Merchant Fleet

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The Merchant Fleet is the non-combat fleet of a civilization and is represented by a single number, the Merchant Fleet Capacity. Like the Combat Fleet, the Merchant Fleet requires Upkeep (in Credits and Gas). Unlike the Combat Fleet, however, the Merchant Fleet does not require Maintenance, and it is not stationed in a particular location, but is considered spread out all across the area controlled by a civilization, as defined by its Sphere of Influence.

For this reason, the merchant fleet also serves as a deterrent to rampant expansion, since the size of a civilization (the size of the sphere of influence) - counted in time units, not distance - increases the demand of the merchant fleet, reducing its effectiveness.

The Merchant Fleet is required for any tranportation of Commodities or Population between a player's Colonies and Outposts, for External Trade and also to provide Supply to the Combat Fleet when stationed outside the player's Sphere of Influence (far from player-controlled systems, colonies and military outposts).

A player can increase his/her Merchant Fleet the same way he/she can increase their combat fleet, by producing more cargo and civilian ships in their Shipyards, but also they can instead increase the effectiveness of the merchant fleet by reducing travel times with better & faster ship drives or with Jump Gate-type structures and a more robust network of Trade Outposts.

Designer's Notes
Alternative names for the Merchant Fleet: Cargo/Support/Civilian Fleet