I remember much of the original manual for BOTF but I cannot find my old copy of it. Is it anywhere online? I remember how to build an outpost with the troop transport but what do you do to make it a starbase? Trade routs do not seam to show up to be pulled to other systems. I got an in game announcement about having enough population to support a trade rout but did not see anything to set it up with from the home world. Do you know what I am talking about? Do I know what I am talking about? If sound does not travel in a vacuum why are vacuum cleaners so damn noise?


Electrolux about 1952

Lol a strange mix of questions there! I always thought vaccums were noisy because the hamsters that powered them had to run so fast to generate enough suction...



...

Reading the other guys posts, it sounds like i'm lucky. I bought BOTF from Electronics Boutique (They're now known simply as Game) seven years ago when BOTF first came out - and i've still got the original box, manual, CD, and Jewel Case that came with BOTF.

I'd scan the manual for you but my scanner is buggered at the moment.

Ah well, it's easy enough to explain what you need to do, anyway. As Winterhawk said, you need to reach a certain tech level before you can build Starbases. This tech level is different for the each of the individual races, but for the Federation, it's Biotech 5, Energy 6, Computers 6, Propulsion 6, Construction 4, and Weapons 5.

You can check these levels yourself by right-clicking to bring up the mini-menu, clicking on the science button, (Top-left icon) clicking object database (Bottom-right button) and then clicking on the Ships button. (Top-right)

Scroll down through the list until you see the Starbase. (Or any other object you want to look at) Click on it to view the database entry for that object. The technologies that you need before you can build that object are shown at the bottom of the screen.

As you can see on the object database screen, (And as Winterhawk mentioned) Starbases can be upgraded - indeed, ALL ships and stations can be upgraded. Your ships/stations will be upgraded automatically and for free on the turn that you meet all the technology requirements for the upgraded ship/station.

...

As you know, Outposts are built by sending a Troop Transport to the sector/system that you want to build the Outpost in, and then telling the Troop Transport to build an Outpost. After a number of turns, you lose the Troop Transport, and you have an Outpost in its place. The build process is speeded if you have 2 or more Troop Transports.

To build a Starbase, you have to first build an Outpost in the sector/system. You CANNOT build a Starbase from scratch. You also need a second Troop Transport and the right tech level to build one.

The build process is exactly the same as with an Outpost, except the build button will say "Build Starbase" rather than "Build Outpost". Again, having multiple Troop Transports will speed up the construction time. Once complete, you will lose the Outpost and gain a Starbase in its place.

...

As for the trade routes, there are different views that you can apply to the map. These views let you see different pieces of information, such as system names, system bonuses, the current construction projects in your systems, your current ship courses, your ship ranges, your system defenses, system population levels, the territories of the different races, and...trade routes.

You can choose which overlays are shown by clicking on the overlays button. The shaded buttons are the overlays that are not turned on. If the trade routes button is shaded, then you will not see any trade routes even if you have set some up. Click it to turn it on (Or if it's already on, click it to turn it off)

To set up a trade route, you need to meet certain requirements. Firstly, you need a certain level of population. Off the top of my head, I think you need 150 population in your system before you can set up a trade route, and it's an additional 100 population per extra trade route after that.

The second requirement is that you have a trade agreement (Or better) with the race that owns the system that you wish to trade with - you CANNOT trade with a system that you already own!

The only exception to this is the Ferengi - they can set up a trade route with any system they encounter (Except those controlled by themselves) - regardless of whether they have any treaties with that race or not. They can even trade with systems that they are at war with!

...

I hope this answers your questions. If you have any more, feel free to ask.

I have the PDF manual for BOTF, cant remember where i downloaded it from.
Is there anyway i can upload it?

edit: i uploaded it to filesend. here is the link.
http://www.filesend.net/download.php?f= ... 813575d864
If it violates some rules to post it up, please delete the link.

I think it's also available for download from the armadafleetcommand website somewhere (parent website to here).

Good thinking Azhdeen...and yes, it is available on the parent site.

To download it, you need to be logged into the site first. The manual is then in the Downloads -> Tools section. It's the second download link in the list.

I'd give you the link to it, but there's no point coz you can't even view the downloads area without logging in first.

Thanks Everyone. Now I understand. Vacuum cleaners suck.

I see what you mean. The manual is a 152 page definitive tome. The good news is that you get 10 semester credits at Starfleet Academy for reading it.

PS: never explain a joke. That sucks.