Boost cost of outposts and platforms

[MadK]

I cant for the life of me understand how the game calculates the boost cost of creating new outposts or platforms. Ive restarted the game several times and it always gives me wildly different boost cots.

My goal is to rush Mars and control it completely. I know having a platform with a construction module in orbit would drive the cost down. But what about a platform alone? or with just docks, in orbit around Mars? or around Luna? Why do I keep getting such different numbers?

For example: in my current game, it takes 9 boost to build an outpost in Luna. In my last game, an outpost in Mars was only 6 boost.

[Toblm]

Boost represents the cost of getting material from Earth to *place*
The more materials are made in space, the less you need to ship from Earth. The lower the Boost cost. Construction Modules are going to do good things to construction time, dont think it does much for construction cost, and if you have to boost everything from Earth anyway...

Mars Rush really looks like:
Moon rush -> one, maybe two, good lunar mine(s) -> Mars.

[martyr]

1 Unit of Resources takes 1 Boost to get to LEO. Then takes more boost to get to other areas. Did you have resources in space (which don't cost boost) to build on Mars?

[DeciNinja]

There are techs that greatly reduce the boost cost of sending things beyond low earth orbit. Launch windows also matter; it's cheaper to send things to other planets at certain times.

[CarboniteIV]

Why is your boost changing? Literally any of dozens of reasons. One of your orgs is stolen, rocket tech may be at a different level, how far away your construction hubs are, what 'launch window' are you using? Is Earth close to where you're sending things, or is it on the other side of the system? Which parts of your outpost are you sending at what time, and in what order? You would really have to dig in to find out, but there is a reason.

I think the thing most people don't realize, and the thing I love in this game, is that there are so many systems interacting that there is never any strategy that works all the time. Everything affects everything else, and this vast system means you need to always be checking everything if you want to min/max (which I don't advise). I recommend playing creatively and remembering that you will fail at certain things.

Destabilize and capitalize. When I focus on that, I have fun, rollercoaster games with awesome stories.

[Synopse]

Originally posted by MadK:

For example: in my current game, it takes 9 boost to build an outpost in Luna. In my last game, an outpost in Mars was only 6 boost.

Its the laws of physics. There are so many reason why boost can change.

[MadK]

As I said in the question, were talking about platforms and outposts. You need to have THOSE FIRST, before you can build the construction module. So the answer to this question is NOT "construction module go brrr" -_-'

Also, has nobody really noticed that the launch window has no effect on Mars? no matter if its 0% or 50% for me, it asks the same boost.

The only thing ive been able to verify that EFFECTIVELY changes the boost cost is one of the techs, nuclear rockets i believe. But by itself it doesnt explain the entirety of the boost cost changes.

[Synopse]

Originally posted by MadK:

Also, has nobody really noticed that the launch window has no effect on Mars? no matter if its 0% or 50% for me, it asks the same boost.

That shouldn't be the case. Actually that is a reason why boost can vary.
https://hoodedhorse.com/wiki/Terra_Invicta/Beginner%27s_Guide#Your_First_Mine (check the last setence of the textbox below the image on the left).
I observed this too.

Maybe there is a bug in your game or you have to look again.

[76561198859928956]

I would add that locking down mars (or any planet) is not a great idea. There are so many potential mining sites that claiming bad ones is essentially a waste of MC.

Hypothetically, you could lock the AI out of space for a bit by locking down luna and mars, but by doing so you're only really making things more boring for yourself.

[db48x]

If your Moon mine produces everything except water, then the boost cost for a mine on Mars will need to include the cost of boosting water to Mars, but not metals and so on.

It would be nice if there were a cost breakdown in the UI.