How Best to Protect My Transport Ships?

from GalCiv3 Forums

I bought Galactic Civilizations III two days ago (along with all of the DLC), and am slowly learning the basic gameplay mechanics.

Have just finished the Tutorial campaign (finally), but it was harder than I thought it would be, since Pirate ships kept sniping my Transport ships and thereby killing off my Legions.  I initially tried to defend my Transports by moving them into the same hex as one of my combat fleets, but the Pirates seemed to ignore my combat ships and zero in on my transports.  After many transport losses, I eventually just surrounded my transports with numerous combat fleets, so the Pirates couldn't break through, although that was rather cumbersome and expensive.

Am I missing something?  Is there a better, more effective way to safeguard my Transports?

24,130 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

You can defend your transports by forming them into a fleet with your warships, which involves moving them onto the same hex AND having enough logistics points researched that they can fit in the same fleet.

I prefer to research sensor techs and then build a cargo hull loaded with sensors and engines. I can then see enough of the map that I can see the pirates coming and intercept them with fleets escorting my transports. But if I remember correctly the campaigns have limited tech trees, so that might only be a good strategy in sandbox games.

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Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Publius,

Thanks for your very helpful advice. It looks like my mistake in the Tutorial was to completely fill up my warship fleets to the max level permitted. This then caused my Transports to be put into separate fleets, which the Pirates kept shooting up unopposed.

I still have a lot to learn about this game, but at least now my Transports won't die quite as easily.

Will now try playing my first regular game.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock.net Forums Top

In GalCiv 3, fleets don't defend other fleets. I think you get to target the weakest fleet first, but I haven't had many opportunities to test that theory. In general, its a good idea to put transports into fleets that can defend it, and to give transports sensor range and speed to evade hostiles.

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