Do anchorages suck?

[laagamer]

I don't see how they're worth it.

You only get 4 slots, so like what a destroyer?

And you need starbases to protect your borders. They're the first thing to attacked. Then you lose any gain you have, and suddenly you're over capacity.

Am I missing something? Why should I be using these?

[RalphRoberts]

you get 36 naval capacity from a fully upgraded anchorage starbase. With Starbase caps often going into the mid twenties by late-game, you can rack up a *lot* of extra naval capacity this way, especially when combined with naval capacity % boosts (such as the supremacy tree).

[laagamer]

Originally posted by RalphRoberts:

you get 36 naval capacity from a fully upgraded anchorage starbase. With Starbase caps often going into the mid twenties by late-game, you can rack up a *lot* of extra naval capacity this way, especially when combined with naval capacity % boosts (such as the supremacy tree).

Ah, I see. Thank you.

I only see an anchorage upgrade (+4) and a naval capacity upgrade (+2) for a total of 6 added naval capacity.

How do you get the larger upgrades? I'm currently upgraded to starholds.

[Meewec]

it's 4 per anchorage and then there's a starbase building that adds another 2 per anchorage so a full anchorage starbase adds 36 naval capacity.

you build defensive starbases in chokepoints at or near your border, build what trade related starbases you may need depending upon if you're collecting trade value or not, build at least one specialized shipyard starbase and then anything extra in your starbase capacity should just be dedicated anchorages. i tend to stick them on black holes so i can build the black hole observatory for extra science, stick them in enclave systems if they have an extra building they can let you build on the starbase and then i'll stick them in out of the way systems.

[laagamer]

Originally posted by Meewec:

it's 4 per anchorage and then there's a starbase building that adds another 2 per anchorage so a full anchorage starbase adds 36 naval capacity.

you build defensive starbases in chokepoints at or near your border, build what trade related starbases you may need depending upon if you're collecting trade value or not, build at least one specialized shipyard starbase and then anything extra in your starbase capacity should just be dedicated anchorages. i tend to stick them on black holes so i can build the black hole observatory for extra science, stick them in enclave systems if they have an extra building they can let you build on the starbase and then i'll stick them in out of the way systems.

Interesting. Thank you. Restacking with anchorages added probably 90+ fleet capacity. I'm at about 2350 and I've got a capacity of about 336 with a total fleet power around 25k and rising.

[Zorlond]

Frankly, I think having better designed/tech'ed ships is vastly superior to having more of them.

[laagamer]

Originally posted by Zorlond:

Frankly, I think having better designed/tech'ed ships is vastly superior to having more of them.

Very interesting. How do you design yours?

[Meewec]

Originally posted by Zorlond:

Frankly, I think having better designed/tech'ed ships is vastly superior to having more of them.

but why not do both?

[laagamer]

Well, heck. Even with a full fleet of upgraded anchorages, because I'm DE, 2 organic allied factions just declared war on me and attacked me with a combined fleet power of like 4x mine. So much for that run.

[ScreamCon]

One strategy you can employ is trying to expand as much as possible. Since number of stars directly relates to how many starbases you get the more of them you have the more fleet capacity you can effectively have.

What I like to do is cluster most of the starbase near the capital and have 1 or 2 spread at strategic points to station ships, build/upgrade them.

Originally posted by laagamer:

Well, heck. Even with a full fleet of upgraded anchorages, because I'm DE, 2 organic allied factions just declared war on me and attacked me with a combined fleet power of like 4x mine. So much for that run.

Yea you get noticed more by playing more diplomatically violent factions. Try scaling difficulty if your not already using it.

[mss73055]

Maintaining starbases is the issue. I got 20, sometimes 40.

There is no next button.
I'm not ice mining because of starbase maintenance.
There is no map showing fighterbase coverage.

[CrUsHeR]

Past 2300, your economy should also skyrocket through technology. Build a Dyson Sphere and Matter Decompressor, refit some mining planets to alloys or other jobs, you'll have so much energy that you can exceed the starbase and fleet caps significantly. And enough alloys to keep buildings fleets.

Also keep in mind that your naval capacity boosts get further multiplied. No matter which type of empire, you should always have the Supremacy traditions and the Strategic Coordination Center.

Then there is the federation fleet - while the fleet policy reduces your naval cap, you get a permanent federation fleet in return which is always much larger than anything you can build yourself. And if there are losses, your AI allies will instantly rebuild all ships for you.