Hi everyone. I'd like to introduce a major imbalance during the Rennaissance era: Frigates. These units particularly annoy me because there is no land-based defense to them until the industrial era (artillery). This requires that every civ on the coast must mass frigates/privateers during the Rennaissance, and whoever gets the most probably wins the game.
Lets examine frigates power/defense compared to land-based units.
Frigate -
Power: 25
Ranged Power: 28
Range: 2
Movement: 5
Cost: 185 Hammers, 1 Iron
Possible Land-Based Defenses:
Crossbowman -
Power: 13
Ranged Power: 18
Range: 2
Movement: 2
Cost: 120 Hammers
Cannon -
Power: 14 (No Defensive Bonuses, Must Set-Up to attack)
Ranged Power: 20 (+200% Bonus vs Cities)
Range: 2
Movement: 2
Cost: 185 Hammers
Its obvious how far out-classed the land-units are. (Power 25 vs 13 and 14 respectively, Ranged 28 vs 18 and 20, Move 5 vs Move 2). In a relatively straight coastline, the numbers available to shoot will be relatively even. The frigates will absolutely wreck either cannons or crossbowmen, even if they have defensive bonuses from hills (25%).
It gets worse. Looking at available promotions, Frigates have access to the Bombardment 1,2,3 promotion (+33% vs Land Units). Lets look at a Doubly promoted frigate vs a Doubly promoted Cannon/Crossbowman (Usual in this situation would be Accuracy 1/2 for +15% Ranged Combat Strength vs targets in open terrain.)
Frigate:
Power 25 +66% = 41.5
Ranged Power 28 +66% = 46.48
Cannon:
Power 14 +0% = 14
Ranged Power 20 +30% = 26
Crossbowman:
Power 13 +0% = 13
Ranged Power 18 +30% = 23.4
So at equal cost, cannon vs frigate, we have a 41.5/46.48 vs a 14/26. This is completely one-sided. Likewise, for the crossbowman which is 66% of the cost, we have a 41.5/46.48 vs 13/23.4. Even with substantial defensive bonuses, it will not get close to the frigates power.
As you can see, the only way to stop frigates is with.. frigates. Nobody really wants to play a game where everybody just masses the same units (ie. Horseman, Longsword nerfs previously). One option would be to nerf frigates, but I don't like this option. They do deserve to be very powerful. This is historically accurate and has flavor.
However, if we look at history, cannons in forts do quite well vs frigates. Thus I suggest this change (or perhaps with slightly different numbers):
1. Give cannons + 100% ranged combat strength vs boats.
2. Give units in forts/citadels +100% defense vs naval ranged attacks, including cannons (allow defensive bonus from forts for cannons).
This would make a doubly upgraded cannon in a fort vs a double upgraded frigate be as follows:
Cannon:
Power 14 +100% = 28
Ranged Power 20 +130% = 46
Frigate:
Power 25 +66% = 41.5
Ranged Power 28 +66% = 46.48
You can see that the fight still favors the frigate. But at least the cannon has a chance now.
Lets examine frigates power/defense compared to land-based units.
Frigate -
Power: 25
Ranged Power: 28
Range: 2
Movement: 5
Cost: 185 Hammers, 1 Iron
Possible Land-Based Defenses:
Crossbowman -
Power: 13
Ranged Power: 18
Range: 2
Movement: 2
Cost: 120 Hammers
Cannon -
Power: 14 (No Defensive Bonuses, Must Set-Up to attack)
Ranged Power: 20 (+200% Bonus vs Cities)
Range: 2
Movement: 2
Cost: 185 Hammers
Its obvious how far out-classed the land-units are. (Power 25 vs 13 and 14 respectively, Ranged 28 vs 18 and 20, Move 5 vs Move 2). In a relatively straight coastline, the numbers available to shoot will be relatively even. The frigates will absolutely wreck either cannons or crossbowmen, even if they have defensive bonuses from hills (25%).
It gets worse. Looking at available promotions, Frigates have access to the Bombardment 1,2,3 promotion (+33% vs Land Units). Lets look at a Doubly promoted frigate vs a Doubly promoted Cannon/Crossbowman (Usual in this situation would be Accuracy 1/2 for +15% Ranged Combat Strength vs targets in open terrain.)
Frigate:
Power 25 +66% = 41.5
Ranged Power 28 +66% = 46.48
Cannon:
Power 14 +0% = 14
Ranged Power 20 +30% = 26
Crossbowman:
Power 13 +0% = 13
Ranged Power 18 +30% = 23.4
So at equal cost, cannon vs frigate, we have a 41.5/46.48 vs a 14/26. This is completely one-sided. Likewise, for the crossbowman which is 66% of the cost, we have a 41.5/46.48 vs 13/23.4. Even with substantial defensive bonuses, it will not get close to the frigates power.
As you can see, the only way to stop frigates is with.. frigates. Nobody really wants to play a game where everybody just masses the same units (ie. Horseman, Longsword nerfs previously). One option would be to nerf frigates, but I don't like this option. They do deserve to be very powerful. This is historically accurate and has flavor.
However, if we look at history, cannons in forts do quite well vs frigates. Thus I suggest this change (or perhaps with slightly different numbers):
1. Give cannons + 100% ranged combat strength vs boats.
2. Give units in forts/citadels +100% defense vs naval ranged attacks, including cannons (allow defensive bonus from forts for cannons).
This would make a doubly upgraded cannon in a fort vs a double upgraded frigate be as follows:
Cannon:
Power 14 +100% = 28
Ranged Power 20 +130% = 46
Frigate:
Power 25 +66% = 41.5
Ranged Power 28 +66% = 46.48
You can see that the fight still favors the frigate. But at least the cannon has a chance now.