Lalande - trouble building transporter

[lorifromsf]

I am having trouble with my colonist/environeer units building transporters. When I get the required advance to build the various transporters I am able to build them, but at some (unknown) point I lose the ability to build them. This has happened in the last 2 games. Some of my environeer units show the command but it is grayed out, some don't even show the command. In the most recent game I was able to build SSTO pads but no others - this was quite far on in the game and I was already settling Nona and had built several gravitic grids. In the second game I was able to build enough portals that it was only an annoyance, but the first I actually quit.

The 1.1 patch has been installed. I did try looking at the rules.txt file. I can tell where the property is (advanced unit field D), but I can't tell what, if anything, needs to be changed.

From what I could tell the other civs continued to build transporters. However only alien civs were left by the time the problem occured.

Has anybody else run across this problem?

This is my first post here. I have been playing TOT for a year. I do not own and have never played the original CivII. I am playing at the King level.

[DaveP]

I'm sure you already though of this, but just in case you didn't:

a. Is there passable terrain at the matching spot on the target world?

b. Is there a city or unit at the matching spot on the target world?

Either of these would prevent building a transporter to that world on that site, but as I said I'm sure you know that. I just can't think of anything else it could be.

I have to admit, I don't usually concern myself much with the other worlds except for taking out the Ha-Gibborim on Nona. By the time I get a shuttle built I already have a well-developed base, founding and developing additional cities just detracts from my focus on achieving EarthGate.

Dave

[lorifromsf]

In answer to your questions, a)yes and b)no. I have altered the environeers abilities and am extensively cheating to see whether they lose the ability. It doesn't happen until after gravitic grids. Actually, the Colonists sometimes lose the ability to build SSTO pads, but since I develop Environeers soon after (and I usually have the wonder that updates everything) it's unclear what's going on.

BTW, you're missing a lot by not playing on 4 levels. Orbit is a bit difficult to settle - you have to choose the right location - it's a bit low on food, but it's got a lot more shields. Naumachia at the poles is incredibly rich - I get cities with over 200 shields and a population over 25. Nona is very high in food and fairly high in shields, all you need to do it put in roads and irrigate one or two squares. Plus, if you're fighting a war it can be quite devestating if you have a site that's over an enemy's territory on another level. With railroads and transporters, units can be moved with no cost.

The more I play, the more I use the multiple levels. My overriding goal is to get off the planet.