I agree the AI doesn't navigate the oceans often, but it is definitely capable.
In a Monty game recently, I had already mopped up my continent. I wardecced England, who was largely on her own continent (it was a rare three-continent Continents map). No lie, she sent 4 ships o' the line through deepwater hexes to harass my coastline, wiping out several work boats and pointlessly redlining my coastal cities. Pointless, since she should have brought along an invasion force while she was at it - my entire navy was overseas in the expectation that no AI would ever darken my shores. Without them, what's the use of bombarding the cities?
Nonetheless, I was impressed. She had 2 more frigates in her own coastal waters. That's a lot of naval production.
In a Monty game recently, I had already mopped up my continent. I wardecced England, who was largely on her own continent (it was a rare three-continent Continents map). No lie, she sent 4 ships o' the line through deepwater hexes to harass my coastline, wiping out several work boats and pointlessly redlining my coastal cities. Pointless, since she should have brought along an invasion force while she was at it - my entire navy was overseas in the expectation that no AI would ever darken my shores. Without them, what's the use of bombarding the cities?
Nonetheless, I was impressed. She had 2 more frigates in her own coastal waters. That's a lot of naval production.
