Influence questions for Stardock...If any one is there.

Because player answers seem to be split.

I nead a definitive answer so that I can continue playing.

-Wade

the manual is anything but unclear, to me that makes perfect sense, everything it said was AREA OF EFFECT. it effects what is inside the circle, when it says it can expand your influence borders past its reach, it means when yuo see the colors on the map and those borders that show up, it can expand them . it is really clear in the manual "

Any module that effects influence, manufacturing, economics, or trade will work only in the area of effect.

it works if it is in the area, giving bonuses to planets, ships, influence, whatever, depnding on the type of base and what is in its AOE

"Influencer Starbases improve your influence in a given area by the percentage of the accumulated modules. Its effect is defined by the area effect of the Starbase

in a given area.... defined by its AOE the starbase itself generates influence in its AOE, and if it is over one of your planets and an enemy influence base is next to one of your planets, it doesnt increase planet influence but it counteracts the enemy influence because you have both enemy and your influence working on the planet. for example if the enemy base is 1x the native influence and yours is too it is equal to having no enemy influence on it (unless the are enemy planets close by acting on it too)

my suggestion would just be to play more anyway, because in my head i know exactly how they work and what they do, if i havent explained well enough to make it clear for you im sorry because i understand it, and all i have done is play and i've figured it out, so id suggest just play more and you'll catch on eventually

Starbases do generate influence themselves, in addition to boosting influence in it's an influence starbase.

Experiment #1: Start a game at gigantic/cakewalk. Design a constructor with enhanced range, and send it off and build a starbase. Notice the influence display

Experiment #2: When at war with an AI, destroy a starbase near its cultural boundary. Notice that the boundary sometimes moves.

When at war with an AI, destroy a starbase near its cultural boundary. Notice that the boundary sometimes moves.

But was this influence from an enemy planet in the area of effect?

So like I said. Player answers seem to be split.

-Wade

OK. Thanks ROBO. I'll accept this for the time being. It sounds legitimate. As well as some of the other posters.

-Wade

I think the answer has already been stated by albion. The starbases will increase your influence points in that area. The key to understanding this is that each race has influence outside of its borders (and inside the borders of others), so influence starbases will help you turn planets/move borders in areas where you already have some influence and do very little in areas halfway across the galaxy.

You can see this if you invest in some espionage for your influence target. Once you reach a certain level (I've forgotten which one) you can see planet info, such as economy and influence. The first number listed is the planet owner's influence at/from that planet while the second number in parenthesis is your influence on the planet. If you're still confused about this experiment some in a small/cakewalk game and see if you can make sense of it.