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It's unanimous that privateers are completely useless as an offensive unit. *However*, they are now my favorite unit in the game and I produce as many as I can before they become obsolete and you can't build them anymore (question: not sure, but can anyone say when precisely this is? That is, what tech or resource renders them obsolete? maybe saltpeter?).
Here's why. I haven't experimented heavily, but it seems to me as though the AI will attack an undocked privateer mercilessly (I think perhaps they will ignore them or the pirates become less important if their navy is otherwise commited, i.e. the civ is at war with someone, but I'm not sure. Also an AI escort, that is, a powerful unit protecting a galleon or transport, rarely attacks), commiting their entire navy to hunt down this pirate.
BUT if you stack a privateer with a more powerful unit it is the powerful unit that defends.
*And neither you or the attacking civ are held responsible*
So don't think as a privateer as an actual combat unit. Think of it merely a flagship to accompany other units, that declares: "ARG, I'm a pirate, come attack me!"
I have used this to great effect. Sail the high seas with your pirate BATTLESHIP (or battleship armada...no limit to the stacking). The other civs HATE pirates and you can potentially wipe out their whole navy without going to war. In one instance I had 3 civs throw at LEAST 50 ironclads and caravels (no more pesky units zipping along my coast every turn) up against my pirate fleet of 3 battleships (note: escorting a single regular privateer) and lose every ship.
This seems like an obvious tactic, but I thought I would post it. I searched the forums and no one has seemed to discuss this (very fun) aspect of privateers.
Careful though...the AI is somewhat smart, and will catch on it seems. After losing so much the take to simply bombarding the pirates and running. lol but it's fun to watch anyway. Also...interesting to note that in one game, I had a 'gracious' relationship with the romans for 1000s of years, but after caesar wasted 90% of his fleet (ALOT of ships) trying to take out a single "pirate" battleship, he became annoyed. No way to know, but I think it was connected. It's as if he's mad because he knows it's my pirate he can't take out.
Any thoughts or suggestions or stories?
Here's why. I haven't experimented heavily, but it seems to me as though the AI will attack an undocked privateer mercilessly (I think perhaps they will ignore them or the pirates become less important if their navy is otherwise commited, i.e. the civ is at war with someone, but I'm not sure. Also an AI escort, that is, a powerful unit protecting a galleon or transport, rarely attacks), commiting their entire navy to hunt down this pirate.
BUT if you stack a privateer with a more powerful unit it is the powerful unit that defends.
*And neither you or the attacking civ are held responsible*
So don't think as a privateer as an actual combat unit. Think of it merely a flagship to accompany other units, that declares: "ARG, I'm a pirate, come attack me!"
I have used this to great effect. Sail the high seas with your pirate BATTLESHIP (or battleship armada...no limit to the stacking). The other civs HATE pirates and you can potentially wipe out their whole navy without going to war. In one instance I had 3 civs throw at LEAST 50 ironclads and caravels (no more pesky units zipping along my coast every turn) up against my pirate fleet of 3 battleships (note: escorting a single regular privateer) and lose every ship.
This seems like an obvious tactic, but I thought I would post it. I searched the forums and no one has seemed to discuss this (very fun) aspect of privateers.
Careful though...the AI is somewhat smart, and will catch on it seems. After losing so much the take to simply bombarding the pirates and running. lol but it's fun to watch anyway. Also...interesting to note that in one game, I had a 'gracious' relationship with the romans for 1000s of years, but after caesar wasted 90% of his fleet (ALOT of ships) trying to take out a single "pirate" battleship, he became annoyed. No way to know, but I think it was connected. It's as if he's mad because he knows it's my pirate he can't take out.
Any thoughts or suggestions or stories?
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