It's supposed to be one of those big squares isn't it? How big are they?

Well, the numbers appear to add up ... (0 .7 + 1.8 = 2.5)
Don't know why the computer would do that though ... (bug??)
I am with post#3, I always use the mini-map ship range function.

But if you see a resource or a planet X sectors away you should be able to design a ship and know if it has enough range to get there, and you can't.

Bear in mind that your Range ability may not be reflected in the shipyard screen. This ability increases when you research some life support technologies.

I Personally use Starbases for Defense purposes only. Conquering the planets between me and said enemy works better, as you get a starport right next to the enemy. Rapid Deployment = Rapid Victory

Which needs to be addressed in politics and diplomacy add ons I think. I too use this theory and practice quite extensively, and have to wonder, what the hell would any race think if you showed up in near space and built a starbase that has obvious military intent written all over it? Self defense? BS I know what the Pryde does when it sees military starbases being built. We take em out, usually by building one or two myself at the key juncture of one or two multiple planetary bodies that race has than invading, during the invasion the home fleet whacks anything that race has in the immediate area, the interplanetary fleet deals with encroaching troop ships and escorts, plus takes out any starbases that might be being used as steps on the ladder.

In the fledgling story I am working on the Pryde actually do a military sorte in the form of a military exercise in near space when the Yor use the nearby Kilia star system as a rally point even. Not even a starbase.

Anyhow, I believe the reaction needs to be a bit harder at the AI level to players and other AI members building starbases in and around your 'hood. I have seen the messages many times from races about.. "Hey ya know that bases a grid points such and such... yeah, could you do something about it?" Perhaps one of the new AI intensive CPU routines will provide a limited warfighter exchange to take out such problems, with the alien race launching a limited attack and "appologizing" with suitable tax monies or techs to soothe any hurt feelings.

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

Now the math FAILS ... (2.5 + 1.1 = 3.6) which is NOT 3.5 !!!!
Something is really strange here ...

tested this quite a bit and here's what I've found.

Range = 15 parsecs / X.X sectors listed on ship + 10 parsecs.

so a range listed as 1.0 sct will travel
(15 / 1.0 ) +10 = 25 parsecs (small squares)
coincidentally, 15 parsecs = 1 sector (large squares)
2.5 range = 47 or 48 parsecs depending on which way it rounded (and it rounds, doesn't truncate)
this is true regardless of galaxy sixe, the range listed on the ship after it's built reflects how far it can travel from the nearest starbase or planet based on the above formula

that part was easy, this is where it starts to get wierd
the game is hardcoded to increase range with increased galaxy size
the basic range (no life support or range modifiers) for each galaxy size are

tiny 0.1
small 0.1 (might be 0.15)
medium 0.2
large 0.4
huge 0.7 (or 0.65)
gigantic 0.9 (or 0.85)

however, those "base" ranges are actually added twice, once in the shipyard and again once the ship is built
so the minimum range of a ship in a large galaxy with no mods is 0.8 (about 22 parsecs)

you CAN mod range for all races using a tech with zero cost that can remove this "extra" range added but the mod is different for each galaxy size
I haven't figured out the exact number for each but they are very close to :

tiny -5 ish range
small -10 ish range
medium -20 ish range
large -35 ish range
huge -45 ish range
gigantic -60 ish range

with those mods, the range reported in the shipyard will be very close to what you actually see when the ship is built.
there is no way to lower a ships range to less than the "base" range for each galaxy size, and the +10 parsecs to reported range is also something that looks hardcoded and unmoddable at this time.

Hope that helps some.