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Home » Stars! 2.6/7 » The Academy » How do U use Boosters?  () 3 Votes
icon3.gif  How do U use Boosters? Fri, 20 June 2003 15:22 Go to next message
Crusader is currently offline Crusader

 
Officer Cadet 2nd Year

Messages: 233
Registered: January 2003
Location: Dixie Land

Do U use Boosters?[ 38 votes ]
1. I use scout-design boosters 12 / 32%
2. I use destroyer-design boosters 6 / 16%
3. I never use boosters 3 / 8%
4. What's a booster? 0 / 0%
5. I prefer the specialty boosters (fuel transport, mine layer, etc.) 17 / 45%

One thing leads to another, and the post concerning HG, HP, & -f races got me to wondering about people's use of booster ships during the all important first 50 years of a game.

Assuming that I've set up the poll properly, which we have yet to see, I would love some feedback on this topic, since it hasn't been discussed in while. At least, not that I've noticed.

But, I have been known to miss stuff. Dead

Respectfully,
The Crusader Angel



Nothing for now.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Fri, 20 June 2003 15:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
FurFuznel is currently offline FurFuznel

 
Lt. Junior Grade
Stars! Nova developer
Stars! Nova developer

Messages: 437
Registered: November 2002
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
As I tend to play IS races quite often, I usually get the Fuel Transport quite quickly and therefore do not need to use the scouting designs for boosting of my ships for very many years.

Shadallark



Shadallark <==> FurFuznel
Mental anguish is for those who choose to think - FurFuznel
running Mac OS X 10.6.7

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Fri, 20 June 2003 15:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
vonKreedon is currently offline vonKreedon

 
Lieutenant

Messages: 610
Registered: March 2003
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Even playing IS I will usually go through a phase of using scout boosters before I get the Privateer and FT. When not playing IS, the booster is a must.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Fri, 20 June 2003 16:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
boneandrew is currently offline boneandrew

 
Crewman 1st Class

Messages: 35
Registered: June 2003
Location: Detroit
I voted speciality boosters, definitely, when possible.

And the HE has those wonderful mini-colonizer hulls that with a fuel pod can tank along 400 mg of fuel, VERY cheap.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sat, 21 June 2003 06:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
djhakase is currently offline djhakase

 
Warrant Officer

Messages: 119
Registered: March 2003
Location: Australia

Destroyer Boosters? At the same tech level, are they more cost effective than scout boosters?

I'd never even thought about destroyer boosters.



they made me do it

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sat, 21 June 2003 07:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Paladin is currently offline Paladin

 
Officer Cadet 3rd Year

Messages: 270
Registered: May 2003
Location: Kentucky

DDs are a little more efficient than scouts but scouts are a little more flexible. DDs carry over twice what a scout booster carries but sometimes you only need one scout booster. Also I return nearly empty scout booster to base after one turn (transfering their fuel to the tanks of the MFs now that there is room) and this increases efficiency by a large margin and allows me to produce fewer boosters.

Paladin


[Updated on: Sat, 21 June 2003 16:33]




"There is no substitute for Integrity"

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sat, 21 June 2003 10:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Crusader is currently offline Crusader

 
Officer Cadet 2nd Year

Messages: 233
Registered: January 2003
Location: Dixie Land
I agree with everything Paladin said ...

++PLUS++

There is also the psychological factor to consider. People seeing DDs early in a game might think that you are just too prepared to pick on, or it might frighten them into wanting to be nice to you, or make concessions concerning those early border treaties, or it might just backfire and cause an early coalition AGAINST you. It can work either way.

If public player scores are turned on, and you put those cheap, useless lasers on them, then you have armed ships showing on everybodies screen. Ofc, if you happen to be WM, then forget the cheap, useless lasers. Twisted Evil

You could even spend a bit of extra mins and resources to make a decent escort ship out of them, if you want to, and you have a well-designed economically-minded race on your hands.

