Problem fighting merchant ships

[arras]

I am having problem fighting merchant ships. So far I have lost about 6 frigates (some of them with superfrigate upgrade) to few British merchants. Engagements were 1:1 or close to that on detailed combat. Morale of my frigates was 4-5, British merchants 4-6. British have first level of merchant marine upgrade. I have most of the naval upgrades like naval guns, naval manoeuvres, naval repair.

I would say undamaged frigate should not have problem dealing with merchantship but it seems not to be the case. Certainly my frigates do more damage to British warships. Merchantships seems to be too damage resistant.

Does anyone of you having same problem?

[morganbj]

Yeah.  I think the problem is in the bonuses that the Brits get.  A good crew can mean a lot in combat, but when a single "armed" merchant can outfight two or three frigates, well .... maybe that's a bit too much.
 

[arras]

Do you mean, that Brits have some extra bonus on top of their higher morale?

[morganbj]

Morale for sure, but I don't know if there are any others, other than the upgrades they start the game with.  The upgrades might make a difference by themselves, but I can't speak to the specifics since I don't have the game  in from of me to check.  As I recall, they have two or three that are very useful in combat.  Start a game as the Brit and see what they have at the beginning of the scenario you're playing to see.  HardSarge is the resident expert on naval combat, so if we're lucky maybe he can elucidate us.
 

[arras]

Ok. I know British upgrades, thing is, I already have most of the naval upgrades myself. And my own merchants tend to fare in these fights too well also.

I newer did have feeling that my frigates are too inferior in naval battles against British warships. If they were inferior, than it was in proportion to morale difference and all "felt" right. But against merchants, something just seems to not be right (I had fought dozen of such fights). Merchants have less than half guns of my frigates, jet they tend to score double damage points on me than I score on them.

Bye the way, this forum is surprisingly quiet compared to old COG [&:] Not much chance to meet HardSarge here I guess. Honestly I am surprised that I got some replies from you (pleasantly surprised of course).

[Kingmaker]

HiHi

Not sure it's just English Merchants, in a PBEM game I'm playing England and sent a couple of frigates to dispatch a Spanish Merchant, they were both promptly dispatched back into Port for fairly hefty repairs, I had to Beef them up a bit before trying again.

May be worth considering that Merchant ships in those times e.g. East Indiamen, were equipped to face, Pirates, Privateers etc all around the world + as is still true today, MN Sailors were better Seamen than their Military cousins [:D]

All the Best
Peter

[Kingmaker]

[quote]ORIGINAL: Kingmaker

HiHi

Not sure it's just English Merchants, in a PBEM game I'm playing England and sent a couple of frigates to dispatch a Spanish Merchant, they were both promptly dispatched back into Port for fairly hefty repairs, I had to Beef them up a bit before trying again.

May be worth considering that Merchant ships in those times e.g. East Indiamen, were equipped to face, Pirates, Privateers etc all around the world + as is still true today, MN Sailors were better Seamen than their Military cousins [:D]

PS Bye the way, this forum is surprisingly quiet compared to old COG I think most folk, certainly the PBEM guys, are waiting on the new Patch, it will probably pick up again when thats out.

All the Best
Peter

[arras]

ORIGINAL: Kingmaker

Not sure it's just English Merchants, in a PBEM game I'm playing England and sent a couple of frigates to dispatch a Spanish Merchant, they were both promptly dispatched back into Port for fairly hefty repairs

Yes that's my impression as well. Merchants are too strong in general it seems. True, indiaman were armed but for sure not enough to fight frigate. Upon encountering hostile frigate, merchantship would usually strike its colours. Few warning shots or perhaps cannonball in to takelage would be sufficient to persuade all but best armed merchantman.

I am not using privateers so far and I wonder how would one of them fare against merchant if frigates fare so bad.

[Pistachio]

ORIGINAL: Kingmaker

...I'm playing England and sent a couple of frigates to dispatch a Spanish Merchant, they were both promptly dispatched back into Port for fairly hefty repairs, I had to Beef them up a bit before trying again.
...

Same here, except I received the crowning insult - a British frigate striking to a French merchant. Give me a frickin' break. Same goes for privateers. Every privateer I've ever attacked with has been lost. It doesn't seem to matter which side you're on - unless it's a massive line engagement, the AI is far overcompensated in detailed combat between onesies and twosies. I mean, ridiculously so.

[Pistachio]

Bump - Please guys you have SERIOUSLY got to work on fixing this.  Or else better explaining to me (I'm not smart, but I can be taught) why 2 British frigates cannot defeat 2 merchants.  In fact why 1 British warship cannot handle 2-3 merchants, especially if it's a frigate or a privateer.  It shouldn't take a lot of casualties, either.  I'm getting pretty frustrated spending ~500 casualites to the AI's ~10 and getting defeated to boot!