Lack of micro-managment is killing me.... ARRRGGGHHH

[Garrat]

I started playing a mission where you start off with three docks.  There were two ships and one empty docks.

Very quickly I built up to making cutlasses.

Some of the cutlasses would be delievered to one dock or another.  And, sometimes a ship would be out when the dock it left from had 3-6 cutlasses built up.  Then the ship would come back to a different dock.

Basically, I was dying and very much needed 1 of the 2 ships to have at least 9 cutlasses so I could do a "cruise" and get some cash.

I has to restart the game and destroy the 3rd dock... even then it was still annoying because with two ships being loaded it took twice the time needed to begin cruising.


I really think ships should dock at the same dock, and there should be someway to say "SEND ALL CUTLASSES TO DOCK A ONLY".

Don't even get me started on the time I built a smelting plant and a blacksmith and then kindnapped 2 blacksmiths - only to find out later the BOTH went to the blacksmith building.....  and there was no production.


ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH  

[FieryDove]

No need to destroy the dock. Block out both hauler slots and nothing will be delivered to that dock. Shift-click to fire hauler, another shift click to block slot.

Also have your sea ration and blacksmiths closer to the docks. Things move alot faster then and skeleton haulers are great assests if you have them in the game you are playing.

Hope it helps a bit.

Cheers,
FD

[Garrat]

I never thought about that...  If I blocked out a dock I guess a boat won't dock on it?

What I'm not understanding yet is the hauler thing.

I thought the dock hauler only hauled stuff from the dock to the boat.... and the blacksmith hauler only hauled finished products to the docks (I just guessed this because why would the start of the line (the mine) need a hauler).

Oh man there's lot's to learn in this game (I love it).

Thanks...  going back in...

[FieryDove]

Now that you  mention it I don't know...It would be "bad" if a ship docked at the blocked out dock. Let us know what happens.

Cheers,
FD

[TJ]

I don't know if everyone else has figured this out yet or not, but when a ship returns from a mission or has finished being built, it heads for the dock with the most supplies. I have used this especially when building new ships. I make sure I send out the ship that is docked at the most supplied dock just before a new ship is finished. Timing can be tricky, but it is possible.

I'm not sure if this will help your situation, but it has helped me in many cases.

[Garrat]

That's interesting...  I did notice a ship will stock dock at a dock with no workers.

Thanks for the tip though... that's really interesting (so much to learn... ggezz I love it.)

[TJ]

That's interesting...  I did notice a ship will stock dock at a dock with no workers.

It will only if...
1) that dock does have most provisions despite having no workers
- or -
2) if there are no available docks with provisions (it takes the closest one then I believe).

[kingofny]

On this note, I wish I could tell haulers "take the cannons/cutlasses/muskets to the smugglers cove."  I never seem to lose cannons in battle, but I've got over 20 on each dock when they could be making big $$$ being sold to my patron!!!

I would be nice to have some way to control the amount of a product that is hauled to your SC.  My casinos have over 30 cigars each but my SC has zip.

[Rubik3]

"I would be nice to have some way to control the amount of a product that is hauled to your SC.  My casinos have over 30 cigars each but my SC has zip."

I've noticed this as well.  When you get to the point where you can have skeleton haulers, use them at the farthest points.  What i'm saying is that the normal haulers (which need to sleep and eat) should be at the closest entertainments facility while the skeletons (which just haul forever) should be put at your furthest building.  This way should keep the balance a little more.  I've also noticed that the Courtesian and spa usually take the most cigars.  I usually let the hauler get up to about 20 then fire him for a few months.

[Mercator]

I've totally given up on the Smugglers Cover. It's useless. I rarely get anything to sell there, though I have huge stockpiles of it at the docks.  I know the hauler is suppose to get them from the blacksmith/rum distillery/cigar factory/ etc.. but the hauler rarely goes anywhere.

Does anyone know how many you need stocked in your factories before the Smugglers Cove hauler gets off his butt and takes them?

[Jebus]

I think its 15-16 or more before the hauler goes to get anything.  I've had some success with the Smuggler's Cove before, but only when it's gotten far enough into the game that the docks are stocked enough that the haulers stop going to get stuff.  Also, I played some game where all of my pirates ended up going to places where rum was provided, instead of beer, so all my beer was going to the Smuggler's Cove, and it earned me a considerable sum of money.

[PopTop_Franz]

I've totally given up on the Smugglers Cover. It's useless. I rarely get anything to sell there, though I have huge stockpiles of it at the docks.  I know the hauler is suppose to get them from the blacksmith/rum distillery/cigar factory/ etc.. but the hauler rarely goes anywhere.

Does anyone know how many you need stocked in your factories before the Smugglers Cove hauler gets off his butt and takes them?

Have you passed the edict to open your port to a super power?

[Jebus]

Does the hauler not get anything for the cove until after you've opened the cove to one of the countries?

[Mercator]

Have you passed the edict to open your port to a super power?

Yup. Almost right away. It just seems the hauler doesn't want to take the time to get the stuff. Sometimes, I would have 20+ stuff sitting in the stores, but he'd (the SC hauler) would never move.

[Jebus]

The last game I played, I had massive amounts of pastries and cigars sitting at the places for the Cove hauler to pick up, but he'd only go get rum, which was at the far side of the island.

As to the number needed before the hauler goes to get something:
Pastries - 15 needed
Beer - 18
Cigars - 16
Rum - 16
Don't know about any of the weapons.
All of these numbers are based on the amount that the hauler picks up and brings back.  (S)he never picks up everything that is at the supplier, just the above amount.

[DBear]

I started playing a mission where you start off with three docks.  There were two ships and one empty docks.

Very quickly I built up to making cutlasses.

Some of the cutlasses would be delievered to one dock or another.  And, sometimes a ship would be out when the dock it left from had 3-6 cutlasses built up.  Then the ship would come back to a different dock.

Basically, I was dying and very much needed 1 of the 2 ships to have at least 9 cutlasses so I could do a "cruise" and get some cash.

Black Market is your friend.  

[Coconut Kid]

It seems this whole thread is about not understanding what haulers do and how to manage them.

The most useful information is from TJ

when a ship returns from a mission or has finished being built, it heads for the [open\available] dock with the most supplies
I did notice a ship will dock at a dock with no workers.
only if:
1) that dock does have most provisions despite having no workers
- or -
2) if there are no available docks with provisions (it takes the closest one then I believe).

It seems obscure in this thread so I may be wrong. I thought the haulers carried stuff TO the building where they are employed FROM a source of supply. One has to consider that a docked Ship and the Dock are one building as far as the game is concerned and the supplies on the Dock tele-transport to the Ship.

That route for the Haulers is the opposite of the route for the Teamsters in T1.

So Garrat's guess that: "the dock hauler only hauled stuff from the dock to the boat" is flat wrong because he is mistaking them for the Dockworker in T1.

The Hauler(s) at the Docks are critical to getting all the supplies on hand to fit-out ships for voyages. Perhaps they are the best excuse for the "zombe" skeletons.

Mates -- keep all your Docks well stocked with all needfull stuff!! Then you can study the reports of voyages and learn the way to make your crews fit to bring home the loot!!
One item from the T2 patch 'read me' file:
* Returning ships now look for a dock with the right amount of cargo to re-equip them

Notice that it is the right amount of provisions; not the most provisions.