Matrix Games Forums

In the present game I'm playing Turkey, and have conquered most of North Africa. I've noticed that I can never take control of the Privateers that belong to the conquered minors. Is this a bug or the intention of the designer?

I just consider them pirates that have no allegence to a country even if they were, at one time, sponsored by a country. Like the barbary coast pirate problem of old, if you want to get rid of them then get a fleet of frigates together and bring the pirates to justice the old fashioned way. SOL's simply can't catch them.

The one thing that does need to be fixed though, is the ability to attack privateers no matter if one is at war or not, they are, after all, pirates! So Frigates should ALWAYS try to engage privateers regardless!

ORIGINAL: gdsnake

The one thing that does need to be fixed though, is the ability to attack privateers no matter if one is at war or not, they are, after all, pirates! So Frigates should ALWAYS try to engage privateers regardless!

[:-]
Privateer - attacks enemy shipping in accordance with the rules of war, and was only allowed to attack enemy of their nation. (semi legal perhaps but still)
Pirate - attack anything you feel like no matter if a war is going on or not.

terje439,
Perhaps on paper but privateers I read about like Drake and others attacked pretty much anyone they wanted except friendlies and many just ignored the rules totally.
So I agree in pricipal with you but the privateers in game turns DO affect everyone economically, war or not, so they are more Pirate than Privateer.
Perhaps I am wrong but "neutral" privateers are reducing the income of my merchants?! At least based on my observations they are.

Privateers operating in an area suppressed trade for everybody in that area, which is why they have an effect on friendly trade in the game.

The Barbary corsairs were certainly pirates and not privateers.  According to Michael Oren, despite the fact that there was no state of war between the U.S. and any North African country, 20% of the U.S. government's budget in 1800 went to bribes/ransom payments to Barbary states:  http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/05/11/michaelOren.html

If you capture a minor power province, you should be able to capture any privateers (or other ships) that are in the province as long as you have the port blockaded.

ORIGINAL: gdsnake

terje439,
Perhaps on paper but privateers I read about like Drake and others attacked pretty much anyone they wanted except friendlies and many just ignored the rules totally.

True, but at that instance they went from being Privateers and became Pirates [:D]
And ofc there is the "no rules behind the line" plause [;)]