blockeyking3
Mariner
posted 07-13-09 05:05 PM EDT (US)
The year: 1741
The nation: France
The difficulty: H/H
Territories owned: 44
At war with:
Norway (Iceland and Denmark)
Barbary States (all original territories)
Huron Confed, Plains Nations, Inuit nation.
My navy is rubbish (only one semi decent fleet) and at this stage I can't see any worth in a fleet, as Pirates, England and UP are eliminated.I have one fleet which is taking the Caribbean with an army, 2 ships holding back Norway, 2-3 ships holding back the Barbary states and one single boat as a transport to England.
How much money could I make from a trade fleet? Is a navy necessary?
Blokey
TKwarrior17
Mariner
posted 01-25-10 00:43 AM
EDT (US)
4 / 6
That late in the game with no trade? Sounds like you need to make some trade wars, depending on what nations occupy the trade nodes, and the value of the goods being traded. And, you may not need a fleet too badly, but its worth having preventative fleets stationed near rival ports, especially ones that you have poor relations with. Typically that would be the Ottomans, Russians, Swedes, Prussians, and Austrians. Luckily, only Sweden typically has much of a fleet. The Ottomans have a multitude of ports, but seeing as they are typically one of the poorest nations because they lack in the technology department, especially with naval research. What I always do is use Indiamans (only 50g a turn compared to Brigs and Sloops, which are more than twice that amount) and put them right next to their wealthiest port (if unguarded by a fleet). Wherever their main fleet is, build yourself a better fleet (I hope you upgraded Brest) and attack when you're ready. If you do not have any adjacent territories, or you have a choke point you can hold them at with your army; i.e. Denmark's straits, the bridge between the Netherlands and Flanders, the mountain pass between Savoy and France (next to Nice), then destroy their fleet and take all their ports with your Indiamans. Now their income will be substantially weakened (especially if they are relying on overseas trade) and you can basically make them agree to a treaty of your liking after they've lost enough money for a few turns. I did this with Sweden as GB and they gave me Norway and Denmark in return for a couple technologies, peace, and a trade agreement. I even got an alliance with them a couple turns later. It's a way of capturing territory without pissing anyone off, not having to pay a large army to quell unrest, and your enemy will forget you even had a war 15 turns later, especially if you make a trade agreement and alliance with them. Navies are more important in ETW than any other TW game. Do not underestimate the impact naval warfare can have on your economy. I did the first time I ever played the game as France, and GB absolutely crushed my economy and was able to take almost all my colonies. I haven't made that mistake since.
KO66
Banned
posted 01-31-10 07:06 PM
EDT (US)
5 / 6
Throughout the whole game I try to make different trade navies and send them all around the trade areas.
I have to do this because a war can start suddenly and you may end up only with the trade from your trade navies.
And don't forget (like I always do) that when playing as the United Provinces you start out with a trade navy around Indonesia.