Privateers must be awesome!

[Rasczak2]

Because the Governer keeps buidling them, in modern times. I must have like 20, but he keeps buidling them!

 

[Richard III]

You know what? I've never even SEEN one, or had my governor try to build one. Strange, but true.

 

[Zouave]

Actually, the braindead governors seem obsessed with building paratroopers.

 

[Dell19]

They just pick a unit and then try and build it in every city that you control. Its always great how before a war you have to select to build troops yourself and then after a war you have to choose to build improvements yourself...

 

[The Last Conformist]

Has anyone actually had any use of Privateers? With their pathetic ADM they're little threat even to Caravels!

Just yesterday, the computer decided to attack one of my battleships with a privateer. T'was kind of cute ...

 

[mcdh]

privateers are as useless as explorers, maybe even worse.

Why do you guys trust the stupid governers to productions?

 

[Rich]

The gov`s watch what u do. So if u accept the building of privateers often they will choose to build them more often.

I think they also try to push what u need. Or what they think u need.

P`haps if u are in a weak position in the world or atleast in naval terms they choose to build privateers. This way they can attack without retribution.

 

[punkbass2000]

Explorers aren't useless, they're great for pillaging stuff and denying resources. The main use I can see for privateers is blocking somebody's harbour while you're at peace with them.

 

[Sodak]

Privateers are not worthless if you edit their stats. I've found a 3/2/5 works well - it can sink my wooden ships, but not my modern ones. I've made this my default barbarian boat, too - one to really watch out for in the early game!

You are right, tho, the default stats give you an expensive giant turd to set out to sea.

 

[Sir Yelof]

I haven't tried privateers since I moved up to Emperor level games, but on lower levels in games that have a definite sea superiority flavor to them, privateers are invaluable. I expect to use them when I need a sea component on the higher levels, because it's harder to outproduce the enemy, meaning that 'guerilla units' like privateers are necessary.

The ability to sink a caravel or other early transport without triggering war, or to sit your privateer in foreign sea territory for spying without being asked to move (which is what I use subs for in later times), can really give you an edge.

--Yelof

 

[andyo]

i think privateers are very useful - sure, you may need a couple of them to sink some kinds of ships - but if you use them in a pack, you can hurt you opponents without starting a war - i use a group of 4-5 together all the time with sucess - besides, don't forget, when you kill a transport you kill what is on that transport - so it is an easy way to plink away at them enemy, and make it difficult for them to settle new islands - without starting a war

 

[Zarn]

Originally posted by andyo
i think privateers are very useful - sure, you may need a couple of them to sink some kinds of ships - but if you use them in a pack, you can hurt you opponents without starting a war - i use a group of 4-5 together all the time with sucess - besides, don't forget, when you kill a transport you kill what is on that transport - so it is an easy way to plink away at them enemy, and make it difficult for them to settle new islands - without starting a war

I second andyo, because that is what I do as well.

 

[Richard III]

A big yes on the explorers not being useless; I finally tried them as a fifth column during a Russian-Japanese war yesterday.

I was looking for revenge against the Japanese for two previous attacks, and wanted to take their coal away. So, while my main attack forces moved into position, my three explorers leapt ahead and cut the roads to the main target before my force arrived, preventing any reinforcement by the enemy. And then one cut the coal as well, doing in his newfound rail capacity. Finally, one even survived long enough to run to the mountains and do in some iron to boot Quite effective. Although they get captured instead of killed, which is annoying.

 

[Slive Draver]

I swear by the things...I constantly buile 'em in one of my cities...They are great for sinking ships when you don't want a war. Say you hate the Greeks for some reason(like because they took your favorite city...how I hate you, Alexander). With a group of 5 privateers, you can pretty much wipe out their navy pretty quick...and not suffer any consequences

 

[Sullla]

I highly recommend turning off the governor and selecting "always build another of same unit" in the preferences menu to avoid getting a million outdated or worthless units.

While I'm sure that privateers can be used to sink enemy ships or spy on enemy territory, this is probably a waste of shields in most circumstances. Sea combat is rarely decisive in Civ3, and I always prioritize building land units or improvements over naval units. In most cases, I can get by with nothing except transport units.

 

[IronicWarrior19]

Privateers suckz d00d. Only r00kiez buildz them, u will never b 733t az me dood.

 

[allhailIndia]

Give me frigates anyday

 

[IronicWarrior19]

Frigatez suckz too, ironcladz rulez d00dz.

 

[allhailIndia]

Yeah well, de rulz da seaz bef0re da ir0ncladz put deir asses in da drink

 

[IronicWarrior19]

Cladz comez so quickz they iz obsol33t too quikz for j00 to builz them.