Hi

I have read a few posts in the No Frills game about idle fleets, but cannot post in response. So, I'll post it here.

If you need to double and triple check for idle fleets, you may not be aware of a handy short cut. This is something I do every single turn, and I believe it makes a big dent in MM, and overall performance.

Open Reports>Fleets
Right click on ETA (either normal or reverse)

This will seperate all fleets according to movent orders, and you will see every fleet that is idle.

Further, if you:

Open Reports>Fleets
Right click on task (either normal or reverse)
Right click on ETA (either normal or reverse)

This seperates fleets according to task, and then according to movement orders. Customize the "Fleet report" window so you can see the universe map at the same time. Now, you can quickly select a fleet with no movement orders on the report, and move them to a new location on the map. You can do this type of sorting with all the columns.

You will note, that once you have completed the movement orders on a previously idle fleet, and then select the next idle fleet, the last selected fleet will be redisplayed according to its new ETA. It is very difficult to miss idle fleets, using the reports in this fashion.

Other good ideas for sorting:

1. Your minelayers in bigger games, to see if they are all laying mines.
2. Checking cargo headed to a specific planet, before you load up yet another freighter full of germanium.
3. Checking fleet ID's, for collision sweeping/attack in the same turn.
4. Spotting Enemy fleets, by size or composition, so you don't miss that enemy fleet approaching your HW. (For you, Sinical)
5. Finding the best targets in you neighbors space. (Miners, Orgies, whatever)

Obviously, the list goes on. It can really cut down on MM.

SPECIAL NOTE - There is a enemy fleet display limit. 1024 IIRC. Do not trust the enemy fleet report if the report has more than 1000 enemy fleets!

Hope this helps.

-Matt

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Thanks for that.

Yeah a few people have been no giving ships for a few turns- anything which can help them is good

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[Updated on: Thu, 19 January 2006 22:07]

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multilis wrote on Fri, 20 January 2006 04:05

You can rename a fleet to make it easy to spot in reports (small tool window with [prev],[next],[rename] buttons)... for example you could call a small scout/minesweeper "leader" and give multiple spread out fleets orders to target "leader" fleet at warp 9 and merge. Leader ship perhaps finds a nice centre spot all can reach (to combine for a fuel redistribution/attack run), or targets a specific enemy fleet at smaller warp speed that will keep out of range of a farther big threat (fleet or minefield).

Don't forget to check the Leader and followers Fleet IDs to avoid the "stuck" bug.

Also, you can sort by Battle Orders, to spot these easily-overlooked special forces out there...

[Updated on: Fri, 20 January 2006 03:28]

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multilis wrote on Fri, 20 January 2006 05:05

You can rename a fleet to make it easy to spot in reports (small tool window with [prev],[next],[rename] buttons)... for example you could call a small scout/minesweeper "leader" and give multiple spread out fleets orders to target "leader" fleet at warp 9 and merge.

There feature of fleets renaming is also useful for fleets with whose you hate to be not careful enough ... Say for fleets with automated task, you do not want to accidentally merge to something other or major battle fleet with what you do not want to fumble. If you want them to be at top of fleet table sorted by name then use some number at front of the name.

[Updated on: Fri, 20 January 2006 06:48]

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[Updated on: Fri, 20 January 2006 15:22]

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BlueTurbit wrote on Fri, 20 January 2006 15:22

Using the scroll wheel (center button) you can easily find out information about planets, ships, etc. Place your mouse cursor near an object and press the wheel button. Now you have a flexible line that follows the mouse movement and ID's objects with useful information at the bottom of the scanner window. This can be used to determine distances between objects, even unknown planets, distances to and between enemy ships and planets, etc. Click right button to deactivate. Hold shift key to fine tune the movement of the line.

For older mouse owners - without wheel - it is a middle mouse button pressing that switches on distances measuring feature. Also, for even more older mouse owners: Ctrl+Shift+Right Click switches on this feature too I use this feature really a lot.

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