Transport Cheese

from Stardock Forums
This will work with the major civs ONLY, for reasons which will become clear.

Step one: Park your empty transport(s) right next to the star(s) you plan to invade.

Step two: Sell the transports to that civ. In a turn or two the enemy civ will fill those transports or park them in orbit. At that point...

Step three: BUY THEM BACK. (Minor civs never sell ships.) If you buy from a civ a transport that's parked in orbit (or sell one of yours that's orbiting), the sold transport will be filled to max capacity with passengers from its star system.

Now the enemy civ has fewer defenders and you have more troops. Of course, you could keep the peace with that civ and take the troops to invade another.
3,569 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I buy transports from time to time. I can be very handy. But I never thought of giving them the ships to get them loaded. Nice idea :D

For the log. When someone reads this you need to keep in mind that:
- on higher levels the AI is very easily obset when a you have warships in their sectors.

- when you plan to buy a couple of ships, buy them in one step. When you already have warships near by their planets (i.e. from your first deal) they will refuse another deal

[Message Edited]
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Step one: Park your empty transport(s) right next to the star(s) you plan to invade.

Step two: Sell the transports to that civ. In a turn or two the enemy civ will fill those transports or park them in orbit. At that point...

Step three: BUY THEM BACK. (Minor civs never sell ships.) If you buy from a civ a transport that's parked in orbit (or sell one of yours that's orbiting), the sold transport will be filled to max capacity with passengers from its star system.
End of quote


Beautiful...simply beautiful. I love it!!!

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I've pulled this strategy about two or three times. I make sure my transports can do speed 6 (two of those points from the Gravitic Accelerators).

Keep in mind that buying transports from the enemy is EXPENSIVE. Make sure you have enough techs to trade for 'em. Since the trade will result in a significant tech advance for the targeted civ, you want to save this strategy for a crippling or annihilating blow.

Here's another strategy. Too many defending ships orbiting that star you're about to pounce on? Buy some of them. I use the Omega mod, so they usually turn out to be Interceptors. Interceptors are a lot cheaper to buy than transports.