Flagship for Byzantium

[ETAIPOS]

Ok, I am now considering building a flagship, but have a few questions (recently got GC DLC)

Do flagship upgrade/is upgradable as the tech progress? Or do I need to build new one every time I get new base ship?
So if my next diplo tech gives new hulls should I wait?

What upgrades are best?

I thought +1 trade power (so all my transports and galleys can serve as bonus tradeships), but what more?
Speed feels good to catch fleeing AI fleets, siege is great for Italian and partially Spanish wars (Mameluks do not have many coastal forts)

what about others?

I think FS should be combat type as light is too easily sunk, which leave heavy or galley. Is there any reason to use anything else than heavy (as the upgrade maintenance could easily be as much as half of my entire fleet so additional 0.5 do not feel to be a major problem)

 

[IIWBIIMars]

Do flagship upgrade/is upgradable as the tech progress? Or do I need to build new one every time I get new base ship?
So if my next diplo tech gives new hulls should I wait?

No need to wait, you can upgrade your FS and it will retain it´s bonuses. You have all available bonuses from day 1.

What upgrades are best?

I thought +1 trade power (so all my transports and galleys can serve as bonus tradeships), but what more?
Speed feels good to catch fleeing AI fleets, siege is great for Italian and partially Spanish wars (Mameluks do not have many coastal forts)

what about others?

I usually take 50%/+100% cannons, +3 combat width plus either 5% fleet morale or traveling speed.
As the FS should be the lead ship of your battle fleet, you should take as many combat related bonuses as possible, not something like +tradepower.

I think FS should be combat type as light is too easily sunk, which leave heavy or galley. Is there any reason to use anything else than heavy (as the upgrade maintenance could easily be as much as half of my entire fleet so additional 0.5 do not feel to be a major problem)

As there are percentage based bonuses available, it´s best to use the ship with the highest base stats, so a heavy ship. You will also lose prestige if your FS gets sunk, so another argument for heavy ships.

Edit: On the example of Byzantium, in the early game it could be quite expensive to build and maintain a heavy FS. In that case, you can of course also take a galley as your FS, as they get combat bonuses in inland seas and are not that expensive. But remember, losing your FS comes with drawbacks, so you can of course wait with building a FS until you are potent enough to challenge other major powers in the med without having to fear losing your entire fleet in a single battle.

 

[noldorin]

My favour. Speed, Cannons and Mortar.

 

[IIWBIIMars]

My favour. Speed, Cannons and Mortar.

I would not forgo +combat width as it gives you the ability to have more ships in the combat line.

But yeah, there are a few good ones to chose from.

 

[enKage]

It depends on nation I play and current situation, but I often take light ship and combination +1 trade power/ship, incresead chance to gain atribute for admiral (resulting in even more trade power) and privateering bonus. Simply because such flagship will work all the time, not only during wars and only a few wars require naval combat.

If I go for fighting fleet - galley or haevy ship - morale and combat width is my usual choice and sth depending on situation

In case of Byzantium it depends what are you going to do. privateer works well as you will always have a chance to privateer a rival - Venice, mamluks, later Spain or whatever.
Galleys and fighting profile is also good, but remember Venice and Aragon would have superior galleys, no matter what you add to flagship, you simply have to outnumber them anyway

 

[KaiserJohan]

+1 Trade Power and Privateering bonus makes for insane pirate fleets in wealthy trade nodes

 

[Cancerofthehead]

Since navies are primarily for boosting trade, +trade power is essential. Movement speed is just great. The third depends, in some cases I go +blockade impact on siege or privateering, but usually morale as I find that gives my fleet more staying power than anything else.

 

[holyvigil]

Since navies are primarily for boosting trade, +trade power is essential. Movement speed is just great. The third depends, in some cases I go +blockade impact on siege or privateering, but usually morale as I find that gives my fleet more staying power than anything else.

?

I've never really used my navy for that due to the cost of replacement and how easy it is to lose then.

I've primarily used them for transport and secondarily for fighting.

 

[Cancerofthehead]

?

I've never really used my navy for that due to the cost of replacement and how easy it is to lose then.

I've primarily used them for transport and secondarily for fighting.

Light ships protecting trade or privateering (depending on your situation) is one of the best economic returns in the game. You should basically build up to your force limit in light ships, less one transport fleet, every game.

A big enough light ship stack can scare away most AI fleets and for fighting major powers either hide in port (or in a secure trade node) or if you do take losses in a battle (such as buying time to land troops in Britain) they aren’t bad to replace (better than maintaining a large fleet of heavies in peace time).

Once you economically dominate the world you may want to put out heavy fleets because the cost is irrelevant and it is a bit of a QOL benefit.

Note, the morale isn’t for winning battles but keeping an enemy tied down while I land troops from a different fleet or not getting broken before I can retreat when the AI stupidly sends ships into a dumb place.

 

[Question]

Light ships will easily lose to heavy ships or galleys in inland seas. Its not even close, they just cant fight either, and the limiter on navies is usually the navy force limit.

 

[Highcorrection]

Put the trade, piracy and speed bonuses on a light ship. You wouldn't be using this as a combat ship/fleet, if you want to want to have a strong navy just build more galleys/heavies than your enemies.

 

[Cancerofthehead]

Light ships will easily lose to heavy ships or galleys in inland seas. Its not even close, they just cant fight either, and the limiter on navies is usually the navy force limit.

So? You can easily conquer the world without winning a single naval battle.