Trade Routes And Rally Points

Help with trading

from GalCiv2 Forums
I built a trader on planet Mars and I want it to trade between Earth and the alien planet. I am unable to do so. It seems the only way to get the Home rally point set to planet Earth is to build a trader on that planet. I tried to build a starport and then moved the trader to Earth but still the Home point is set to Mars.

So my question is how do I change the home planet so I can trade using planets that do not have starports.

Second question How the heck does trade work. I read that the longer the journey the more porfitable. Does it mean that I should build SLOW traders that are to make it profitable? In other words are fast trade ships worthless?

Thanks
RB
4,337 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Unfortunately you can't start a trade from planets without starports (it kind of make sense if you think about it, if you can't build ships, how will the traders build them to trade?). The only way to set a particular home planet is to actually build a trader from that planet. That being said, there is a little trick around it. You can buy trade ships from the AI, and send it to their planet. In which case, your "home" planet would be chosen randomly. This is the only way to do what you ask, although it wouldn't be a very reliable method to select a particular planet.

As for trade, the longer the route the more profitable it is (just like it says). You don't have to worry about engines, because as soon as the route is established, your trade ship is replaced by a "mini-freighter" that only moves one parsec a turn. Some might argue that it isn't worth while to put engines on trade ships, but if putting engines on there allow you to establish the route a lot faster, then it is definitely worth it.

Overall, the way trade works is that you design and build a "trade" ship and fly it to another world. This will set the starting and ending point of the route. The trade ship will then be replaced with a corporate sponsor version with 1 speed (as mentioned above) that will slowly move towards its destination. After a certain amount of turns from the starting point (the route's home planet) where the profit is at a minimum amount, the profits of the trade route will start to increase with each passing turn. So if you have a route that is very long, you can make a lot more profit than a close one (when profits doesn't rise). After the route is complete, everything resets and you start over again at your home planet making minimal profits again...

... hopefully that helps.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks Kalin.

I do have a starport on Earth but I built the ship on Mars. A bit silly really that I can't change the home planet... one is economic the other is manufacturing it just makes more sense to built it on Mars then move it to earth and then setup the route.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It shouldn't make any difference. I don't believe trade routes have anything to do with planetary income modifiers.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
But population and distances does. The economic planet has a huge population and quality rating.