Naval Combat in cIV

[Nikolai]

The clock is well past morning in Latvia now...

[GeoModder]

You're all minions of Solvers' wimps, you know that?

[alva]

He could make a decent income charging you lot, you'd pay anything to get it anyway.

[Nikolai]

Actually, I doubt it.

[ashbery]

Will it still take 50 years to do a sea invasion.

[Nikolai]

One would think they'd been able to do something with that now. It's not like they haven't (seemingly) fixed all the other complaints we have had.

[Spiffor]

I have seen very little in Solver's preview that makes fleets better than in Conquests. The only thing is that there are now sea improvements, that one should defend with ships. However, the main use of fleets (protecting trade routes) is still not present in the game.

[Shogun Gunner]

I agree. I haven't seen much... I thought there would be more naval stuff in the Part2... I guess we need wait until Part3.

When's the expected date on Part3?

[Solver]

At least there's a good reason to use navies now! Plus, the AI can do naval landings.

[Shogun Gunner]

Yes, I read with interest regarding the AI's decision to war or not. Seems like the developers put some effort into these AI issues.

[Solver]

A lot of effort. AI decisionmaking on whether to go to war is very, very interesting.

[The_Aussie_Lurker]

Thats still a major unanswered question. We know that 'trade routes' of 2 types exist now-the ones involving the trade of ACTUAL GOODS (food, luxuries and resources), and the type which form naturally-and generate gold for individual cities. The question is, how easy is it for a navy to blockade one-or both-of these kinds of trade routes IF they come via the sea. If it is much simpler than in Civ3 (and given the value of the second type of trade route), then preventing blockades is a VERY good reason to maintain a navy.
Lastly, are ships especially vulnerable if in port? If yes, then here is a good reason not only to SUPPORT a navy, but to have it on active duty.
So hopefully, between pillaging of your sea-borne improvements, the greater threat of naval landings by both the AI and human players AND the possibility of blockading key trade routes, then navies can and will become an important part of the game (I just hope their movement rate is high enough to truly make them worthwhile!)

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

[Solver]

Ships stuck in docks are target practice. They can't defend vs. city attackers.

I have got absolutely no idea about naval trade blockades.

[The_Aussie_Lurker]

Oh DARN, I was looking to you for all the answers on this one Solver ! So you never even TRIED to block someone elses trade (or have your blocked by someone else)? I demand you go and play the game again just to find out !

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

[Solver]

Nope, haven't done that .