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Author Topic:   Supply Crawler bug???

Dave Dunlop posted 06-16-99 03:03 PM ET
When I send a supply crawler outside the city limits to a square containing a resource, I then hit 'O' and the crawler displays a message indicating how much of what resource is available in 1 year. In a specific example, it indicated that 4 minerals / year would be harvested. I selected minerals and the crawler, displaying an 'O' on its flag has sat there for many years never once returning any minerals to its base. In fact, in my current game there are 6 crawlers from various cities situated at various sites and none of them has ever returned anything!!! Also, it doesn't seem to matter if I automate them. The same thing happens - nothing!
Has anyone else experienced this or am I doing something wrong?
Please advise,
thanks,
Dave

Mongoose posted 06-17-99 01:31 AM ET
Dave,
I think you misunderstand how crawlers work. The unit does not move subsequent to being given the O order.
If you look in the base screen, in the lower right corner where the units supported by the base are shown, you will see an icon of the crawler with tiny representations of what it is convoying shown under it. These nutrients, minerals or energy, whichever applies to the crawler in question, are added to the base production. Test it in one of two ways.
1)set the crawler to convoy, go to the base screen and write down the raw production shown for the base (N,M,E) then go back to the crawler and cancel orders. Return to he base screen, the raw production will be different by the amount of the convoy. ( Raw means before adjustment for base improvments or inefficiency)
2) Add all the production for the base tiles being worked (shown in the base screen, resource mode) Compare it to the raw production as above. You will find you need the crawler's input to make the totals match.
If this doesn't work as I have described, you do indeed have a problem. It works for me, though.
Knight_Errant posted 06-17-99 12:58 PM ET
I thought the crawlers were not working as well the first time I used one to convoy. I then looked at the city and found the little icon of the crawler and 6 shields next to it. 6 being the number of minerals I was transporting from a moho mine.
Knight_Errant posted 06-17-99 12:59 PM ET
Crawler supplies are great, one thing though is they are vulnerable to attack when at war since they just sit there. A real pain if you are depending on the resources of that convoy to keep a city running.
Eris posted 06-17-99 04:30 PM ET
That's what rover supply crawlers with armor and good reactors are for. Add trance to protect against those pesky mindworms.
I also armor my formers sometimes, too. Yang must've lost at least a dozen planes trying to take my formers out.
Rackam posted 06-18-99 10:55 AM ET
If you have the tech, psi armour works great on formers. I found that worms and locusts liked to go after my formers even if a infantry/hovertank was just as close.
~Rackam
Dave Dunlop posted 06-19-99 07:15 AM ET
Mongoose had it right! I ran the tests as he suggested and found that, indeed, there were additional resources coming from the crawlers. My thanks to Mongoose and all others who replied to my message.
P.S. Why doesn't the manual or on-line help explain this supply crawler operation?
regards,
Dave
Gulledge posted 06-23-99 12:08 AM ET
I like to put the supply module on a skimship chassis and use them at sea. If you use them for the city with the merchant exhange, then they return 7 energy units per turn when on a sunburst with the riptide thing-a-gig. Land crawler are also good for single resource squares within a city's boundaries. Put a condenser and a farm on a nutrient bonus and collect 7 per turn. Us workers for multi-resource squares.
Vytae Hain posted 06-28-99 04:40 PM ET
Hi all,
Although your use of supply crawlers is interesting, I prefer using them to speed up production of Secret Projects. This works wonders when I have many bases around a hub city since I can get an average of 3 convoys per turn to speed up construction.
Why can't use this option in multiplayer games even though it works very well in single player?
Any help would be appreciated,
sandworm posted 06-30-99 09:27 AM ET
the manuals are sent of to the printer long before a game is actually finished so they'll be ready as soon as the game is done
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Author	Topic: Supply Crawler bug???
Dave Dunlop	posted 06-16-99 03:03 PM ET When I send a supply crawler outside the city limits to a square containing a resource, I then hit 'O' and the crawler displays a message indicating how much of what resource is available in 1 year. In a specific example, it indicated that 4 minerals / year would be harvested. I selected minerals and the crawler, displaying an 'O' on its flag has sat there for many years never once returning any minerals to its base. In fact, in my current game there are 6 crawlers from various cities situated at various sites and none of them has ever returned anything!!! Also, it doesn't seem to matter if I automate them. The same thing happens - nothing! Has anyone else experienced this or am I doing something wrong? Please advise, thanks, Dave
Mongoose	posted 06-17-99 01:31 AM ET Dave, I think you misunderstand how crawlers work. The unit does not move subsequent to being given the O order. If you look in the base screen, in the lower right corner where the units supported by the base are shown, you will see an icon of the crawler with tiny representations of what it is convoying shown under it. These nutrients, minerals or energy, whichever applies to the crawler in question, are added to the base production. Test it in one of two ways. 1)set the crawler to convoy, go to the base screen and write down the raw production shown for the base (N,M,E) then go back to the crawler and cancel orders. Return to he base screen, the raw production will be different by the amount of the convoy. ( Raw means before adjustment for base improvments or inefficiency) 2) Add all the production for the base tiles being worked (shown in the base screen, resource mode) Compare it to the raw production as above. You will find you need the crawler's input to make the totals match. If this doesn't work as I have described, you do indeed have a problem. It works for me, though.
Knight_Errant	posted 06-17-99 12:58 PM ET I thought the crawlers were not working as well the first time I used one to convoy. I then looked at the city and found the little icon of the crawler and 6 shields next to it. 6 being the number of minerals I was transporting from a moho mine.
Knight_Errant	posted 06-17-99 12:59 PM ET Crawler supplies are great, one thing though is they are vulnerable to attack when at war since they just sit there. A real pain if you are depending on the resources of that convoy to keep a city running.
Eris	posted 06-17-99 04:30 PM ET That's what rover supply crawlers with armor and good reactors are for. Add trance to protect against those pesky mindworms. I also armor my formers sometimes, too. Yang must've lost at least a dozen planes trying to take my formers out.
Rackam	posted 06-18-99 10:55 AM ET If you have the tech, psi armour works great on formers. I found that worms and locusts liked to go after my formers even if a infantry/hovertank was just as close. ~Rackam
Dave Dunlop	posted 06-19-99 07:15 AM ET Mongoose had it right! I ran the tests as he suggested and found that, indeed, there were additional resources coming from the crawlers. My thanks to Mongoose and all others who replied to my message. P.S. Why doesn't the manual or on-line help explain this supply crawler operation? regards, Dave
Gulledge	posted 06-23-99 12:08 AM ET I like to put the supply module on a skimship chassis and use them at sea. If you use them for the city with the merchant exhange, then they return 7 energy units per turn when on a sunburst with the riptide thing-a-gig. Land crawler are also good for single resource squares within a city's boundaries. Put a condenser and a farm on a nutrient bonus and collect 7 per turn. Us workers for multi-resource squares.
Vytae Hain	posted 06-28-99 04:40 PM ET Hi all, Although your use of supply crawlers is interesting, I prefer using them to speed up production of Secret Projects. This works wonders when I have many bases around a hub city since I can get an average of 3 convoys per turn to speed up construction. Why can't use this option in multiplayer games even though it works very well in single player? Any help would be appreciated,
sandworm	posted 06-30-99 09:27 AM ET the manuals are sent of to the printer long before a game is actually finished so they'll be ready as soon as the game is done