Piracy in FfH BtS?

[White Elk]

I'm playing a game as the Lanun and roleplayed the pirates by building an army of Hidden Nationality units and then set out to wreak havoc through the seas. As I was playing I wished there was something a bit more to Piracy rather than just taking out a cities units and then sailing away to find the next victim. Like maybe an economic gain akin to the ransoming of cities in the Warlords Viking scenario. Or perhaps earning some Slave units or Gold.

But then I began to think of BtS Colonies and wondered if conquering a city with HN units could result in the cities reverting to Pirate Colonies? A HN Piracy promotion only granted to the Lanun? For balance sake perhaps these colonies have increased upkeep or maybe they have limitations on city builds like the Kuriotates Settlements (though less severe)? Gaining cities without declaring war and suffering War Weariness is a bonus. But I wonder just how much a differance that will make. And I don't yet know how the Colonies work. It may be that there is little need for a big balance change.

What do you all think of BtS Colonies being used to create
some Piracy in BtS (and if not for FfH, then for a Pirate Mod)?

 

[Kael]

I dont know what we will use colonies for. But the Lanun do gain gold when they destroy enemy ships with their pirates (they are the only civ that does so).

 

[White Elk]

It does make sense that Piracy occurs with shipping rather than city conquest. But I think it would be fun. Perhaps the cities could revert to the Barbarian State? Just throwing out ideas for some potential Lanun flavor or perhaps a seperate Mod. Maybe just to add a Pirate Civ or a complete Mod with Pirate nations and Civilized Nations.

I can't wait to understand the Colonies feature. Perhaps this Piracy can work in a new Mod. One aspect being that pirate 'liberated' Colonies can mutiny and join opposing pirate nations, or join the 'civilized' civs. Or....

The Pirates would have to be the underdog and can't function as effective as a normal Civ. They'd have to use their cunning and wits and embark on daring and dangerous raids in order to survive and prosper. Perhaps the Pirates have a low tech learning rate and can supplement it by capturing slaves from other civs? Perhaps commerce must be 'captured' rather than generated in cities? Perhaps....

 

[brainpan]

In mp mode, we have been playing Terra map lately, and a Lanun player might have more fun with it as opposed to other map options.

We're still trying it out. Unfortunately, the last time the Lanun player got caught sleeping and was "Hammer Timed," but maybe we will have better luck in the future. I'll let you know.

 

[kenken244]

well in bts there are pirates and that allows blockading. it should be avalable to all pirates but the lanun should get a better version. maybe even requit land pirates from pirate coves

 

[MagisterCultuum]

How about if a pirates coves also act like an actual pirate ship, not allowing rival trade routes in the nearby tiles.

 

[Verdian]

Lanun pirate ships could drain gold from the trade routes of the closest non-Lanun costal city, much like Gypsy Wagons. It could funnel it directly to the Lanun, or give the pirate ship a gold promotion (like Orthus's Axe) that they would have to return to their city with in order to get the gold. That way stolen gold could be returned if the pirate ship was sunk.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

That is a very good idea, Verdian. Could the promotion be made to "store" different amounts of gold from different amounts of pirating. Also, if they go with the promotion idea, I would like it if whoever sinks the ship has a chance of getting the gold, not the civ that it was stolen from. Perhaps this could work for other civ's pirates too, but to a lesser degree.

 

[kenken244]

i would think that all ships can steal gold but non pirates can only steal half as much, and if a pirate ship sinks a ship with gold they get all the gold but if any other ship does then it only gets half of it