Will naval transports cost money?

[the_mango55]

Now that units create their own special transport ships instead of being able to transport an entire army on a small military ship, will these transports cost money when created? I think they probably should, not as much as a military ship since they are temporary but still some upfront cost and perhaps the unit costs more in upkeep for each turn on the sea.

I know it was free before but then you at least needed a standing navy, now you don't. But anyway this is probably the feature I'm most excited about.

[Rittsy]

I'm curious about this as well. Also whether you would have to research troop transportation before you can use it.

[=Vastator=]

I hope so. Otherwise one could easily use this little cheat: "Hey, an enemy full stack army is coming! Let's go on sea and wait here till the enemy is gone away!"

[One_man_warrior]

I hope so. Otherwise one could easily use this little cheat: "Hey, an enemy full stack army is coming! Let's go on sea and wait here till the enemy is gone away!"

Then the enemy can attack your transport ship with their war ship and eliminate any chance you had of survival.

It's like trade ship vs war ship

[nameless]

I hope so. Otherwise one could easily use this little cheat: "Hey, an enemy full stack army is coming! Let's go on sea and wait here till the enemy is gone away!"

It takes a turn to build the boats.

And if you were to do that your transports will be vulnerable to even a single warship.

[the_mango55]

I hope so. Otherwise one could easily use this little cheat: "Hey, an enemy full stack army is coming! Let's go on sea and wait here till the enemy is gone away!"

You can only do it on your own ports correct? If so, hiding your armies at sea while an enemy is rampaging through your lands seems like a poor strategy.

It takes a turn to build the boats.

And if you were to do that your transports will be vulnerable to even a single warship.

From what I understand land units can still fight at sea by boarding other ships. Obviously they would still be vulnerable to a single warship, you might lose a couple of units since they aren't well suited to ship-to-ship combat. But they wouldn't be totally helpless.

This will also help the AI players who seem to enjoy transporting full stack armies on just a couple of weak ships. Usually I'll let these ships pass even if I know they are meant to invade my territory, because I like battles, but if I don't think my defenses are up to par I'll send a few ships in there to sink them. If I knew I had to sink 40 transport ships, each of which could board one of my ships if I got too close, to take out a full stack army I might change my strategy. Or maybe I wouldn't change my strategy but I would do the same thing expecting the few warships I've sent in to at least do significant damage to the enemy army before being defeated or routed, rather than destroying them outright.

[Júlio Césarr]

I think you do not have to pay, I think it's just embark the army in the fleet, and if it is attacked, the troops will appear in transport ships.

[the_mango55]

Chrome hasn't been cooperating with TWC for a while.

I don't think they will require a fleet.

Let's say that during that attack you win the battle, but the only ship you lost was the one military ship in the whole fleet. All 40 transports survived totally unharmed. Does your army disappear after the battle since there is no more "fleet"? And if not, if you can have a fleet of transports without any warships, why would you need warships to create the transports in the first place?

I think you will be able to put your army on a dock and just make a fleet of transports in the next turn. Whether you are "building" them or "hiring" them is up for debate, but either way I don't think a standing navy will be required. And if this is the case I think they should cost some gold to build.