Non Hostiles Attacking My Ships

[Krasny]

The ships of an empire that have not DoWed me are attacking my ships?

Is this a bug, and if not why?

EDIT: The automated ship design process is not working properly, as no troop transports are available to be built. I had to switch off automation and design and troop transport, which was then available to be built.

ALSO: Straight answer please, do automated ships retrofit?

[kafka]

I had the same happening to my ships too as another race built a mining station in the system I have established a colony myself. I don't remember if I really have been first in the system though. I suppose it works like in SEV. If you interfere with an AI player in a system which it has already colonized or established whatever structure in, then you get attacked even without being DOWed.

As for your other question: I haven't seen the AI retrofitting automated ships so far

[BigWolfChris]

Concerning attacks
My understanding is, unless you have a treaty you aren't at an actual state of peace or war
Meaning any ships of yours going into a system of theirs is an open target if they so wish... however I believe they will only take up the option if your relations with that Empire is negative

[PDiFolco]

Weirdly I ve seen attacks on freighters even from a race I had trade treaty with!
Re troop transport, the issue is that some AI designs are too large, over the 200 size starting construction limit, you have to modify them...

[BigWolfChris]

ORIGINAL: PDiFolco

Weirdly I ve seen attacks on freighters even from a race I had trade treaty with!

I would post this in Tech Support, I would imagine this is a bug as it would mean the AI is sending ships into hostile space when it either
a) Shouldn't
b) Is not suppose to be hostile space

[Joram]

I believe this is WAD.  You can have a treaty and be attacked however you should find the attacking race will quickly null the treaty.  If they don't, then yeah, I'd say it's bugged. 
 
You definitely do not have to have a declaration of war to be attacked or to attack someone though your reputation will suffer greatly if you start attacking without one.  I believe by declaring a blockade first you can attack the other empires shipping without taking the reputation hit but I haven't observed closely enough to be 100% sure.
 
I've not once seen something automated retrofit itself.

[Webbco]

I think the design issue is that when the AI upgrades designs, it sometimes makes them slightly larger than your current maximum size capacity.

This means you need to research the next 'shipyard' component in order to unlock the next maximum sizes, then the AI Troop transport design will be able to be built.

I hope this makes sense...but I know, it's weird.

[JosEPhII]

The initial Designs are ALL smaller that what is allowed.

The 1st shipyards can produce 200 sized ships and 600 sized bases.

The 1st Escort is generally 104-109 in size, while the Destroyer is about 180.

With the 1.03 beta patch, a Troop transport is not an initial design. Actually I don't believe it's the next Shipyard advance but after you get Combat detection array (iirc) then the Troop design shows up. But you can build one on your own at game start. It's actually quite effective for taking over hostile Independent colonies. (But you Reputation does take a Hit for doing this).

JosEPh

[JonathanStrange]

One's reputation still takes a hit though right, if one attack without a DOW, even if one believes the attack is justified?

[Krasny]

I can design troop transports and make them. The automated design system will not design them.

[Erik Rutins]

The automated system makes Troop Transports for me. Did you delete the design at some point? If not, do you have a save file for this?

Regarding races that are not at war with you attacking you, yes, that's by design. Aggressive races in particular and those that don't like you will often try to "provoke" an incident to get you to be the one to declare war. They are testing your patience.

[Wade1000]

Good design, Erik. It makes sense and is less towards artificial limitations.