How the heck do i use the friggen privateers?

[FeathersMcGraw]

In the one game where I tried to make use of privateers, I needed about a 3:1 ratio of veteran privateers to other civilization's galleys/caravels. I chose to spend my production energies cranking out settlers, workers, and defense units for a new continent instead of trying to blockade the computer from getting there. I have to admit, this made for a very interesting 1700-1900 imperialist age, as the computers and I raced to claim unused space on the free continent, but it also suggested to me that the privateer is essentially a worthless unit with the current settings.

I'd really like to see the numbers tweaked so that a privateer should be able to take out a single galley (but has tougher odds trying to take out two without repairs), maybe 50/50 against a caravel, and may require force of numbers to overwhelm a galleon. Yes, I know I could go after the game with an editor, but I barely have time enough to finish my games now, let alone playtest and balance.

[Plutarck]

The reason the barbarian ships were so easy is because the player receives a bonus when attacking barbarians which is decided based upon what difficulty you're playing at. I believe on the easiest level the bonus is as much as 150% against barbarians.

That's why the barbarian's seem so easy while the other civs seem so damn hard.

[player1]

I also think taht Caralvels should have a defense of 1, since in those days, ship cannons where not yet discovered.

Anyway I don't see a reason of having Caravel with defense higher that Privaters (these ships where small).

That way Privatters & Frigates can sink Galleys, Caravels & Privateers easily (if attacking), but Galleons & Firagtes only if they are lucky.

[Marquis de Sodaq]

I don't even have the game yet, so this is just a shot in the dark:

Does the privateer behave like the partisan in CivII? That is, does it have a huge attack bonus against any ships with an attack strength of zero? (Are there ships with an attack = 0?) Or is the only bonus the safety from a bad reputation?

Could borders have an effect? That is, if the ship is attacked within your borders, or outside it's own, is there a bonus?

It sounds odd that a unit designed for "attacking" would be so weak.

[Auslander]

I think the privateer should be more powerful ( 2/1/4.) However I have seen my privateers defeat enemy frigates. One thing I found is the AI will hunt down your privateers. Even if they haven't done anything yet. My allies typically destroy my privateers even when they are on enemy territory. Like when I was trying to secretly help the AI in a naval battle, he attacked my ship! Ignoring the ships he was attacking. Oh well, that's how it should be I guess.

I would have made the privateer an automated only unit. (or maybe have a (P)irate command that works like (E)xplore) Which is how a privateer works anyway. They are commissioned by a government then operate for their own profit. They would automatically target the most wealthy Civs (except the commissioning civ) since they would be the ones carrying gold, etc.

Also I have never seen the AI create their own privateers. Wonder if that's because it has the stats of a floating chariot.

[marcuspeddle]

Inspiration for Privateers?

Perhaps the people at Firaxis were thinking of this song when they designed the privateer with its somewhat weak attack.

Barrett's Privateers
by Stan Rogers

Oh the year was seventeen seventy eight
I wish I were in Sherbrooke now!
A letter of marque came from the King
To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen
God Damn them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers.

Oh Elcid Barrett cried the town,
For twenty brave men, all fishermen, who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew,

The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight.
She'd a list to port and her sails in rags,
And a cook in the scuppers with staggers and jags.

On the King's birthday we put to sea.
We were ninety-one days to Montego bay,
Pumping like madmen all the way.

On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again.
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight

The Yankee lay low down with gold.
She was broad and fat and loose in stays,
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days

Then at length we stood two cables away.
Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din,
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in.

The Antelope shook and pitched on her side.
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs,
And the maintruck carried off both me legs.

So here I lay in my twenty-third year.
It's been six years since we sailed away,
And I just made Halifax yesterday.

Copyright Fogarty's Cove Music, Inc.