Just getting started and I had a question about outposts

[Dupmeister]

Hi there. So I just got started with this game and I am having a little trouble getting used to all of the information this game throws at you. There are so many moving parts and since it is not turn based, I feel a little stressed trying to figure things out on time.

So my question is related to growing my empire, I have figured out how to survey systems and I currently have my home colony, I see a few habitable worlds but I see tons of systems with no habitable worlds but lots of resources. I want access to those resources but I am unsure how to go about it. Do I need to set up a frontier outpost in each system in order to build mining and research stations there? Or can I send my construction ships into the surrounding systems and build mining stations without having to build an outpost?

If you can build mining stations without Frontier outposts then what is the best use for Frontier outposts?

I am sure I will have tons more to ask but that was my initial challenge within the first few hours of the game.

[HugsAndSnuggles]

Outposts simply extend your borders (a circle, roughly 2/3 of the one around home world). Most of the stations you can only build within your borders, so outpost will usually give you several systems (if placed right). Since outposts need maintenance, it's usually better to colonize a planet than build an outpost.

[Alugere]

You can build mines and research stations on anything within your borders as denoted by your color on the galaxy map. Frontier outposts extend you borders as if you controlled a 1 pop world in the system where the outpost is.

Also, since frontier outposts have an influence outpost and the maximum influence gain you can get even when you have your factions enamoured with you is ~6-7, you should not rely on outposts for your expansion needs.They are best used to claim systems of interest (With rare strategic resources) or ones with worlds you plan on colonizing later (So that you can dismantle the outpost once colonization has completed.

Also, if you are a new player, I'd suggest turning off advanced AIs (They get a head start on you) and Fallen Empires (Hyper-advanced fallen civilizations that no longer expand, but will kick your face in if you piss them off). Many new players have difficulties with those two.

[Dupmeister]

thank you both for the great info. I am very glad to hear that I don’t need outposts in every system. There are several systems that have like 6 and 8 mineral scores so I was jumping at the chance to set up mining stations. For my first game I selected Huge galaxy and only 1 AI although I did give the AI advanced start, I figured with a huge galaxy and only two of us, we should have time to expand before we bump into each other. I am playing the commonwealth of Man and selected the United Nations as the AI, so for RP purposes I felt like they should have a bit of a head start.
and I did throw a fallen empire in there just for a wild card, Again I am counting on the massive size and low density of the galaxy to give me time to get on my feet before things get real.

[Dupmeister]

Is there a way to set my science ships up to automatically survey any planets within my borders?

[Isokon]

Originally posted by dupmeister:

Is there a way to set my science ships up to automatically survey any planets within my borders?

You can research a technology that will allow you to set them to automatic exploration, though this will not limit them to just within your borders.
If you hold shift you can chain several commands that your ships will follow, so if you do that and right click -> survey every system within your borders with the science ship selected it will survey them one after the other without you having to issue a new command after every system.

[Dupmeister]

That will do! thanks.

[Lelo Mariin]

Or get the autosurvey from start mod. I never playwithout it. It is such a pita to keep telling my science vessel to explore.

[Old Raven]

If you feel stressed out, you can pause the game at any time (press space or the play button to the top right). It's also possible to increase game speed with + or reduce it with -.

In general there will probably be a lot of systems with resources that you can't access, frontier outposts cost monthly influence and influence to build, so keeping more than two or three up is tough until you got the appropriate techs.
Once you got them you are usually so big that a few additional systems will barely affect your production and the influence is often better spent in edicts like grand fleet or state edicts like government attraction on conquered planets. So while they can kickstart your empire a bit, outposts in mid to later stages become more about accessing key-points like a planet you want to terraform or a strategic resource.

[cooltv27]

Originally posted by Isokon:

You can research a technology that will allow you to set them to automatic exploration, though this will not limit them to just within your borders.

auto survery will prioritize planets in your territory first though. it wont survey stuff outside your borders unless everything in your borders has been surveyed