Starbase Fighter/Bombers

from Sins Forums

Does anyone else find the treatment of Starbase Fighter/Bombers slightly inconsistent and confusing in the way they are shown on the left hand side of planets when zoomed out?

Fighter/Bombers from hangers aren't shown in that way, and often with lots going on, I zoom right out and glance across everything looking for ships I haven't assigned. I end up constantly checking planets that have Fighter/Bombers attached to StarBases.

One other similar issue is that I don't rerember planets having flashing red circles around them when enemy scouts were present as they do now. Is that a change or did I miss it before. Either way again I don't find it helpful, since in my quick glance at the strategic situaiton I have to go and check if it's just a scout.

2,455 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

I think planets always flashed as long as there was a hostile unit. I actually liked the old flashes better since they went around the bars on sides. Now if you zoom out enough and have a light skybox, it's kinda hard to see the flashing since it's just in the tiny space between the planet and the bars.

The starbase thing I'm iffy on. On one hand, if you have it on defense it makes sense that its fighters shouldn't show on the side bar, like hangars. But on the other hand, if you have it on offense you'd probably want them there so you can select them along with carrier strikecraft.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

While it is inconsistent, I actually like it.  It's a very easy way to remember which systems have starbases and which don't; the starbase systems stand out this way.  My bigger complaint is that with hangar defenses you can select the fighter/bomber makeup BEFORE the hangar is built (i.e., do it when you queue the building), but with starbases you have to wait until after the hangar upgrade is complete before selecting.  It's annoying to have to go back through each base's system to make sure I remembered to allocate its strike craft, and on more than one occasion I had a starbase fight off an enemy fleet with the strike craft unallocated.

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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Spatzimaus, reply 2
While it is inconsistent, I actually like it.  It's a very easy way to remember which systems have starbases and which don't; the starbase systems stand out this way.
End of Spatzimaus's quote

Perhaps for you, but not for me. That's because I don't build Hangars on every Starbase. Hence, when I see them the marks in the left bar, I know it is either a starbase or some ships I have forgotten or have ended up there somehow or another and I go to the system anyway.

I'd love a simple icon denoting a starbase for every system in which a starbase has been observed. It is the sort of structure that is definitely worth noticing on the strategic level of zooming.

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Peter, reply 3
I'd love a simple icon denoting a starbase for every system in which a starbase has been observed. It is the sort of structure that is definitely worth noticing on the strategic level of zooming.
End of Peter's quote

Absolutely, I'd love a dedicated icon of some kind for starbases.  Put them at the top of the "ship" bars on the left and right, for instance, with a distinct color...

And I don't build hangars on most of my bases any more.  I did at first, but even at 4 squadrons per slot, it's just not worth it when compared to the weapon/health upgrades, deflector shields, etc., all of which have far greater utility.  (Of course, I play Vasari; the TEC and Advent players might have more need for something that can reach out and hit a scout trying to sneak around the edge of the well).