Privateer Purposes

[Raulito]

Do you use Privateers to getting your AI opponents into making more Navy units. Do you build them just to jet the extra from pillaging?Anyway, in how many ways do you use them?

Most of the time. I just attack anything(Caravels most likely) just for the experience. I once got a Priva till it needed 82 pts for next promotion but Frigates started being everywhere.

 

[dirtyparrot]

They're pretty good for GG points or unlocking HE (if you still need a level 4 unit). I'll sometimes pillage an AI's resource and then sell them one of my own.

 

[Paperbag_Hobo]

I find in most of my games there's very little time between getting privateers and my opponents having frigates. Astronomy is rarely one of my early priorities, I'd rather get steel with lib.

However, on those occasions where I do get privateers early enough, I build stacks of 3-4 and use them to pillage resources/blockade whoever needs to be taken down a notch at the time. Having them all medic promoted lets them get back to business quickly after taking down caravels.

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

And if you attach a GG to one and give him the leadership promotion you can upgrade him to one seriously devestating destroyer (or is it battleship ?? I always forget) .

whether this is optimal I don`t know , but it sure is fun .

 

[z0wb13]

And if you attach a GG to one and give him the leadership promotion you can upgrade him to one seriously devestating destroyer (or is it battleship ?? I always forget) .

whether this is optimal I don`t know , but it sure is fun .

destroyer. i'd say it might work as a medic 3 fast move unit. plus, you can give them blitz+leadership to mop up.

but generally, no. it's a bad move. naval units are ultimately support units. my favorite attached GGs are usually CR 3 C5 units.

 

[JulesDogg]

I make lots of privateers and use them to pillage and to fight. In my last game they gave me around 3000 gold, a great general, unlocked HE & WP, devasted the population in about 14 foreign cities and then provided a fleet of highly promoted destroyers.

I love privateers and start building them as soon as possible

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

I make lots of privateers and use them to pillage and to fight. In my last game they gave me around 3000 gold, a great general, unlocked HE & WP, devasted the population in about 14 foreign cities and then provided a fleet of highly promoted destroyers.

I love privateers and start building them as soon as possible

Not that useful for higher difficulties though, since the window for that is too small (if any exists).

 

[smackthewise]

Not that useful for higher difficulties though

I play on Monarch usually. I always play on Epic (even better on Marathon speed) and always have a good chance to exploit them. If you play continents you can often send them to another Civ if others get Frigates early.

As mentioned, I often get a GG for my efforts.

I can highly recommend Legends of Revolution for BTS if you love navies!!!! Many more Naval units, AI actually builds proper navies and the Great Unit, the Barbary Corsair is great fun and an early privateer (but well balanced).

 

[JulesDogg]

Not that useful for higher difficulties though, since the window for that is too small (if any exists).

That game was on Emperor/Epic speed/Std Map/Washington/Contintents/Build 3.17.

I dare say this wouldn't work on immortal +

Dunno if running 3.17 makes this easier because I noticed that the AI were very slow to get their frigates up and running. As soon as one AI got frigates I moved the privateers to other frigate free areas. Once 3 AIs got frigates I retreated entirely and prepared for the upgrade to destroyer. Gave me a huge edge.

 

[KaytieKat]

Hi

Another handy use for privateers even after the AI's start getting frigates and it's no longer safe for them to roam out in open waters is to keep some in your port cities and have em pick off stray caravals or even unescortated galleons that move by your coast.

Kaytie

 

[smackthewise]

keep some in your port cities and have em pick off stray caravals or even unescortated galleons (sic)

I reckon this was fixed in 3.19, I recall some time ago they'd take out your Privateers even in port every time. Before they were safe in port, I didn't use them extensively either. They're a lot of fun, but I wouldn't argue that they were generally worth the hammers.

 

[logotet]

Civs you have open borders with will attack your Privateers even in your cities. However, you may use a seaside fort as a free haven. The fort must be within your borders though.

 

[mariogreymist]

Privateers are also excellent for a few very specialized uses. One of my favorites is to allow extended periods of pacifism with a relatively small land army. Their speed and free sentry promotion makes them excellent for use as naval scouts, enabling you to know when and where an enemy will attack. This works well in isolation, or with predictable and friendly continental neighbors. A relatively small stack can handle most intercontinental invasions, assuming a proper balance of forces, and the ability to get siege initiative on the turn the invaders land.

When you have a chem monopoly, they are ridiculously powerful units which allow you to be the only colonial power on the globe by picketing unsettled islands and sinking every galleon they see.

and of course, a couple of blitz destroyer upgrades (assuming a tech lead) can be a game-breaking power. There is nothing quite like goading Shaka into launching his invasion fleet (of galleons/frigates/SoLs) only to sink it with two ships in two turns as your own invasion fleet hits his shores. A thing of beauty, for certain.