Phidi are rather politicians than merchants

[zolobolo]

Here is an another insult added to the injury - it uses (the whole) Trade Ship to transport a single "colonist" even if there is a Transport available in the trade pool. It seems like the Phidi is just an another "half baked" part of the game.

Did you check if a trade ship is counted as one ship in the pool (which it should be).
If so, you can effectively double the income from the pool when using trade ships - that would be a mayor advantage for the Phidi

Adding armor and warplane emph to them also makes sense when using ships from the trade pool to ferry troops in time of battle
Afterwards they can be assigned back to the pool to generate money

[bjg]

Does the Transport carry 8? Does the Trade Ship carry 15? So effectively it's less than x2 - this is all I care about (as most of the players, I believe).

The Transport does not carry 8, effectively. Check your total transport capacity when you research Containment Fields and do the math. The Transport carries 7.5, and two of them will carry 15.

Done a little experiment. Started new game, cheated to get (just) a Containment Fields. Sent original Transport to the trade pool - the trade capacity is 8. Built an another Transport and sent it to the pool - the trade capacity is 16.

[nweismuller]

I stand corrected. Thank you.

[bjg]

Here is an another insult added to the injury - it uses (the whole) Trade Ship to transport a single "colonist" even if there is a Transport available in the trade pool. It seems like the Phidi is just an another "half baked" part of the game.

Even worse - if you send 2 "units" together it uses 2 Trade Ships (while one would obviously be enough).

[nweismuller]

A possible solution to the problem that doesn't involve changing ship costs might be providing a multiplier to trade income for the Phidi Combine, either by making their domestic routes only more profitable for them (but still less profitable than foreign routes) or by making all routes more profitable for them.