Hey guys can anyone explain a bit the 3-4 different kind of ships? When are they good? why are light sip considered "good" in small seas and how "good" is this "bonus" comapred to big ships?
Confused about naval combat mechanics
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Big ships (Carracks, Threedeckers, etc.) are tough, expensive, have a lot of firepower, but are slow.
Light ships (frigates) are cheaper and much faster, but have less firepower.
Galleys are cheapest and I personally don't use them at all, because they are also very weak.
Transports are for transporting troops.
Light ships (frigates) are cheaper and much faster, but have less firepower.
Galleys are cheapest and I personally don't use them at all, because they are also very weak.
Transports are for transporting troops.
Galleys get a bonus in inner seas. Do big ships get a malus on top of that? I wonder whether the galley fleets of mediterranean powers is really the most optimal choice for them - or if it is just being cheap.
Judging from my Empire:TW Naval battles, any small oar galleys tend to end up as kindling wood after going up against a triple-decker bigship.
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It's quite easy :
big = for high sea = high cost
light = for trade (new in EU4) = medium cost
galley = for inner sea = small cost
transport = transport = ? cost
If we take the cost in EU3 :
10 galley = 5 light ship = 2 big ship
In power without bonuses in EU3 :
Game start : 12 galley = 8 light = 3 big
Game end : 24 galley = 24 light = 7 big
In defense without bonuses in EU3 :
Game start : 5 galley = 6 light = 3 big
Game end : 3 galley = 2 light = 1 heavy
big = for high sea = high cost
light = for trade (new in EU4) = medium cost
galley = for inner sea = small cost
transport = transport = ? cost
If we take the cost in EU3 :
10 galley = 5 light ship = 2 big ship
In power without bonuses in EU3 :
Game start : 12 galley = 8 light = 3 big
Game end : 24 galley = 24 light = 7 big
In defense without bonuses in EU3 :
Game start : 5 galley = 6 light = 3 big
Game end : 3 galley = 2 light = 1 heavy
Do big ships need light ships in the same group as escorts like in Victoria and HoI?
Theres no mention of them having that ability no in what we've been told about trade. Checked wiki and dev diaries.
Hopefully they do, as protecting trade would of been their primary mission in the inland seas they are supposed to be used for.
Mostly I just want them to be worth the investment this time around.
Mostly I just want them to be worth the investment this time around.
Light ships are the only ones that get the icon of the clenched fist with crates (i'm guessing that means increases Trade Power) on the build screen.
Hopefully galleys will be able to defeat a (slightly) more costly fleet of heavy ships when in inland see. The drawback being they suck more of your naval limit, since you need more of them. Rich nations will probably go for carracks...
Its not quite so simple. In EU3 naval tech modifier has a large impact.
Very broadly:
Before tech 19 (circa 1540), fire modifier is tiny and galleys have a higher shock modifier that others ships. So they are cheap and pretty good.
After tech 19, fire suddenly becomes important, and galleys lag sadly behind.
So around 1540 your galleys go from ruling the Med, to getting toasted by newer ships.
I expect the concept in EU4 will be similar, though the exact mechanics will no doubt be different.