5-10% markup on overall cost and removing the cost required to assemble would make PDCs more useful and less of a hassle.

[Conscript Gary]

Hold up there.
Having the components on hand will only help if you're building the PDC from scratch, aka building it in place or prefabbing it as components. Actually I'm not even sure that PDC construction will use stockpiled components at all.
You will need to truck missiles out to it though. And yes, they are indeed rooted in place once they're constructed or assembled.

[Traveler]

Apparently I cannot load missiles and sensors on board a cargo vessel. Does that means there is no way to move weapons and weapon components between colonies or bases?  I guess I could build a collier to move the missiles but I'm not sure how to transport the FC sensors and Beam turrets and FC from Earth to Mars.  It would be quite inconvient to have to build Ordnance Factories and CF on Mars when I have stockpiles on Earth already.

[Bandus (OP)]

Definitely some confusion here.  Part of the pre-fabrication process includes building the FC sensors, turrets, etc. You would have to move ordinance still using a collier though. 

A good way to think of it is that pre-fabricating builds the PDC, and then "assembling it" at its destination bolts it to the ground so it is ready to use.

[metalax]

Apparently I cannot load missiles and sensors on board a cargo vessel. Does that means there is no way to move weapons and weapon components between colonies or bases?  I guess I could build a collier to move the missiles but I'm not sure how to transport the FC sensors and Beam turrets and FC from Earth to Mars.  It would be quite inconvient to have to build Ordnance Factories and CF on Mars when I have stockpiles on Earth already.

As already said in the post prior to yours, there is no need to move components unless you are planning to produce the PDC sections on Mars, in which case it would probably better to simply build the PDC in one piece. The components are consumed when constructing the PDC sections, so you want them present on the world you are doing that on.

If you do have a situation in which you need to move components around, you can load them into normal cargo bays.

For transporting missiles you need to design a Collier, a ship with a large number of magazines as missiles cannot be placed in cargo bays.

[Traveler]

Thanks for the explanations.  I've got a handle on it now.  I'd forgotten that the PDC is equipped with Sensors etc during design. 

[Traveler]

Once a PDC is contructed, should it show up on the F2, summary tab, under installations?

[Bandus (OP)]

No. It will show up under the Ships (F6) screen.

[Traveler]

But it's hard to determine where they are.  I thought I had built one on Mars.  I paid all the mineral cost for doing it but it doesn't show up on the system map or F6 but the pop of Mars are happy now because all their defense needs are satisfied. 

[Erik L]

But it's hard to determine where they are.  I thought I had built one on Mars.  I paid all the mineral cost for doing it but it doesn't show up on the system map or F6 but the pop of Mars are happy now because all their defense needs are satisfied. 

Task groups are your friend.