Are construction ships unnecessary?

[Astax]

I'd like a way to more readily construct new outposts (maybe from fleet or science ship? or just automatically?), and then have the autpost automatically create a constructor to build a mine/research station,b ut only for cosmetic purposes. And have the constructor go back to the the outpost when done.

 

[Doomjoon]

Hm, I found them to be an interesting strategic consideration. You have to protect them and take care of them, you have to invest time and resources into them if you want to have many (although this quickly gets irrelevant), you have to consider their positioning if you want to build quickly and efficiently (especially if you want to get to a system before another empire).

I get and do agree that it can be a bit of tedious micro but for me they definitely bring more fun than not.

 

[SpectralShade]

i usually manage with 2 or 3 construction ships throughout a game, regardless of the size of my empire.
As is, they are largely irrelevant.

engineering leaders for construction ships that could supply various buffs, as well as letting construction ships speed up building improvemenents/upgrades to starbases would make them alot more interesting.

I can imagine having the above with an engineer that let you rebuild destroyed defence platforms automatically for a discount might actually give people a reason to have a construction ship at a border system while also be an incentive to bother building defence platforms.

 

[MichaelJanuary]

I like the constructor implementation early game.

However I do agree that their purpose and utility drops by the time you get to mid game and they just end up being parked somewhere or disbanded. Except for mega projects ofc.

Science ships at least get the 'assist research' option. I would like to see constructors get a similar function. That you can 'assist construction' on a planet and get a build speed bonus or something.

To limit spam it would make sense to have an engineer leader.

I would take it further and say we shouldn't have governors at all. Rather, you should appoint a scientist, engineer, admiral, or general to govern a sector, or become your ruler, and this choice would result in appropriate sector buffs or debuffs.

 

[metalosse]

I like the idea of replacing them.

It doesn't have to be automatic, but it requires a whole new starbase manager and UI.

 

[Flame13223]

I dunno, I like having construction ships as they limit how fast you can build mining stations or expand your territory, those seeking to do things quicker will invest in another one but you can also optimize the order in which you expand to be quicker and not have to use multiple ships. They're an investment and I think there's some potential in microing them which I like. Makes you plan things out a bit more.