How do you use fuel tankers?

[Paddy]

Hey guys I was wondering for what purpose do you use fuel tankers in this game. I was thinking of putting one in a fleet but it wouldn't get much use as my ships have plenty of places to refill. How do you guys use them?

[kirsaf]

In the last game I stopped using fuel tankers completely. I had previously tried to use a couple of them as part of the fleet, but they flew anywhere but with the fleet. Then I tried separating them into a separate fleet, but that turned out to be a bad idea as well. Keeping them separate from the fleet was also inconvenient, as I periodically review and send any abandoned or captured ships for disassembly.

It also turned out to be a bad idea to put a mine engine and remote fuel transfer on the dreadnoughts. They have to be managed manually, each ship has to be given mine and refueling assignments, there is no overall command for the fleet as a whole. It's micromanagement hell. I haven't tested the power-to-fuel converter yet, maybe it will solve the refueling problem.

[Wrdup]

They do work as long as you have the tankers set to fully auto in a fleet you want to control manually, however I have found that you need many more than you think assigned to each fleet, I cannot say definitively what the ratio should be but try 1/4 or 5 ratio, also consider redesigning then so that they have a very high range value to aid travel to and from fuel sources as if they are no close sources this also impacts on refuelling rates for your fleets, obviously always make sure you secure the enemy fuel sources as your fleets advance your borders. Always station your fleets at these planets/stars or your fuel mining stations when not active so they will refuel faster.

[starbuck310]

I leave mine fully auto hasnt been a problem, they've filled up attacking fleets at the attack location. Ive not put any in fleets havent needed to.

[Mnemon]

Attack fleets, you can station them somewhere far away in preparation for attack and the ships get/stay fuelled without scattering to find refuelling stations/indie planets.

Also got "free" ones to fuel any ships that manage to run out of fuel and would get stranded/have to slowboat to refuel otherwise.

[kirsaf]

Power-to-fuel converter just doesn't work. I put it on the ship. Stopped it near a star so it would stand still. Checked that there is a surplus of energy harvesting over static consumption. And it doesn't work, it just doesn't work. The amount of fuel stays the same.

[starbuck310]

The other thing I do is main fleet blockades. Small fleet takes a mining station. Refuel from that.