10-06-2002 20:50									#1
	Automating Formers Increase Your PM Length

I'm not sure if this has been brought up before, but I'll ask anyway. I've noticed that when you automate formers, towards the middle to latter stages of the game, they just don't do anything. I'm sure that most of you don't use this feature, but the problem is that I think the computer players use the same logic and this "bug" prevents them from terraforming. At first I thought perhaps it was when you could upgrade to fungicidal formers. These units just don't seem to want to do anything besides remove fungus (especiall sea formers, who go half-way across the globe to remove fungus that isn't even near one of your bases). So, I downgraded my fungicidal formers and just made them regular again. This however, doesn't appear to work either. I retired all my other formers and built a new one. It laid down a soil enricher, then quit. It wouldn't even make mag tubes. In my current game, I've made to this stage and the cpu players don't have a chance. Nearly all of them have more bases and more territory, but I have a higher population and much better infastructure, therefore I'm outresearching them by quite a bit.

	11-06-2002 02:55									#2
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Double check your automation instructions. You may have turned off most of the options a while ago, then they carried over to your current games. Happened to me before.

	11-06-2002 03:40									#3
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Actually I think Automated formers are just plain broken. I recall an IP game where the inexperienced player I was playing against automated all his sea formers and all they ever did was clear fungus. (and lets just say he was a few cans short of a sixpack and continued to automate new formers despite the fact they obviously werent doing anything....)

In short either don't automate formers or give them very specific instructions (eg build road to, build tube to etc) for sea formers use auto improve home base which tends to work a bit better.

	11-06-2002 04:08									#4
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

I frequently automate sea formers and sometimes land as well, and I rarely have problems other than their stupid choices of what to build.

Obviously I only do this when things are getting too slow.

	11-06-2002 04:43									#5
	Remove this text

Mine will never build mag tubes.. the option never shows up the "build mag tube to" just stays grey...

	11-06-2002 05:02									#6
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quote: Originally posted by Tactical Marine Mine will never build mag tubes.. the option never shows up the "build mag tube to" just stays grey...

It needs the Monopole Magents tech. You had that?

	11-06-2002 06:05									#7
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Of course, I don't use worker/former automation in any civ game. It just doesn't work for me. I have my own styles of infrastructure, and the AI just can't get it right.

It may be frustrating, but its still for the best interests of my faction.

	11-06-2002 07:25									#8
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I always automate them. Controlling them yourself is just too slow for me... but I haven't had these problems.

	11-06-2002 07:58									#9
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quote: Originally posted by Tactical Marine Mine will never build mag tubes.. the option never shows up the "build mag tube to" just stays grey...

Sounds like you need to install the v 3.0 patch. here's an excerpt from the readme file (my bolding):

FIXES
• Planetary Governor now have packet sniffer access to all factions.
• Dead factions no longer prevent a Planetary Governor veto.
• "O" w/ supply crawlers now let you add to production.
• The menu option for Automate Mag-Tubes now un-greys.
• Square detail readout is now always correct.
• Rovers can no longer retreat from combat onto a unity pod.
etc etc

G.

	11-06-2002 08:03									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

v3.0? When did it come? Hmh, I don't remember my version. Too lazy to check on my other computer ( this one doesn't have SMAC )

	11-06-2002 15:50									#11
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Multiple ages ago. We're up to SMAC v4.0, SMACX v2.0 now.

	11-06-2002 22:38									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Thanks! Point a link my way will you?

	11-06-2002 22:43									#13
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

http://apolyton.net/smac/

	12-06-2002 06:51									#14
	Got spare money?

Öhhh, it seems I did have v4.0 anyway. I updated so long ago I thought a new patch must have gone out. Do they make new patches anymore?

	12-06-2002 11:25									#15
	Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Originally posted by Ade Öhhh, it seems I did have v4.0 anyway. I updated so long ago I thought a new patch must have gone out. Do they make new patches anymore?

Not for at least two years.

	13-06-2002 22:37									#16
	Suffering from ads?

I know that I should not automate formers. I just wanted to see what they do on automation. My problem is that I believe the cpu players use the same logic for their formers. So, when you get to the mid/late game, it's much easier to get ahead. However, there's not a whole that can be done about that. BTW, thanks for your responses!

	18-06-2002 13:52									#17
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Well I never automatic my former of use auto built units as I
found that autobuilt make units I never use or didnot need.