Strategies for the Sea

[Ming]

Unfortunately, I play MP, so I can not really run Bhruic's latest patch... one of the reasons why the community really needs an official patch.

[Supr49er]

Originally posted by wodan11
Beeline Privateers. Make a LOT of them. Send them out to get free XP by "cleaning out" all the str 2 and 3 ships the AI has scooting around. This will give you between 2 and 5 great generals.

In addition, use them to blockade the bigger AI cities. This will give you an income of of 2-10 gold per ship per turn. (So if you have only 10 privateers, that's an extra 20-100 gold per turn. This is offset by unit maintenance but only a teeny bit.)

Give your privateers either Combat 1 and Medic, or all the way up the Combat line until they get Blitz. Then, send them home and "save" them until later in the game when you upgrade to Destroyers.

When (not if, but when) the AI sends an invasion fleet of frigates and galleons, all you need is a single blitz destroyer nearby and you can clean out the entire stack.

Wodan

Privateers

[wodan11]

Originally posted by Ming
Unfortunately, I play MP, so I can not really run Bhruic's latest patch... one of the reasons why the community really needs an official patch.

Yeah, I understand, I'm just saying this will be different for different people reading this thread.

Wodan

[johnmcd]

Originally posted by wodan11
That kind of thinking says that any beeline = win.

It's a gambit... you give up on other opportunities (such as getting Democracy early) in order to get privateers early.

Wodan

Getting the tech, building the boats, sailing them to the location, I can't do that with many boats at all before I'm meeting frigates. The little Civs, sure. And I do them with privateers, but I've never seen the serious contender civs so off the pace.

The privateer tech route isn't exactly off the AIs preffered line either - it's not like a hell for leather Civil Service or CoL dash.

[wodan11]

Originally posted by johnmcd
Getting the tech, building the boats, sailing them to the location, I can't do that with many boats at all before I'm meeting frigates. The little Civs, sure. And I do them with privateers, but I've never seen the serious contender civs so off the pace.

The privateer tech route isn't exactly off the AIs preffered line either - it's not like a hell for leather Civil Service or CoL dash.

Actually, I think it is.

In my experience players tend to focus so much on the Liberalism race, as well as other techs that, frankly, do not constitute a beeline.

Take a look at the sheer fastest route to Privateers. Add the minimum of other economic techs... stuff you just do not care to do without. That's what I'm suggesting to do.

Wodan

[Jvstin]

Originally posted by Ming

Granted, this assumes that the game situation/map calls for it. It's a great way for a builder to get some generals without ever having to go to war early. It has really changed the tech path I go down in some games.

Another reason why BtS is so good... now if they can only finish up the latest patch

Daymn. I never knew that Privateers generated Generals.

I'm going to have to try this in my next game. (I'm at the tail end of Privateer usefulness in my current one--the frigates are coming out in force, and I am in a land war anyway)

[Ming]

The nice thing is, it becomes obvious quickly when it's time to rush the Privateers home... or to another location. Then you need to find a safe location for them until you can upgrade them to "nice" destroyers". (Assuming you got them tons of nice upgrades)

Once you notice the frigates, it's time to run away and flee

I can usually get 2 or 3 generals in before that happens.
Plus, you can generate a ton of money. Not bad if you are builder trying to avoid early combat.

[DirtyMartini]

What kind of maps are people playing that they completely neglect navy? I hate Archipelago maps, but I've been playing a lot of Medium and Small. On those, navy isn't necessarily essential, but it sure helps. I don't generally bother until caravels, but after that it's fairly important. If you want a Domination or Conquest win, you're going to be doing a lot of trans-oceanic conquering. With a tech advantage, the quickest way to take the coast is with a stack of destroyers, transports and marines. With a big enough stack, you can roll up two cities/turn. With two big stacks you can work both directions around a continent at lightning speed. Even if you're turtling up on your own continent you have to have some navy. Don't you?

I also didn't realize that privateers could generate that many GG points. Thanks.

[wodan11]

I've only ever lost 1 privateer in a game, I think, due to Frigates nabbing me before I could see them coming.

It's kind of like turning on the lights and watching the roaches scurry home. 'course they're MY roaches, but that's the idea of how it's time to get out of Dodge.

Anyway, regarding generals, last game (on Epic) I had 6 Warlords attached to privateers. They all came home and got upgraded. Later on, I was DOWed 3 different times. As I had my own continent, they had to come to me. Heh. I think the best one was Napoleon. His "sneak attack" fleet appeared right next to Joan of Arc, I think it was (Combat V Blitz Destroyer). Bambambambambambambam no more invasion.

Wodan

[Supr49er]

[SIZE=1] ...

I also didn't realize that privateers could generate that many GG points. Thanks.

Once the AI sees your Privateer outside his city, he will start to spam galleys/triremes/caravels. Stack two Privateers, and rack up the combat experience. Plus you get highly promoted destroyers when you upgrade.

[rah]

I had a stack of 3 get demolished by 10 caravels. I usually go at least 4 usually 5 together. Any more and the experience points get spread too thin.

[Supr49er]

Originally posted by rah
I had a stack of 3 get demolished by 10 caravels. I usually go at least 4 usually 5 together. Any more and the experience points get spread too thin.

I roll in two, get them up to 10XP and rotate them home, replaced by two new ones.

[wodan11]

Originally posted by Supr49er


I roll in two, get them up to 10XP and rotate them home, replaced by two new ones.

I get them all the way to Blitz. It means after I upgrade them they'll probably never get another promotion, but heck what more could you want?

Wodan

[Addled Platypus]

anyone GG a ship ??

[wodan11]

Originally posted by Addled Platypus
anyone GG a ship ??

I just said I did it 6 times in my last game.

What's your question about it?

Wodan