Privateers vanished in my city...

If you guard a damaged privateer in your city, you have an open borders treaty signed, and a ship of your trading partner arrives at that city: your privateers docked in that city vanish!

I firstly thought this was a bug. But it seems to be a feature!
As privateers are 'hidden nationality' units, it makes sense that, if a foreign ship 'sees' the privateer in your city and calls the authorities, you have no other option than disband the unit to 'deny government involvement in piracy activities'

Also, I have noticed the old Civ 3 trick of guarding your privateers with a frigate in the same tile, doesn't work! It's logic, as 'friendly units' can occupy the same tile in Civ 4, and you can attack the enemy forces in that tile without declaring war on your friend.

Maybe the game should include also diplomatic penalties if an ally sees a privateer with your unit in the same spot or in your cities (-1 You support piracy! We already know...)

Anyway, I think it's good for game balance to force you to repair the damaged privateers at sea.

privateers were no pirates, and were completely "legal", here, a little link to learn more as there seems to be a quite common confusion between the two:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privateers

What if I docked my privateer in different civ's city?

DeadFish said:

What if I docked my privateer in different civ's city?

Click to expand...

I would be surprised if you could bring a Privateer in a different civ's city.
Even among allied civ's the partner isn't supposed to know its your unit.

HiroHito said:

privateers were no pirates, and were completely "legal", here, a little link to learn more as there seems to be a quite common confusion between the two:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privateers

Click to expand...

From the first paragraph:

"Strictly, a privateer was only entitled to attack enemy vessels during wartime. However, states often encouraged attacks on opposing powers while at peace, or on neutral vessels during time of war, blurring the line between privateering and piracy."

...which to me, indicates there isn't that clear of a distinction. For Civ IV purposes, since you can use them well outside of war (and most people *will* use them outside of war), they're more like pirates than private contractors during war.

The difference between Pirates and Privateers is that they are government sanctioned. One example, In the early 1800's after England began capturing American sailors and forcing them to serve the crown against France, America began sending Privateers to attack British shipping. This is one of the spards that started the War of 1812.

Note: Many of the Privateers came out of Baltimore which even had the London Times calling Baltimore a Port of Pirates. Ironically, Baltimore is where England suffered a defeat which turned the tide of the war.

If there is no message whatsoever in game, then I suspect it's a bug - even if it makes sense.

It would be cool if there was a "event" taking place that let you make choices to give the piracy some more feel.

"Russian sailors recognize an unmarked ship in your port and contacts your authorities"

*Prolong beaurocracy until the ship leaves port (-1 Relations with Russia)

*Make a fake arrest and confiscation of the ship (pay some gold, ship will be transported outside your borders fully repaired)

*Arrest the Privateers and disband your unit ( +1 Relations with Russia)

Just an example really.

skallben said:

If there is no message whatsoever in game, then I suspect it's a bug - even if it makes sense.

It would be cool if there was a "event" taking place that let you make choices to give the piracy some more feel.

"Russian sailors recognize an unmarked ship in your port and contacts your authorities"

*Prolong beaurocracy until the ship leaves port (-1 Relations with Russia)

*Make a fake arrest and confiscation of the ship (pay some gold, ship will be transported outside your borders fully repaired)

*Arrest the Privateers and disband your unit ( +1 Relations with Russia)

Just an example really.

Click to expand...

Wow, I like that idea - those kind of random events are pretty cool. The crap about improvements being destroyed and the like is just bad game design and the team of the original Civ 4 game knew it.

Rodman49 said:

Wow, I like that idea - those kind of random events are pretty cool. The crap about improvements being destroyed and the like is just bad game design and the team of the original Civ 4 game knew it.

Click to expand...

Actually, I expanded the concept. Too bad Im not a modder though

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=235937