Automating Formers

[LodeRunner]

I'm not sure if this has been brought up before, but I'll ask anyway. I've noticed that when you automate formers, towards the middle to latter stages of the game, they just don't do anything. I'm sure that most of you don't use this feature, but the problem is that I think the computer players use the same logic and this "bug" prevents them from terraforming. At first I thought perhaps it was when you could upgrade to fungicidal formers. These units just don't seem to want to do anything besides remove fungus (especiall sea formers, who go half-way across the globe to remove fungus that isn't even near one of your bases). So, I downgraded my fungicidal formers and just made them regular again. This however, doesn't appear to work either. I retired all my other formers and built a new one. It laid down a soil enricher, then quit. It wouldn't even make mag tubes. In my current game, I've made to this stage and the cpu players don't have a chance. Nearly all of them have more bases and more territory, but I have a higher population and much better infastructure, therefore I'm outresearching them by quite a bit.

[Fitz]

Double check your automation instructions. You may have turned off most of the options a while ago, then they carried over to your current games. Happened to me before.

[Blake]

Actually I think Automated formers are just plain broken. I recall an IP game where the inexperienced player I was playing against automated all his sea formers and all they ever did was clear fungus. (and lets just say he was a few cans short of a sixpack and continued to automate new formers despite the fact they obviously werent doing anything....)

In short either don't automate formers or give them very specific instructions (eg build road to, build tube to etc) for sea formers use auto improve home base which tends to work a bit better.

[Fitz]

I frequently automate sea formers and sometimes land as well, and I rarely have problems other than their stupid choices of what to build.

Obviously I only do this when things are getting too slow.

[Tactical Marine]

Mine will never build mag tubes.. the option never shows up the "build mag tube to" just stays grey...

[Mongoose]

Originally posted by Tactical Marine
Mine will never build mag tubes.. the option never shows up the "build mag tube to" just stays grey...

It needs the Monopole Magents tech. You had that?

[Jethro83]

Of course, I don't use worker/former automation in any civ game. It just doesn't work for me. I have my own styles of infrastructure, and the AI just can't get it right.

It may be frustrating, but its still for the best interests of my faction.

[Anodyne]

I always automate them. Controlling them yourself is just too slow for me... but I haven't had these problems.

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Tactical Marine
Mine will never build mag tubes.. the option never shows up the "build mag tube to" just stays grey...

Sounds like you need to install the v 3.0 patch. here's an excerpt from the readme file (my bolding):

FIXES
• Planetary Governor now have packet sniffer access to all factions.
• Dead factions no longer prevent a Planetary Governor veto.
• "O" w/ supply crawlers now let you add to production.
• The menu option for Automate Mag-Tubes now un-greys.
• Square detail readout is now always correct.
• Rovers can no longer retreat from combat onto a unity pod.
etc etc

G.

[Anodyne]

v3.0? When did it come? Hmh, I don't remember my version. Too lazy to check on my other computer ( this one doesn't have SMAC )

[Chowlett]

Multiple ages ago. We're up to SMAC v4.0, SMACX v2.0 now.

[Tactical Marine]

Thanks! Point a link my way will you?

[Mongoose]

http://apolyton.net/smac/

[Anodyne]

Öhhh, it seems I did have v4.0 anyway. I updated so long ago I thought a new patch must have gone out. Do they make new patches anymore?

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Ade
Öhhh, it seems I did have v4.0 anyway. I updated so long ago I thought a new patch must have gone out. Do they make new patches anymore?

Not for at least two years.