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I've downloaded the beta patch and have been playing my first game as the British. Thus far I have only played six or seven turns and the French pirates are working over time. In the last turn I lost over 85 in food to them as well as some gold. Most of the plundering has taken place right under my nose, in the English Channel. I have two Frigates patrolling in the Channel, a privateer, and a battle line fleet on intercept. To make this even more baffling, I'm not even at war with them!

Side note: What does it mean when it states in the events 'must decline to rally due to low national moral.' In my last game, I had this happen and my national moral was as high as it can go.[&:]

That "declines to rally due to low national morale" message seems to be new to the latest version. Can't figure out what it means, since I've had it for non-allies and even myself, at times of high national morale.

I would like to know also about the privateers and frigates. This was supposed to be new rule where as Frigates would have new role as Privateer hunters. THis is not happening as I believe Eric intended. In my game Spanish privateers are doing the same to me.

I also noticed the "fail to rally" message, but have ignored it, as it doens't seem to effect the game.

My guess on the new Fail to Rally message is that the AI is telling you it won't head to any "Rally Location" you set for it as an ally on the Military Advisor screen. Again, just a guess.

That is what the fails to rally message is but it seems (as of this version) to be reporting for the wrong player sometimes.

So, what about the frigates? It is frustrating to have a squadron of frigates patrolling a sea zone and never get to grips with the bloody pirates. That *is* what they're for, after all.

-- Mal

ORIGINAL: malthaussen

So, what about the frigates? It is frustrating to have a squadron of frigates patrolling a sea zone and never get to grips with the bloody pirates. That *is* what they're for, after all.

-- Mal

Worst than that is when you frigates finally find the bloody pirates, and are sunk by them.

In another post I recommended that privateers don't act like pirate fleets. If there are six privateers in a given sea zone, they shouldn't act concertedly, and your frigates should be able to fight them piecemeal, one or two at a time during one or two turns. I also think that both privateers and merchants are way to strong now. I have lost several fleets to groups of enemy privateers and merchants. Making them weaker, not allowing to be more than two of them in a battle, and giving frigates a grater chance of engaging them would be a good way of dealing with the pirate infestation.