Canal Improvement [IMPLEMENTED]

[nci]

@nci
Would you explain your strategy with them?

I had my reservations about sharing my ideas prior to release, since WTP team might be tempted to nerf them. But, here goes.

First of all, @ConjurerDragon was likely referring to my old post

This makeshift city-fort canal system looks fine and dandy, right? Well, it is, and unlike canal improvement allows fast Sloops to pass. However, my general strategy differs from @raystuttgart a lot.

I usually play as Jens Munk of Denmark, and prefer having just 3, 5 max super-developed colonies over a large empire. I also spawn many privateers and wage wars on other European nations to get many GGs and GAs (and use XP from GGs to boost ships instead of land units - which is no longer possible in next release, by the way) - all to build a super-powerful navy, and obliterate King's expeditionary forces at sea - without letting them land at all.

Wars cause unhappiness. Each small colony requires investments to keep citizens happy, and frankly too much micromanagement is tiresome to me - I have enough on my plate with myriads of privateers and private frigates. Sacrificing the speed of Sloops, I can create fort-canal-lake system without placing colonies I don't really need for anything besides transportation. For my strategy, it is a major win.

By the way, since I'm going all-in with this discussion - here's my best use of fort. Absolutely don't want to set up a colony there - it would invite King's landing party. There are ways around this - but it's much more straightforward to just use a fort.

Spoiler :

 

[raystuttgart]

But, here goes.

I see no problem with that usage of Forts.
(And it will still be possible as we decided to not change Forts.)
Canal however will not work like that for your Military Ships.
(It only allows Coastal Ships and Fishing Boats to pass.)

Puh, I am relieved ... exploit prevented.
(Already saw something like that comming thus limiting as I did.)