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Using merchants, frigates & privateers effectively?
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:19 pm
by SlickWilhelm
Hey guys, I'm playing my first game(as England), and have some questions:
1. How do I determine where the most lucrative trading sea provinces are? When I click on a sea province, I don't see it's "trade route value" anywhere on the UI. Am I just missing it?
2. Is it better to keep all merchants together in one fleet and place them all in one sea province, or is it better to spread them around individually?
3. How do I protect my merchants from privateers?
4. How do I use my frigates effectively?
5. Can frigates "escort" merchants by placing them in the same sea province?
6. Do merchants ever engage in combat?
All answers and words of advice(except "RTFM") are appreciated. I have been reading the manual for a number of days now, but haven't seen any of this addressed specifically.
RE: Using merchants, frigates & privateers effectively?
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:29 pm
by Hard Sarge
ORIGINAL: Slick Wilhelm
Hey guys, I'm playing my first game(as England), and have some questions:
1. How do I determine where the most lucrative trading sea provinces are? When I click on a sea province, I don't see it's "trade route value" anywhere on the UI. Am I just missing it?
click on the merchant and then look around at the sea zones, it will show the worth of each, away from your coast is better
2. Is it better to keep all merchants together in one fleet and place them all in one sea province, or is it better to spread them around individually?
apart, the more in one zone, the more they split the goods, even better if you can chase others away from "your" trade
3. How do I protect my merchants from privateers?
upgrade them, the two in the Naval Upgrades will add more guns and Crew, also upgrade the skill types, Merchants tend to defend them selfs pretty good
4. How do I use my frigates effectively?
patch has fixed a bud with frigates, they now hunt Privateers, like mad dogs, so not sure if what I say would help, as I got a different verison then you do
5. Can frigates "escort" merchants by placing them in the same sea province?
with in reason
6. Do merchants ever engage in combat?
yes, depends if your at war or not
All answers and words of advice(except "RTFM") are appreciated. I have been reading the manual for a number of days now, but haven't seen any of this addressed specifically.
come on, that is the best reply that can be given 
RE: Using merchants, frigates & privateers effectively?
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:32 pm
by Kingmaker
HiHi
Here's some answers.
1) click on your merchant and move the green arrow to various sea provinces, little yelow figuers show in that province indicating the base value (remember you may lose some of that figuer through Port dues, Privateers, Feudal levy etc)
2) Sorry dunno only ever had 1 Merchant
3) Use Frigates, see 5
4) Leave some with your Battle fleets, the rest act as escort, and patrol the Trade routes
5) When a Merchant & Frigate are in the same sea zone hold down the Ctrl key click on both they will then be linked and move to where you want, they will both move together ie Frigate escorts Merchant.
6) Yes, you can also give them naval attributes, I tend to use 'Lucky'.
Hope that helps.
All the Best
Peter
RE: Using merchants, frigates & privateers effectively?
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:36 pm
by SlickWilhelm
Wonderful advice! Thanks to both of you. [:)]
RE: Using merchants, frigates & privateers effectively?
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 3:57 pm
by jnpoint
ORIGINAL: Hard Sarge
ORIGINAL: Slick Wilhelm
4. How do I use my frigates effectively?
patch has fixed a bud with frigates, they now hunt Privateers, like mad dogs, so not sure if what I say would help, as I got a different verison then you do
Is that patch free to download? or on its way?
RE: Using merchants, frigates & privateers effectively?
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 4:02 pm
by Hard Sarge
we are working on it, I am one of the beta testers, so now my verison is not the same as what you have, so I have to watch what I say, when I try to explain things, as they may be different
soon
RE: Using merchants, frigates & privateers effectively?
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:26 am
by Mike Parker
I would like to add about Merchants in combat. If a Merchant comes up against a privateer it can often win. Usually the Privateer can win only if it gets a very favourable wind position. And while its risky, if you can get windward of a frigate in a one on one you have a decent chance of prevailing.
So when war breaks out if you can be reasonably sure that you will only get hit by other merchants or privateers it might be acceptable to keep your merchants trading. And if you do get hit by a single frigate and the initial wind is greatly to your advantage its not too crazy to try and win.
This is of course in detailed combat quick or instant you just don't need to be fighting with those fat east indiamen merchants