Using Privateers to farm Barbarian ships

[stormtrooper412]

In a recent game which was Large Islands, I had to get some Privateers up. Seemingly, Barbarian ships seem to spawn at a larger rate than land units if there's lots of water around and most civs have Navigation. I farmed a lot of Caravels and Privateers from 3-4 spread out camps. I didn't really need all that because none of them are Frigates but it would seem like an endless supply of units

 

[Callonia]

If a island chain have abundance of barbarians it tends to mean that it has been unexplored and you're the first one in the region. I tend to love havens like those because if I'm first one there, I get first dibs on barbarian ships for capturing and founding cities on good spots. Eventually you will see AI ships sailing by to explore.

I once found a massive island chain that took up like 1/4 of the map and I managed to be first one in there and after key colonies and capturing I had one impressive sailing navy ready to defend from other invaders.

 

[stormtrooper412]

it was an Emperor game to be honest so yeah.

Point is, you can farm ungodly amount of ships

 

[ShakaKhan]

I like this strategy with the Ottomans using triremes but not as much with non-Ottomans using privateers.

The difference is that with the Ottoman UA you can build one unit, steal 3 or 4, send the 3 or 4 to rush an AI costal city while the original unit farms replacements for when the stolen units die, which they will. With non-Ottoman civs using privateers for this purpose, it often means having to send the galleys, triremes and galeasses back to your territory (which can take a while and you're spending maintenance on them while they travel), then spend more money upgrading them maybe two times, then pay additional maintenance as they heal and then travel to their target. For me it's too much gold during an era when there's so much to be done with your gold and hammers.

 

[stormtrooper412]

Not necessarily, there are a lot of barb caravels/privateers around

 

[vadalaz]

This has good synergy with the Freedom policy that enhances unit gifts to CSs. Or you could do the opposite, group up your Privateers and demand tributes from every CS on the map.

 

[Volcanon]

Why not farm Ships of the line, frigates and privateers from your least favorite AI enemy?

I've used privateers in packs to farm battleships and ironclads in higher difficulties. Only the killing blow has to come from the privateer. The upgrades from privateer keep the special promotion too.

 

[Callonia]

Why not farm Ships of the line, frigates and privateers from your least favorite AI enemy?

I've used privateers in packs to farm battleships and ironclads in higher difficulties. Only the killing blow has to come from the privateer. The upgrades from privateer keep the special promotion too.

If the opportunity presents, then it will happen unless I have overwhelming strength then I would rather roll into hated AI's territory taking cities.

Also Ship of the Lines only appear from England for some ridiculous reason civ5 devs made.

 

[stormtrooper412]

Why not farm Ships of the line, frigates and privateers from your least favorite AI enemy?

I've used privateers in packs to farm battleships and ironclads in higher difficulties. Only the killing blow has to come from the privateer. The upgrades from privateer keep the special promotion too.

Why not indeed? Few times I got invaded over seas, I ended up with a bigger navy than what I began with