Trade Routes

Sometimes the line wont back upon itself, at a greater than 180 degrees, was this the case with you?

From what I have experienced, i think a max of 4 or 5 conseutive planets. How i got this, well, i build trade port(s) on all planets, and if you have trade ports in other galaxies, the trade route will follow insterseller space

my problem isnt so much the trade routes, but the trade ships themselves, they've decided that it would be better to stand still than to get to work.

My line was well beyond 5, probably 10 or 12, and the next planet was rather back upon itself,perhaps around 300 degrees

I had a ring going around a solar system, about ten planets, so, although my tradelane went though ten plants, the last planet was only two phase jumps from the first, I just left an asteroid with no trade port in between.

The trade ships sometimes dont move (same as lots of refinery ships), but that shouldnt make a difference, you should still get the income from them. And i honestly dont know about the length thing then, youll have to ask a dev

There is not a maximum on the longest trade route. You should search for old thread about this, as it has been discussed in great detail several times. The calculation of the longest routes can seem a little iffy, but it turns out its not Also,  its not the location of the planet physically that is looked at, rather the location in the phase network.

Whats the point of killing trade ships? Does this cost the enemy money, or give the attacker money? Or is it stealing the money lost and giving it to the attacker? I see pirates targeting trade ships. I Can't understand it because I don't have to pay to replace them.

If you destroy a tradeship the owner will lose the income from that ship, they don't lose money directly, just won't make it as fast.

You gain money from killing the ship and the owner doesn't make any money from that ship until it is replaced, essentially losing potential income.

Beware Advent trade ships because they have a tech that puts bounty on whomever kills their trade ships.  One or two isn't a big deal, but it can rack up quickly if your are camping a star or other major trade route.

Another question. I got a really long trade route. it was 15 planets/phase jumps long. It looks like it increased all of my trade income from every planet, not just the ones included in the trade route line. Can anyone explain how that works?

I conquered an entire star in a 3 star map, and my trade income was bringing 320 credits per second.

The income a trade port gives is determined by the longest trade route. It doesn't matter if the trade port is on the route or not, they all give the same income (outside of planetary modifiers that boost or reduce trade at that planet). Making the route longer is really strong because it benefits every trade port you have.