Small Transports vs. Colony Ships

[Ed Kolis]

Say, is there actually any point to using Colony Ships? Small Transports are completely identical, except they require 50% cargo space instead of 50% colony modules, but since colony modules hold cargo anyway, it doesn't matter - you could use Small Transports in place of Colony Ships to confuse your enemy or yourself - just like using Light Cruisers as armed colony ships and Small Transports as minelayer/scouts...

[Cyrien]

There is no difference in standard SE4. Often Mods make some difference.

[Fyron]

Well... there could be, if you mod transports or colony ships to have another ability or something. But in the normal game, there is no actual difference. I think I'll have to start using Small Transports instead of Colony Ships.

[geoschmo]

...and another of my favorite tricks goes from the "known by just a select few" to the "known by the general public" file.

[Suicide Junkie]

P&N gives big maintenance reduction bonuses to colony ships since they are "One-way-trip vehicles"

[Preacherman]

oh come on geo, that one is pretty well known, you just need to watch georgig in his games, dozens or hundreds of transports go around. if you overdo it (like he) it looses the strategical value and even then it does not matter most of the time.

[Gryphin]

Kewlll,
I never thought of that. Does the AI fall for it?

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Preacherman:
oh come on geo, that one is pretty well known, you just need to watch georgig in his games, dozens or hundreds of transports go around. if you overdo it (like he) it looses the strategical value and even then it does not matter most of the time.

Yes, Georgig loves this one. But I disagree overdoing it is any sort of problem. You can never know at any point if the ship is a colony ship, mine layer, carrier, or some kind of armed transport. Makes pouncing on single ships quite a nail biter.

The only real problem to it is the limit on engines. But if you have the propulsion bonuis it can offset that of course.

Geoschmo

[ April 24, 2003, 01:37: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[Xiodos]

The AI doesnt fall for it, it'll attack anything you own if you're at war with it.

And its the maintence cost thats the difference in unmodded SEIV, as Suicide pointed out.

In unmodded games however, it is useful to use a big transport to colonize with, since you can jam more pop in them and also a couple of WPs.

[Fyron]

And its the maintence cost thats the difference in unmodded SEIV, as Suicide pointed out.

No, there is no maintenance bonus or penalty for either ship in unmodded se4. SJ was saying how he changed them in P&N mod to have a difference.