privateers are stupid

[Harbringer]

ok, im the celts and the ONLY civ left on the planet is the English, the only civ. I was sending over transports of men to my cities on the english captured cities(im not at war yet) and my entire stack of transports is killed by privateers. Geeeeeee.....i wonder who could have sent them out.

Shouldnt it ask to declare war for an action like this, there the only civ left!

 

[IXIRandyIXI]

No. You should've protected your transports. You didn't, so you paid the price.

 

[vmxa]

The game has a wacky concept. Privateers have unknown nationality and the IA pretends no one can figure it out. So you see them sitting in one civs harbor and not being attack and go hummm. I know who those belong to, but if they attack you, it is not a declaration of war.

You are allowed to kill them freely so, just do that. Never send out unescorted transports, unless yo know the path is safe. At least have a few empty ones to take the hit.

 

[Peepers]

My sympathies on your drowned troops, D.F. I find privateers useful. Depending on the ratio of water on the map, I'll build a few pirates as soon as I get magnetism. Of course, they are much improved in Conquests over Vanilla/PTW -- they gain speed, free defensive bombard, and enslave ability. What fun! You can reduce/control opponent shipping, without starting war. Keep in mind, however, that it does sour the AI's mood when their boats are sunk out of hand. It makes me wonder if the AI gets peeved overall, or just at you, despite the hidden nationality.
Somewhat agree with IXIRandyIXI: England is Seafaring in C3C, and even before that, Lizzie tends to focus on naval power. It's to be expected.

 

[TimBentley]

Keep in mind, however, that it does sour the AI's mood when their boats are sunk out of hand. It makes me wonder if the AI gets peeved overall, or just at you, despite the hidden nationality.

It gives a temporary attitude hit just to you. It's interesting that often both you and the AI know who owns the privateers and yet at the same time "don't know."

 

[Stylesjl]

Privatters are so useless that is why i modded it to make them stronger so it was better.

Some advice:

Never mod a privateer with bombard ability, the AI goes nuts to build them and when a bombard is sucessful it shows who did it (not declare war, but "Indian bombardment destroyed improvements near Munich!"

Never make land units hidden because they can capture cities (with no resisting citizens), and use the enemys roads (with a ROP, and it still stays even though the units are waging unofficial war)

 

[Eetu Pellonpää]

Some advice:

Never mod a privateer with bombard ability, the AI goes nuts to build them and when a bombard is sucessful it shows who did it (not declare war, but "Indian bombardment destroyed improvements near Munich!"

Never make land units hidden because they can capture cities (with no resisting citizens), and use the enemys roads (with a ROP, and it still stays even though the units are waging unofficial war)

Good things to know, thanks!