Does anyone unlock high-mark scout starships?

[Martyn van Buren]

I'm just looking at that line and wondering if anyone finds Mk III and IV useful.  It seems to me there isn't anything they do that there aren't much cheaper ways of accomplishing, especially with spire scouts (as well as the MK IV scout) occupying the permacloaked niche.  Even if you need a spy on an AI homeworld I find I can usually sneak some Mk I scout starships in with a bit of micro and possibly transports.

[Wanderer]

I do.  I don't usually play with Spire on (other than FS Campaign on occassion) so I need standard scouts.  It depends a LOT on galaxy size.  If you're 80+ planets, you'll usually want MK IVs to dig into the corners instead of having to beat your way in there.  Transports can only get you so far in the middle/late game.

[Shrugging Khan]

I did it once. Then they sat around wasting energy.

I mean, why bother? Just to get the perma-cloaked ship? I'll get far enough in due time; no need to rush ahead like that.

And for fleet support, that is counter-Sniper and tachyon purposes...well, the tachyons are too short-ranged to actually help, and counter-sniper can be provided by the actually useful Cloaker Starship.

[Wanderer]

My apologies, I misread this.  I missed the 'starship' part.

No, no I don't.  Sorry.

I'm going to blame distraction by wormhole.  It was spawning sheep.  Yeah, that's it.  Sheep...

 

[Bognor]

In a recent game I restarted, I unlocked Scout Starship IV right at the start, and gained long-term strategic advantages from complete early scounting.  I discovered that a good third of the galaxy contained only two useful planets, which I grabbed early to divert AI reinforcements.  I also discovered I'd been going for the "wrong" advanced factory, as the other one had more useful golems and fabs along the way.  Afterwards the starships were convenient for quickly assessing threat on planets where I didn't have lurking scouts, as well as quick sniper protection when I'd forgotten to hold ctrl when selecting my ships   . 

Assuming that unlocking Scout Starship IVs will save you unlocking Mark III scouts, and that you'll still unlock ordinary Mark II scouts anyway, their knowledge cost is effectively 3,500.  Although with Spirecraft enabled, you can achieve complete scouting using a couple of Spirecraft Jumpships (not Scouts).

[Shrugging Khan]

But...that's like disabling Fog Of War at the cost of a few k of knowledge...why bother? 

[TechSY730]

I unlocked the Mk. II scout starship. I'm happy with that investment. When I group move them with Mk. II scouts (which boost the starship's cloaking), I can scout out like 3 more planets deep then just Mk. II scouts alone could.

[Shrugging Khan]

What#s the K cost of the starship chain, step by step, again?

[TechSY730]

What#s the K cost of the starship chain, step by step, again?

Well, the Mk. II scout starship is something ludicrously cheap like 250 or something.

The Mk. IV is pretty expensive, even if you exclude the costs of the previous unlocks. Not sure how expensive though.
I can get you exact figures later this evening.

[Shrugging Khan]

Don't bother, got around to checking it myself

Yeah, mkII is 250. Affordable, in spite of its low utility.

[Martyn van Buren]

Mantis'd http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=6043