What did you attack my privateer for? & A privateer ROP exploit.

[Sim_One]

So there I was happily parking my privateer on a tile of fish next to London then all the sudden pops a Russian caravel and it attacks my privateer! Luckily the privateer survives the ambush . But my question is why the hell did you do that for Cathy? You're doing a favor to your enemy the English. The privateer wasn't bothering you! It was there to bug the English. If you were paranoid about the privateer attacking you then think for a moment, your caravel has 2 defense and my privateer has 2 attack. Your caravel has 1 attack and my privateer has 1 defense, so obviously the advantage goes to the defender. One more reason that the AI doesn't have a brain.

While I am talking about privateers, I have discovered a possible ROP exploit with them. If you have a privateer parked on a tile of fish or whales and you have another regular ship parked on the same tile AND you have an ROP with the civ that owns the tile, the AI CANNOT use that tile and cannot attack your privateer because it is protected by one of your regular ships. You can also do the same thing with blockading harbors. Don't know if this has been fixed in PTW.

 

[warpstorm]

The AI always attacks lone privateers.

I've used the 'exploit' in PTW already so it's not fixed. I don't really consider it a major exploit as they do get mad about it. I've had them declare war as soon as the ROP was up (they know who's Privateer it was in this case).

When MP is working properly, this exploit won't work on a human opponent.

If you do this when there is no ROP I don't consider an exploit at all, since they will attack you.

 

[Shabbaman]

Privateers lure AI navies from around the globe, that's old news. It's pretty obvious (to a human, that is) that two units on the same tile are from the same civ. I'd kick your ass for it.
Exploit? Well, if warpstorm is correct, you get punished for it. Besides the self inflicted injury, namely spending shields on a privateer.

 

[warpstorm]

It could have been a nasty coincidence that they declared war the turn the ROP was up (at least they didn't ROP-rape me).

 

[Chieftess]

I think it's because the AI sees "hidden nationality" units as barbarians. Remember when Firaxis was thinking of using the hidden nationality (for the guerilla unit I think)? It's an expliot if you use it on land - no war, no resistance... Think of it as a "Sea Mercinary/Pirate" unit.

 

[CamDawg]

Originally posted by Sim_One
While I am talking about privateers, I have discovered a possible ROP exploit with them. If you have a privateer parked on a tile of fish or whales and you have another regular ship parked on the same tile AND you have an ROP with the civ that owns the tile, the AI CANNOT use that tile and cannot attack your privateer because it is protected by one of your regular ships. You can also do the same thing with blockading harbors. Don't know if this has been fixed in PTW.

I had wanted to create a hidden nationality land unit (a brigand, if I remember correctly) but found that it was way too exploitable. Sign ROP, pair the brigand with another non-hidden nationality unit (warrior, spearman, worker, it didn't matter) and stroll into another civ's territory. You can pillage, capture workers, capture settlers, all without combat. You're not attacking and therefore in no danger of losing the brigand, while the AI can not attack, as it would constitute an act of war.

Until it's fixed, the hidden nationality land unit is a huge exploit for the human player. Maybe your suggestion of not allowing hidden nationality units in stacks with regular units would work...

 

[Portuguese]

A good strategy to avoid that your "friends" access important resources is to make a ring of regular boats and privateers (one of each per square...) arround your "friend" naval space...

Although some people would consider this an exploit...