Privateers

[Malagant]

I'm not sure if what I'm seeing is really what's happening, but it seems to me my Privateers will prey on my own trade routes.

This is actually a good thing for me: If I'm giving 4 textiles for 4 gold, my trade partner gives me the 4 gold, and my privateer steals the textiles and gives them back to me. [:D]

[Ralegh]

I agree. This is a "feature". I am not sure if the AI's opinion of you is hurt by stealing from him, but a human whoc figures it out might be a little mad.

[Naomi]

ORIGINAL: Malagant

I'm not sure if what I'm seeing is really what's happening, but it seems to me my Privateers will prey on my own trade routes.

This is actually a good thing for me: If I'm giving 4 textiles for 4 gold, my trade partner gives me the 4 gold, and my privateer steals the textiles and gives them back to me. [:D]

I witnessed French privateers stationed around Copenhagen and my report mentioned a long list they stole. In the long list, what they stole were all non-gold commodities. But the immediately following (tabled) report gave (at the top) a lump-sum of a certain quantity of gold I got stolen. I was thus confounded by three questions, as below:
*Were they stealing from me or the report just mentioned their ill-gotten stuff regardless of whom they stole from?
*Were they steal commodities, as well as gold?
*Do privateers steal without regard to whether their nation is at war with me?

I don't think the manuel is packed with any explanation about privateering behaviour (at least in such detail) and what I can find in the game failed to make me clear about it.

[eMonticello]

ORIGINAL: Naomi
*Do privateers steal without regard to whether their nation is at war with me?

Yes. I actually use privateers strategically in the Med as Turkey. I'll use my privateers to encourage the Yankee AI to leave certain high-value trading areas by ganging up on its merchants. At this time, there is no risk to the privateer.

I believe the privateer behavior could be improved immensely by a) allowing a country to select which countries a privateer may target (with an occasional mistake), b) allow a country to pay tribute to a non-major power with the privateers (privateers would have no impact on trade for that country's merchant until the agreement ends), c) allow a squadron/fleet of frigates to attack the privateers that are poaching the country's merchants (in other words, the squadron is in the same area as the merchant and privateer), d) add an additional clause(s) in the treaty list that would address privateers.

[vonkohlmann]

Excellent ideas eMontecello! These would add historical and well as play value to privateers.