I have been playing around a bit with Privateers and I really like them early on but I feel the concept could be expanded quite a bit. Now keep in mind Im no modder and this is why I share this concept rather than doing it myself.
Also Im thinking about all those vacant Galleons, what about if you could send them on trade missions that gives a few gold and of course it can be hijacked and earn you gold
First off, Im thinking about promotions/abilities for the Privateers.
"Passive ability: If Privateer ends it turns next to a land containing forest or jungle, it will be invisible to all other Civs and fully able to heal."
This because that enemy ships can kill your Privateers even in your own ports currently. Also adds a flavour of "Pirate-zones".
Promotions:
(names are placeholders)
Available after Combat I:
* Manuevering: +25% Strength vs. Frigates.
* Sneaky Tactics: +25% vs. Ship of The Line.
* Ransacking: +25% vs. Galleons.
* Like Minds: +25% vs. Privateers.
These three promotions allow for some "Combined arms" amongst Privateers, rewarding a player for keeping them alive and making them actually stand a chance against other ships. Let's face it, even if you get a Privateer to Combat III it won't stand a chance against a Frigate.
* Looting: Small chance that you will earn gold from sinking enemy ships.
Random Events:
Your Privateer have encountered a Royal Treasure Transport, the Russian Galleon is full of gold!
*Contact Russia and say that you have captured a Privateer with Russian stamped gold. (+2 Reputation with Russia)
*Share the gold with your Privateer. (You recieve (0,5*x) gold and your Privateer recieves 10 experience)
*Expand your Privateer-fleet and invest in Piracy further. (Your Privateer recieves 4 experience all Privateers will now start with Combat I promotion)
*Thank you, we are rich! (You get x gold)
Watching the mighty Russian Frigate sink you captain decides it was his last prey and decides to settle on land for the rest of his life. Allthough still in your service he will provide new Privateer units with +2 experience build in his choice of city.
*Blackbeard settles in Bejing (Privateers built in city Bejing will recieve + 2 experience)
*Blackbeard settles in Shanghai(Privateers built in city Shanghai will recieve + 2 experience)
*Blackbeard settles in Nanjing(Privateers built in city Nanjing will recieve + 2 experience)
Your Privateer manages to take the enemy vessel by surprise and thus it remains unharmed and the expert cannoneers will be enslaved and the equipment and cargo will be "salvaged".
*Your Privateer now got new cannons, cannoneers, sails and a reinforced hull and stories will be written about this fearsome and magnificent boat. (Your Privateer gains +2 strength, +50% attack against Frigates and +2 movement points)
Now these are all just suggestions and ideas, none of these numbers needs to be exact, it it just to give you a general idea allthough I think it actually is a challenge to keep your Privateers alive so thus they should be rewarded for it.
Last of all I came to think of a National Wonder:
Free Trade Zone
*This city gains two addition al traderoutes and can have traderoutes with any Civ.
*All Privateer units can safely harbour here.
*This city gains +100%
when constructing Privateers.
