Newbie Trade Questions

from GalCiv2 Forums
I'm a little confused by some of the aspects of trade routes. When a route is established, my freighter turns into a little "mini-ship" - and I know it can be attacked, etc. And it shows up on the ship roster just like all my other ships.

But what, if anything, should I do with these ships once a route is established? Should I just pretty much leave them alone for the rest of the game? Can I upgrade them with the latest model and keep the route? (And is there any point to doing this? Intuitively, it seems to me that you'd want your freighter to be as fast as possible to make more "runs" and thus more money, but I have a feeling the system doesn't actually work that way.)

Does "killing" a trade route destroy the freighter, or is it freed up to go somewhere else?

Is income based only on planet population, distance, and things that directly modify "trade" per se? I was thinking the money-making and/or production values of the planets might also be important.
5,408 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Once a trade route is set up, there's not much to do but build trade starbases in their path if you desire.

Upgrading mini-freighters is mostly pointless. They will always move speed 1, and the income the produce is not based on 'runs', but rather their current progress along the route anyway. So even if they moved twice as fast, the income you get would average out to the same amount.

Destroying a trade route destroys the freighter.

I'm not sure exactly how trade value is determined offhand, but population and distance are at the very least the most important factors.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks, glad to see I'm not grossly misunderstanding anything.

Can mini-freighters fight back if attacked, and the hull is armed? Is this worth the trouble, or is the occasional loss just "the price of doing business?" If a freighter is destroyed, does this also kill the route?

I imagine trade routes are automatically killed if war breaks out between trading partners?

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Can mini-freighters fight back if attacked, and the hull is armed? Is this worth the trouble, or is the occasional loss just "the price of doing business?" If a freighter is destroyed, does this also kill the route?


I believe they can fight back, but if they're armed then you'll probably also have to pay upkeep on the ships, and at that point it may not be worth the cost.

IIRC the mini-freighter has to be killed a few times before the route is dropped.

If you go to war, yes, any routes with your enemy are lost.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

IIRC the mini-freighter has to be killed a few times before the route is dropped.
[/quote]

REALLY?? I thought it would just take the one time to lose the route. thats good news to me. its actually only happened once so far and i didnt check to see if it was lost forever.

to Suedenim: if you build the "Galactic Privateer" wonder, all of your cargo ships will be safe from attack. you will however, still lose them if you go to war with the receiving party. Which can mean that you may avoid getting attacked buy an AI if you trade enough with them, they don't want to lose the income either.

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have a question... Is there a way to get your allies to put a trade embargo on someone else? Is there a way to manipulate trade like that?
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I believe they can fight back, but if they're armed then you'll probably also have to pay upkeep on the ships, and at that point it may not be worth the cost.


Thats odd... the mini-freighters show no upkeep even with 10/0/0 equipped in the properties window. Is the cost just hidden? Seems a shame to me if thats true when thinking about all the money I must be wasting! QQ

In fact its especially strange since trade is described as being "turned over to the private sector" after the route is established?