Respectfully,
The Crusader Angel



Nothing for now.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sat, 21 June 2003 13:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Coyote is currently offline Coyote

 
Lt. Commander

Messages: 906
Registered: November 2002
Location: Pacific NW

I usually prefer the specialty boosters, but if you're a WM ffs use the DD's with a pair of Yaks. Twisted Evil

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sat, 21 June 2003 14:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Crusader is currently offline Crusader

 
Officer Cadet 2nd Year

Messages: 233
Registered: January 2003
Location: Dixie Land
Thas rite. Be hungry. Eat HP's. Nod

The Crusader Angel



Nothing for now.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 04:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
iztok is currently offline iztok

 
Commander

Messages: 1202
Registered: April 2003
Location: Slovenia, Europe
Hi!
My booster usage goes through many phases. At start there are only scouts, but usually with scanner. In the next phase I use for booster whatever has enough fuel and has no use for the next two turns. That means PVTs, MFs (rarely), LFs. When I got to SFX hull I use it almost for everything. I'm reluctant to build IS's fuel transports because they are expensive. For the same price I can buy almost 3 scouts, that can boost 3 fleets, and serve lately as scanners. FX also become obsolete too soon with emerging of SFX.

Mini mine layer has some advantages to scout: is not destroyed in my exploding minefields and gives about 50% more fuel for the same price. Can not double as a scanner though. But for boosting another speed-bump DLL-7 layer of 500kT going for a single warp 9 move I need SFX, or 3 MMLs with fuel tanks. Again too expensive, and uses another design slot. That's quite more important with SD race, that usually needs 3 design slots just for minelayers (2 mini and one super), so the 4th one is IMO a waste.

Then there's HE's mini colonizer with Settler's Delight. If you are HE, use that and forget anything else. Even a SFX has a hard time to compete with them regarding price, and is quite an overkill for those small fleets of mini-coll freighters.

With cheap con you can also consider a FF booster with 3 fuel tanks and a single scanner. Has the best fuel/price ratio than anything else and can serve as a scanner lately, but again, a SFX is just 1 con level higher.

To conclude: IMO best boosters are scouts, until you get SFX.

BR, Iztok


[Updated on: Sun, 22 June 2003 04:06]

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 06:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
zoid is currently offline zoid

 
Ensign

Messages: 348
Registered: December 2002
Location: Murray, KY - USA
I prefer specialty boosters if they're available. Otherwise I use scouts.

The fuel transport when playing an IS is wonderful. You'll need plenty of those as chaff for your pop-bombs later, anyways. They produce as much fuel as the SFX and are lots cheaper. You can produce them early, and regardless of whatever crappy engine you use on it it never goes out of style. Fact is, you want your fuel transports to be slow in battle so they linger on the battlefield longer and don't leave your freighters without chaff for as long. I make mine with the Quick Jump engine and keep them forever.

It's never even occurred to me to use the destroyer as a booster. How come nobody mentioned frigates as boosters? I've used those before. Cheap, and with 3 fuel tanks they hold lots of fuel. Good for boosting the bigger ships.



I'M NOT AN EXPERT AND I'M OFTEN PROVEN WRONG. TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU READ MY POSTS.
Math? Confused Ummm, sure! Nod I do FREESTYLE math.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 07:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Micha

 

Messages: 2342
Registered: November 2002
Location: Belgium GMT +1
zoid wrote on Sun, 22 June 2003 12:26

I prefer specialty boosters if they're available. Otherwise I use scouts.

The fuel transport when playing an IS is wonderful. You'll need plenty of those as chaff for your pop-bombs later, anyways.

Won't work if you enemy uses "Freighters" or "Bomber/Freighters" as target ...

Quote:

It's never even occurred to me to use the destroyer as a booster. How come nobody mentioned frigates as boosters? I've used those before. Cheap, and with 3 fuel tanks they hold lots of fuel. Good for boosting the bigger ships.

Made me wonder too, but Iztok mentioned them, they are indeed close to the SFX but I use (or "used" since I'm no mostly playing SD and enjoying the MML booster) them a lot, cheap, gate-able (SFX not that much, but still do-able) and also similar to what Iztok said regarding scouts/FX better to boost more fleets, than just one with an overkill on fuel.

Regards,
mch

PS: Hey Zoid, you made it to Cadet already! A good thing that Ron isn't substracting points when you're way off. Grin Wink

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 09:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Crusader is currently offline Crusader

 
Officer Cadet 2nd Year

Messages: 233
Registered: January 2003
Location: Dixie Land
Good responses from everyone so far. I love when good thread gets started like this.

