Keep those old Privateers, and build a few more before they become obsolete

[Khan Quest]

When playing a game with overseas rivals, they often send spies via Caravel. Build a few extra Privateers, and keep them around to sink the Caravels. Plus, the extra GG points are alway nice.

[TheMeInTeam]

This is a bit of an anomaly for me...I almost never see the AI sending spies overseas, even on high difficulties. It's a good tip if they're doing it though.

Note: If the AI is still sending caravels your way by the time privateers are obsolete...er...why aren't you just going to the source of the spies and "ending" it? Obsolete privateers imply oil navies and probably infantry at least. Caravels with spies imply rifles. At best. Go kill.

[CCRunner]

I usually just keep my privateers to gain the gold bonus.

[kazapp]

I guess you can still use Privateers in later eras? You just have to protect them with Destroyers...

[r_rolo1]

^^You can only protect privateers with destroyers in war ( remember that the AI does not consider them as your units.... ), but if you're in war with a civ , you can't use privateers to cash in ( I discovered that in the hard way.... but it makes sense: imagine that you could screen cash privateers with destroyers: that would be like extending the privateers age for some more centuries ( with a ocasional self pillaging of oil to allow more privateers ) ... and having unflagged pirates protected by a flagged peaceful fleet is somewhat ... )

[Daedal]

Interesting, but tedious. Like TMIT said, if you have that much of a tech advantage just go kill them and move up a level in the next game.

[UncleJJ]

The Op is correct. Privateers can be useful long after they have been obsoleted by destroyers. I like to keep a few of them around usually hidden in one of my ports or a fort inside my culture, if an enemy ship is near. They shoot out and can sink enemy caravels and galleons cruising around in peacetime. The AI will often make colonies that are nearly useless and these will be dreadfully backward.

They can also blockade the enemy coast as soon as you make a temporary peace treaty intending to war again soon. Of course you have to watch out for everyone's frigates and any better warships but hopefully they've been sunk and then your privateers get a free ride for a time until the warships get rebuilt. If you have enough of an espionage advantage you can see what the enemy is building in his ports and retreat your privateers just before they finish (it helps to have a city or fort they can duck into. This draws the enemy frigates or destroyers out of port as they "patrol" in pairs. This makes them sitting ducks for your main fleet when you declare war again.

Privateers can be very useful if you have the right situation in a tightly contested game. They are cheap and let you still make war in peacetime, and that in turn forces the AI to behave in ways you want, starving their cities, delaying their research and causing them to build a navy which in turn makes your land conquest easier.

[6-Star General]

I suspect that the AI is using caravels because the OP doesn't have an open border treaty with them, and otherwise there's no way to get the spies to the shore.

[johnny_rico]

I also keep privateers around for the duration of the game. They're easy to hide and can pick off galleons and caravels for a long time. I've had control of a continent and still had my water supply poisoned so some AIs must send spies overseas. If you keep them around its pretty easy to get them to 10 xps; once they hit that plateau I consider upgrading them. The sentry promotion carries over so they're very valuable whether promoting up the combat or navigation line.

[Diamondeye]

Privateers can gain XP from AIs you are not at war with. Get them to drill IV and they can do this every single turn. Get them to Combat III + Blitz and they can do it lots of times every once in a while. If you manage to get to both, attach a GG and upgrade (without losing XP) to a modern ship. This Destroyer will send fleets of Frigates to their final resting place with only a few turns to heal. Even more effective with Leadership (since they then yield at least 2 XP per kill, allowing for something like 20 XP on one turn )

[Orzio]

Off topic but on privateers subject. Does the great wall protect cultureral borders from prpivateers?

[CCRunner]

No. The great wall only protects from barbarians, not other civs even if you can't see the civ. Plus, it only protects on land (I think)

[Orzio]

I know the great wall only protects from barbarians but if I rememebr corectly privateers has same colour and flag as barbarians thats why I asked

[Diamondeye]

GW effect: Barbarians cannot enter borders ON THIS CONTINENT.

Since water is not continental, I guess even normal barbarian ships will be able to enter.

[Orzio]

True but why wouldent the coastline be a part of the continent but I guess it depends how you define a continent.

Thanks for the answer . I was almost sure GW dident affect privateers but I was curious about why it dident and the coast and continent explains that

[TheMeInTeam]

GW does NOT even stop barb galleys. It surely won't stop privateers. Kind of annoying, but realistic.

[Diamondeye]

Originally Posted by TheMeInTeam

GW does NOT even stop barb galleys. It surely won't stop privateers. Kind of annoying, but realistic.

Pirate 1: Ho-ho, matey, let us be plunderin them romans!
Pirate 2: Arh, but they 'ave built a wall around thems empire!
Pirate 1: Bugger, We be headin' fer England then, after all?
Pirate 2: Aye, G'd'idea, matey.

... Wouldn't make a lot of sense...

[Sib]

I don't think I've ever seen a privateer that doesn't belong to me! Does the AI ever build them?

[Everest]

Yes. It does.

[Diamondeye]

Originally Posted by Everest

Yes. It does.

Prove it, please. Can we see a screenie?