I am really starting to love trading

[Dracus]

First trading trick
(this will work with the AI):
You want a system that belongs to an allie but don't want to break your treaty.
Capture enemy planets and trade them for the ones you want. I traded the the CuCappa completely out of my claimed systems. The AI will always accept if you offer bigger planets or packets were they always gain more then they lose.

Second Trick:
A friendly AI has parked a fleet in your system. You want them to leave (but as we know the AI never will)
Capture enemy ships and trade them for the fleet Make sure the ships you are giving the AI are worth more as a total then the ships you ask for. I took 3 destroyers with Shard cannons and converters (captured by Intel from the Xi) and traded them to the Ukra for a couple of loaded carriers, who think it is fun to park fleets over my homeworld. I now have 3 fleets of 50 ships each and only about ten ships in my empire are mine. The rest came from trading enemy ships for allie ships. While I can not research any of the tech, I have the latest in crystal ships and organic ships.
Plus you do not have to worry about getting intelled ships back to your systems. Trade them with your allie, who is also at war with your enemy.

The Norak are about wiped out because I traded Praet planets that I converted near the Norak to the Ukla. In turn they have declared war on the Norak and proceeded to claim all Norak systems. That will teach the Norak to declare war on a empire that is nowhere able to attack them in any way.

I now see trade as a useful battle tool and since I am giving different ships to all my allies. every Allied AI is running close to my equal in numbers and stats. I mantain 4 place. Plus most of My allies control systems next to my enemies so even with the limited AI, They will attack a common enemy if the ships are in enemy systems.



[This message has been edited by Dracus (edited 14 June 2001).]

[pathfinder]

Neat idea. never thought of that. I learn new things here every day.

thanks fer sharing!

[Dracus]

Update:
The CuCappa in my game control 10 planets in the EEE claimed area. Yet none of the CUCappa race exist outside my empire. They are now made up of EEE, Ulka, Norak and a couple of other races that use the CuCappa tech settings.