I have to admit I was completly taken back by this and it was awsome!
Playing on intelligent and in a medium sized galaxy.
I had managed to outrace everyone on the colony production (This method does NOT work.. I've lost more games by overexpanding..) and I was in the center of the galaxy.
I had a nice custom race with a good tech bonus and was grinding away at things as my colonies built themselves up and I climbed slowly out of the debt spiral. Helped occasionally by tech sales to the Snathi and the other 5 major civs out there.
The Altarians and I had been steadily worsening in our diplomacy, I kept doing evil things.. and they declare war on me.
Not overly concerned as I had made some anti-transport ships (cheap small fighters with a popgun on them). I was far more concerned with the sudden influence increase the Torians had suddenly found.
Gathering a small group of raider ships to attack the Torians I saw some transports from the altarians winging over towards my capital and a few other colonies. They appeared about 3 squares out. I kind of laughed at it, expecting the usual early 2 movement speed transports. Plus I had my anti-transport ships figuring I was covered for the time being I could deal with the Torians.
The next turn I lost 3 planets including my major manufacturing planet and my capital. What happened?
The Altarians had created transports with Guns.. and armor!! Big guns too (they had raced up the beam weapon side) and they attacked with 3 transports at each location with the armor stopping me from killing any of them.
They not only killed my picket ships with transports, but they completly sucker punched me.
I tell you.. I was in Awe..
Promptly had my empire sacked and burned after that, but man that was the coolest thing ever.
