Hey guys. Just wondering how often do you use those features and if it is even a good way to play the game. On the small maps I mostly control what I produce and which units I make, while only making the scouts and terraformers automated, but I noticed that when I do that for some reason the enemy factions always terraformed around their cities then what I have. So basically can the AI be relied to make good terraforming and good decision for units and production. Or is not are there ways you can change the settings either within the files or game that will make it better for the larger maps.

Thanks and sorry for the confusing post.

I've never used automation options. Good terraforming choices and the choice of what to use your production capabilities on are at the core of how well your faction ends up doing, and the automation options just aren't able to cut it compared to even a moderately competent player.

Never. Ever.
At best, automation is "capable", but overall, it can never be as efficient or as calculating as me. It can never know just exactly what I want at any given moment, or what I am planning long-term.

I never use them either... To me the micro-management is an important part of playing the game, otherwise you may as well just sit back and watch!

True, I tried to play the game where I would use the Auto command function, but I only found that it is useful in the beginning of the game when you send out the scouts so you can focus on building up your bases. Thanks for the replies, I appreciate the help.

I never use the "Governor" or "Automate Unit" function with the exception of formers; which I use CTRL-A for each and every one.

I only use automation for Formers and Scouts.

Does anybody else role-play a bit? The main practical reason I use the governor is when I start conquering other continents. Micro-managing the constant "DRONE RIOTS!!!11! :[" can be a pain and by the time I can safely "appoint" governors is when I know I have a solid, strong, efficient core continent.

Workers... yeah, I never automate those.

I never automate units. However, I always, first thing, set up my first base to use a governor, then disable every option the governor has except for being able to manage the use of citizens to keep the base relatively happy.

It won't completely suppress discontent, especially as your bases get larger, and definitely if you choose University, but it does cut down on the amount of drone riots. The nice thing about setting your early bases with this option is that any colony pods made from those bases will use the same settings, so pretty soon your whole faction is managing drones better.

Dad once played a game with me and automated every unit and base. He then complained when all he was doing was hitting end turn very 2 minutes and had no control over his own faction...

I use it on colony pods to make the game more difficult.

I use it on bases that don't really matter so that they're not clogging up my turn feed. This is only once I've conquered 3+ factions and the game is well in hand anyway (usually I'll just queue up whatever essentials are missing then let the governor go wild because I just don't care about them).

I use it to auto-hurry when I play my broken fraction. When difficulty is in the mission year and not the victory.

I'm very much about projecting military strength and moving large numbers of units, but that doesn't mean I do much automation of non-military aspects. Rather, I skip out on a lot of the infrastructure building except for clearing paths and laying down roads for fast troop deployment. I often automate at least one former to automatically connect all my cities, and one for cleaning up terrain around bases so that mindworms can't sneak deep into my interior. Yep, not so much the environmentalist, I'm here build a nation of hardy people who can weather the chaos of human nature rather than the planet itself.

It depends on how I'm playing. In a strategic game, I don't use it at all, largely because a good player can outperform the automation AI. If I'm roll playing, I use it extensively. I don't imagine a faction leader would spend his time micromanaging the placement of farms or the production of rec centers. I manage governor settings and check what my governors are building when the notification appears for new production, sort of like the governor is submitting a plan for approval.