I would have never thought of using Fuel Transports as chaff, although I *think* I would have thought of targeting freighters to counter. Idea

I would not have thought that the "specialty boosters" option would be winning. Confused Surprises everywhere of late.

Come on, folks. More need to un-lurk and vote. It only hurts for a second. Although the sting does last for hours. Smile

With kind regards,
The Crusader Angel



Nothing for now.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 17:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
joseph is currently offline joseph

 
Lt. Junior Grade

Messages: 440
Registered: May 2003
Location: Bristol
As someone who plays IS - I have to say Fuel Transports every time.
More expensive than scout boosters but have 3 times the fuel after one turn (750 + 200 for one turn)
So the expense changes
1 Fuel Transport 50 resources.
3 scouts cost 17*3 =51 resources.
(and 1 ft costs the same in minerals (ish) as 1 scout)
Scouts loop back and get refueled - but FT can be parked at a planet 3 turns out and just top up ships as they pass.

Even better (if you are IS) your pop grows on the way so you can send out a FT with a few freighters and Santa Marias (and scouts if you can) the scouts loop back to the FT when they need more fuel the Santa Marias are sent to any good worlds found and the main fleet drops surplus pop on to worlds as it moves out.
- Now you wont colonise worlds within 3 to 4 turns as fast as with scout boosters but anything further out you will as other players will be sending their colonies out from the homeworld you will be sending them out from 200 to 300 lightyears out from your homeworld.



Joseph
"Can burn the land and boil the sea. You cant take the Stars from me"

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 20:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Paladin is currently offline Paladin

 
Officer Cadet 3rd Year

Messages: 270
Registered: May 2003
Location: Kentucky

joseph wrote on Sun, 22 June 2003 17:31

As someone who plays IS - I have to say Fuel Transports every time.
More expensive than scout boosters but have 3 times the fuel after one turn (750 + 200 for one turn)
So the expense changes
1 Fuel Transport 50 resources.
3 scouts cost 17*3 =51 resources.
(and 1 ft costs the same in minerals (ish) as 1 scout)
Scouts loop back and get refueled - but FT can be parked at a planet 3 turns out and just top up ships as they pass.

Even better (if you are IS) your pop grows on the way so you can send out a FT with a few freighters and Santa Marias (and scouts if you can) the scouts loop back to the FT when they need more fuel the Santa Marias are sent to any good worlds found and the main fleet drops surplus pop on to worlds as it moves out.
- Now you wont colonise worlds within 3 to 4 turns as fast as with scout boosters but anything further out you will as other players will be sending their colonies out from the homeworld you will be sending them out from 200 to 300 lightyears out from your homeworld.


Xports are great if you play IS, which I usally don't so my vote was between DD and scout boosters only. I'm assuming if you're IS you'll use the xport since that is obvious.

Paladin



"There is no substitute for Integrity"

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 20:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
boneandrew is currently offline boneandrew

 
Crewman 1st Class

Messages: 35
Registered: June 2003
Location: Detroit
You know, a JOAT may sometimes use just frigate boosters and ignore the SFX as they gain the tech. Reason: free scanners on frigates vs. no free scanners on the SFX combined with the usual NAS LRT. In general, using all those pen-scanning ships as boosters can really make a tough, pen-scanned, defense to deceive - for SS, planet-hopping, etc.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Sun, 22 June 2003 23:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Coyote is currently offline Coyote

 
Lt. Commander

Messages: 906
Registered: November 2002
Location: Pacific NW

Very true. Of course, destroyers are good too, you don't have to research them, and they can shoot down small enemy ships.

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Tue, 24 June 2003 04:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Abaddon is currently offline Abaddon

 
Crewman 1st Class

Messages: 25
Registered: May 2003
Location: London, England
Would it be a silly question to ask when boosters are at their most useful?
I only seem to use them to increase the range / speed of colony ships / assaulting troop transports....
What does anyone else use them for?



