Astro train blues

[Vinraith]

So for my first game I probably should have turned these little buggers off, eh? My homeworld is directly off a linear path of stars between two larger, networked clumps. I've cleared all the stations in this path out, but am still seeing lots of train traffic. I assume this is because there are stations in those two clumps, and "my" corridor is the only way for them to reach one another. Is there anything I can do about these things, then, or am I just stuck with them? I can't imagine that cleaning every station out of one of those sizable star groups is a real option.

[Frozen Critical]

Destroy all Stations on planets with a  Connection to your Planets , that'll reduce the amount of Astro Trains , but not totally Stop them all

[Vinraith]

Ah, so basically every station is a possible origination point and destination point? Good, maybe I can at least thin them out some more. I'm starting to think that one of my AI's must be train-happy, there seem to be a LOT more orange trains than red ones.

[NickAragua]

Yep, it's the "Train Master" AI.

[Fleet]

Destroying the stations can be tricky later on, because by reducing the routes the trains run without reducing their number, they are effectively being concentrated into a smaller area. Which could be bad if you must enter that area for some purpose later in the game.

I play with them disabled. Not the kind of challenge I enjoy, but I wholly support them as an option as we each have different taste in challenges.

[Vinraith]

@NickAragua (great handle, btw)

That's the conclusion I've come to, yeah. I've trimmed down their stations pretty thoroughly at this point, so they're barely an issue in my home systems now.

@Fleet

I hadn't thought of that, so I'm glad you said it. I've been trying NOT to destroy trains, since I know that at least the turret ones incur a substantial AIP hit. I guess the number of trains on the map is fixed from the start, then, but the stations they travel between can be reduced until you end up with knots of them in various places? That does have the potential to bite one right in the ass when making a push towards an AI homeworld, I bet. I'll keep it in mind!

[Excession]

They are the only option I turn off when playing the base game.

To be fair if I pull a Trainmaster AI after turning them off, I just reroll to get different AI's (as it would seem a little unfair otherwise)

[Diazo]

The other way to counter then is the Counter Dark Matter turret.

All trains use dark matter for ammo so this negates the damage they do completely, at the cost of some knowledge. Doesn't stop them from decloaking your ships however.

D.