I built a few of them (HATE their stats, I pump all the navy units up a bit in my mod that I prefer), and the British who owned the seas w/men-o-wars just kicked my ass, so I hid them under frigates and then as I sailed around would lash out at vessels... but the AI would ATTACK my top covering ship even though we were not at war to get to my privateer! It turned out to be a great way to up experience of my navy during peace time. The British threw ship after ship against my later Ironclads and upped a few to Elite status without us ever being at war.

Yeah- what IS up with Pirate stats? The Privateers cost just as much as a Frigate, but the stats make them almost useless.

I think adding +1 to their attack would balance them out since:

They can't bombard like a Frigate
their defense will still be weak, so they will have to stay offensive (like they should).

-edit-

Holy crap!! I just looked in the manual and it states there that the Privateers have 2 attack!!

I am changing it RIGHT NOW!!

Privateers are supposed to be "weakened Frigates", so I'm guessing the the manual error you noted is due to late tweaking. Sounds like a bug worth noting to Firaxis if your stack is getting attacked in peacetime as you describe! After all, a privateer pulls his skull-and-crossbones down, he's just another boat in the fleet.

I fully agree that the stats are silly as they are, with privateers having more-or-less no chance against a caravel! Frigates only have an even chance vs. Caravels too...unless you have a couple of extra Frigates to bombard the Caravel a bit first - then you should be able to kill him off with little chance of losing anything. :goodjob:

The British must have thought those ironclads were stolen by the pirates :)

As for the weak stats, i think being able to weaken an opponent without getting in a war is quite valueable.

I kinda like that they attacked me anyway- but the STATS HAVE GOT TO GO! GEEZ! Battleships are WAY overpowered in light of how crap ass Frigates... It spoils the Age of Sail Era if you know what I mean! :)

At any rate the editor is DEAD on my machine- see my thread:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=7441

this just pisses me OFF!

I don't know if you people realize this or not, but the reason that Privateers stats are so low is because they have a special ability. They can attack other countries without you going to war on the other civ.

Although, I would think it would just be easier to wait and just use bombers to send your opposition back to the stone age.

The special ability that you mention - able to go fight other ships without going to war would be great if the attack was greater than 1.

But otherwise?

I haven't gotten far enough into my game to build Privateers yet (I have a job and a wife and kids, none of which I'm willing to lose at the moment... well, maybe... never mnd). Anyway, is it possible to blockade enemy ports with Privateers? That would add to their value.

That would add to their value if their defense was greater than 1- and NO you cannot blockade ports with them- you need to be in open war to do that.

The stats are even worse when you factor in the 3(!) movement rate- firgates are 4 and -ahem- so are Galleons! Nu-uh not in MY mod... (as soon as the bugs get worked out in the editor, that is!)

In C3C, they have an upgraded attack value of 2, and can enslave enemy ships (chance = 1/3 I believe) to create new privateers. Movement of all ships, including privateers has increased too. The strategy of using a frigate as protection works, and I am not sure if the British attacking your ironclads was a bug that was fixed or not, but anyways. Privateers are better in C3C, and are actually effective at devastating enemy ships.

Batho

In C3C, they have an upgraded attack value of 2, and can enslave enemy ships (chance = 1/3 I believe) to create new privateers. Movement of all ships, including privateers has increased too. The strategy of using a frigate as protection works, and I am not sure if the British attacking your ironclads was a bug that was fixed or not, but anyways. Privateers are better in C3C, and are actually effective at devastating enemy ships.

Batho


These upgrades have made them much more fun to use, and worthwhile :cool: :D . Love to :hammer: enemy ships without having
to go to war ;) , might enslave too :lol: :cooool:

About those ships... if u load them with military units, do they fight better? I mean that would be logical since they have a bigger crew...

About those ships... if u load them with military units, do they fight better? I mean that would be logical since they have a bigger crew...
No, they don't. Those landlubbers would just be self-loading ballast. It takes years to make an able seaman in the age of sail. Arrrr! Avast ye matey!

I am very happy with the new stats and capabilities of the privateers in C3C. I almost always play on an archipalego map because I love utilizing a navy to its fullest potential, especiialy during modern times. In my vanilla Civ3 days I tried a couple of times to utilize a fleet of privateers to weaken enemies w/out going to war and it never worked, but now with a bit of luck this is possible and it adds yet another amazing dimension to gameplay, [/I]especially[I] now that I can follow this up with a surprise ambush on foreign shores with my berzerkers!! So much fun!!

I am very happy with the new stats and capabilities of the privateers in C3C. I almost always play on an archipalego map because I love utilizing a navy to its fullest potential, especiialy during modern times. In my vanilla Civ3 days I tried a couple of times to utilize a fleet of privateers to weaken enemies w/out going to war and it never worked, but now with a bit of luck this is possible and it adds yet another amazing dimension to gameplay, [/I]especially[I] now that I can follow this up with a surprise ambush on foreign shores with my berzerkers!! So much fun!!

I too am enjoying the Vikings in C3C :viking: :cooool: . I haven't used P's
very much though, you a good case for them. What tech is necessary for
the privateers? I'm currently playing as Vikings in @930AD :scan: :confused: .

Magnetism is the tech required for Privateers.
Privateers also required Iron and Saltpeter.

:thanx: Gumby78. I could not remember just now :blush: .

Yes, use privateers, they seem to be awesome in everything but vanilla...which I have...crap...

just don't wear the pirate hat outside the house.

The enslave ability has made me build some of them. At least I have the chance of taking over some of the AI's annoying fleet of caravels.

Nothing better than a Frigate - Privateer - Combo - except you have the great Man-o-War... :)

You built up a big fleet in no time, if you are lucky you get quite a lot of the 1/3 enslavement chance of the Privateer.

Strategy is, cover with Frigates (AI will not attack if not at war) for defence, then bomb the enemy with Frigates before (war) or simply sacrifice some Privateers, you can afford losing one, the next one will probably kill the Galleon or whatever... and perhaps create a new privateer.

anyone else think they should make a modern couter part to the priveteer

yes, they need to go around in stacks of at least 3 (preferably 5) especially as being boats they cant heal.. then you just repeatedly attack loan ships (like real pirates did... avast me hearty and all that jazz) and replenish your stack with the enslave...
its not game winning, but especially in boring periods its fun as...

I built a few of them (HATE their stats, I pump all the navy units up a bit in my mod that I prefer), and the British who owned the seas w/men-o-wars just kicked my ass, so I hid them under frigates and then as I sailed around would lash out at vessels... but the AI would ATTACK my top covering ship even though we were not at war to get to my privateer! It turned out to be a great way to up experience of my navy during peace time. The British threw ship after ship against my later Ironclads and upped a few to Elite status without us ever being at war.
Tried that...aint workin' for me...What version of Civ are you using? I have PTW 1.27f.
All the ships in the world are after my Privateers, but if I put on under another ship, they all split for safer waters.

Tried that...aint workin' for me...What version of Civ are you using? I have PTW 1.27f.
All the ships in the world are after my Privateers, but if I put on under another ship, they all split for safer waters.
That was in November 2001, Civ was a whole lot different without the patches. You can't compare.