-------------------------------------------------
Revelation 9
verse 10: They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Wed, 25 June 2003 01:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
zoid is currently offline zoid

 
Ensign

Messages: 348
Registered: December 2002
Location: Murray, KY - USA
Micha wrote on Sun, 22 June 2003 04:29

PS: Hey Zoid, you made it to Cadet already! A good thing that Ron isn't substracting points when you're way off. Grin Wink

Aww man, here we go again! I remember reading all your put downs of me and the not-so-subtle hints that Freakyboy was overranked, in all too many posts when you were ranked as a civilian; I thought it was just rank-envy and that you'd be nicer once you passed us up. Shame

Rank doesn't mean diddly squat to me, and I'd welcome a reduction in rank if that'd quiet you on the matter. I just like to participate. I've attached a disclaimer about the worthiness of my posts already, so what more do ya want from me? If you really really hate the ranking system I think you should talk to Ron about it privately and try to convince him to see it your way, not constantly browbeat me over it. That's just kinda mean. I'm not trying to be touchy here, but man, you really have beat that drum to death. I figure it's about time someone called you on it.

I devalue my own opinion at the bottom of every post, and someone always corrects me when I'm wrong (which is very nearly every time I write something) Laughing so it's really not necessary to point out that I'm an idiot everytime you mention my name, is it? Smile It's easy enough to see who knows something concrete about Stars (like you) and someone who just guesses and speculates and enjoys talking about the same subject without any degree of expertise, like me. I don't think anyone is going to look at my rank and assume I'm an expert.



I'M NOT AN EXPERT AND I'M OFTEN PROVEN WRONG. TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU READ MY POSTS.
Math? Confused Ummm, sure! Nod I do FREESTYLE math.

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Sorry to the Zoid (Re: How do U use Boosters?) Wed, 25 June 2003 10:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Micha

 

Messages: 2342
Registered: November 2002
Location: Belgium GMT +1
Zoid, my apologies, guess I went to far here. Sad Your posts are always very welcome to me, doesn't matter right or wrong, neither does rank ...

BTW I just got a mail saying we're in the same game again! This time you're the replacement Wink looking forward to it! Too bad we can't be allies due to the rules, I'd ally with you anytime!

regards,
mch


[Updated on: Wed, 25 June 2003 10:21]

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Wed, 25 June 2003 10:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Micha

 

Messages: 2342
Registered: November 2002
Location: Belgium GMT +1
One thing to add is that when I have ISB (rarely) I don't seem to be building boosters ...

mch

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Wed, 25 June 2003 12:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BlueTurbit

 
Lt. Commander

RIP
BlueTurbit died Oct. 20, 2011

Messages: 835
Registered: October 2002
Location: Heart of Texas
Alright you four, settle down or I'm going to have to repour this mess to a demodulator. I'm really having trouble drinking with all this percussion going on. You are both fluid speakers but you should bottle up your demotions. I'm drinking that this is good advice on ice. Remember everyone is unique and beauty is in the eyes of the beerholder. So lighten up and empty this cup of wining about rank. It is too whiskey too fued yourselves here. Hold your gin up high and come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together and try to love one another right now. That's what I'm talkin' about.

humbubbly yours,
BlueTurbit



BlueTurbit Country/Rock

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Wed, 25 June 2003 15:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ron is currently offline Ron

 
Commander
Forum Administrator
Stars! AutoHost Administrator

Messages: 1231
Registered: October 2002
Location: Collegedale, TN
Zoid has not been reduced in rank. Check the FAQ on the rank section and you'll find he's on his way to be an officer.


Ron Miller
Stars! AutoHost

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Wed, 25 June 2003 15:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
overworked is currently offline overworked

 
Lt. Junior Grade

Messages: 403
Registered: November 2002
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Ron wrote on Wed, 25 June 2003 15:08

Zoid has not been reduced in rank. Check the FAQ on the rank section and you'll find he's on his way to be an officer.


True. And since when was there a requirement for officers to be right?

- Kurt

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Re: How do U use Boosters? Wed, 25 June 2003 15:35 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Crusader is currently offline Crusader

 
Officer Cadet 2nd Year

Messages: 233
Registered: January 2003
Location: Dixie Land
The real question is NOT why am I Chief, but why am I such a Petty Officer? Question ROFLMAO

I really do amuse myself. Now I suppose Ron will change my rank and totally ruin my joke for everyone, which is really fine with me. Ron has a need to amuse himself also. Yey

Quietly chuckling to himself,

The Crusader Angel



Nothing for now.

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