[X3] Guide to training CAG and CLS1&2 pilots

[Kor'ah]

If you don't need an army of the little buggers the training factory/complex does just fine. I trained them like that for the longest time.

The key advantage of the racetrack method is that it can train more at once faster than any complex can. The credits you loseing out on omiting the training factory/complex is more than made up for haveing those high profit complexes running sooner with fully trained pilots.

[Carlo the Curious]

I actually do something similar to MadKelt - I have an LT/SQUASH complex in the same sector as my power complex (so jump drive capability doesn't really matter).

When I lose a CAG or CLS I swap the LT complex CLS1 over to replace it and buy a new one to work out of the power complex.

Since my game is at the stage where I don't often need new CAGs/CLSs, it works quite well. If I had to do it all again though I'd probably set up a training route as suggested.

[MadKelt]

I see your point -

I guess with me I tend to build in between blowing stuff up/shooting things - so my little training buddies are usually qualified by the time I get round to finding them real work - and it's a question of preference (I trashed my empire and started again when the modified "bug" hit me through the bonus pack glitch - oh the pain!!) - I was going to make some comment about realism in the game but that's just laughable! I fly the Hyperion!
Anyhoo wasn't meant as criticism merely an alternative.

[jlehtone]

Training a CAG in factory needs a bit of the 'Think'. If you start a new ship on a new empty factory, there is good chance that it advances one level before the resource stocks are full. Tech factories are better than Food, which are better than Bio/Mine, since they need more resources. SPP might be one of the worst.

Once the factory is already running steadily, a single Apprentice does not have enough work to train up quickly. You need another ship, that does only the selling. That keeps the resource stocks empty and trainee busy. But now the Tech fabs may no longer be ideal, as they may have limited market for their product. At least the weapon types do. Anything that sells as secondary sounds like a good school.

But there is another way. A bit more expensive to set up, but pays itself: traditional self-sufficient loop. Standalone SPP, Mine, Crystal array, and Bio-Food production line. An Apprentice CLS Mk1 can haul ECells from SPP to all three consumers. More trainees haul Silicon, Food, and Crystals. Or you can train CAG directly. Same as training on one factory, but with guarantee of market to exist. What you do with surplus energy is your profitsss.

A non-Apprentice CLS Mk2 on training route demands wage. That is worse than running around without making profitss, isn't it? But Apprentice remains a "free slave" if he cannot attend courses. And anyone with over ten flying hours can pass the Freight Pilot driving exam without any prior study sessions. A compromise perhaps even more cringy than either of the honest alternatives?

[karl_1_marx]

Same problem with self-supporting complexes. So, yes, I'll still use it.

[MadKelt]

[jlehtone]

[MadKelt]

[karl_1_marx]

Your Excel sheet probably comes from a complex calculator. Then it's meant for _player_ factories. Those don't need secondaries. _AI_ factories do, and I've yet to find a spreadsheet listing those demands. Read: If you have one, please drop a link...


Cheers

KarMa

[MadKelt]

[jlehtone]

Karl, how about that Seizewell.de table? (Couple suspicious looking entries in it, but ...)

[karl_1_marx]

MadKelt, thanks for the link!

[blackfirefox]

What exactly in NEWB terms is a CAG CLS pilot? I mean I have a ST just started out, what is the difference?

[Kor'ah]

CAG = Commercial Agent. He wheels'n'deals for a factory/complex getting the best deals. Not uncommon for these guys to milk max possible profit from a factory.

CLS = Commodity Logistics Software MK1. This pilot is usefull for shifting large ammounts of resources around your factories. Like getting e-cells from your huge SSP complex to your other complexes scattered all over the galaxy. The Mk2 software allows you to throw NPC factories into the mix as well, but it's alot more complex.


All three scripts use the same rank table. So train a pilot useing one and he can use the other two.

[karl_1_marx]

While a CAG pilot can be great keeping one of your factories up and rolling, the CLS can be programmed to get an NPC factory to continually run at full speed, e.g. a HEPT factory or PSG factory if you need specific weapons. Helpful for all solutions where you either don't want or can't afford to build your own production line, but still need the weapons.


Cheers

KarMa