Pirates

[Harovan]

Some discussions took place, for instance here. Most people find privateers useless. I use them sometimes, but not often. They are very weak.

[Random Passerby]

On a couple ocassions I've had games where magnetism got reached quite a bit before the medieval era ended, which helps make them a little more useful. They're still only really valuable for a few very specific applications; they're nice for defending a weak neighbor that you don't want a rival civ to conquer but aren't prepared for or don't plan on conquering yourself.

[Coracle]

Privateers, and submarines, are a waste of time and I long ago Edited them into more useful units.

In reality, in history, privateers and subs were designed to attack enemy MERCHANT shipping - not enemy warships. I could have a hundred privateers or subs on an enemy's ocean trade routes but it would accomplish NOTHING.

Firaxis does not have the vaguest idea what navies are truly for.
And this is one of the top three or four problems with the game. Even Civ 2 treated navies better; at least with it we had to actually deliver frieight or convoys to a distant port to get the payoff. Doing so was always satisfying, just as it was having a cruiser on patrol sink an enemy convoy. With Civ 3 trade is just a tedious abstraction.

[HazieDaVampire]

would be cool if you could still se the convoys, and would be even better if you've been attacked and your citys no longer produce as much food, and you could buy it off allies. I really want to have to defend convoys of food and oil like in WW2!

[Panag]

Originally posted by WarpStorm
I've used them before. Their nationality is hidden. They are overpriced for the power (even with hidden nationality). I lowered the cost and the computer players still didn't build them. I don't think it is hard-coded not to build privateers, I just think that hidden nationality isn't factored into the cost/benefit equation.

hi ,

they dont have the "hidden nationality" complete , example ; when you set sail with your privateer , and you see a new civ on an other continent , that civ shall contact you , ..........

they should fix this , ....

have a nice day

[Destroyer]

Im sure the ai privateers are still in their civs colours.

[Panag]

Originally posted by Destroyer
Im sure the ai privateers are still in their civs colours.

hi ,

nope , "neutral gray" , .......

have a nice day