This has been suggested before, but given it remains a problem, I would like to bring it up again. I have also scoured the game files for several hours but was unable to find anything that readily suggested I could fix this issue myself.
It is well-known that the "hiding from stronger fleets" property of trade fleets during wartime is technically a feature, but I would argue it is a poorly conceived one. There is no way for the player to force the fleet to do its mission anyways. Indeed, in searching for solutions online, I have seen screenshots where large trade fleets were hiding in port, having been set to 'bold,' while the entire enemy alliance has zero ships. This really needs to be reworked, as the current implementation is at best comedic and at worst frustrating.
Many players already question the value proposition of having naval superiority versus, e.g., having an extra 20k army for the land battle. This hiding problem exacerbates that value problem. A nation with naval superiority, in theory, should be able to maintain its trade fleet presence while either sinking or forcing into port its enemies' trade fleets. Combined with blockades, a nation with naval superiority should be able to maintain its trade revenues while greatly reducing its enemies' revenues. During wartime, this could be the difference between my taking zero loans and my enemy taking ten. Unfortunately, trade fleets lose all purpose during wartime. No matter what I do (bold, never repair, do not return to port during wartime, attach a bunch of galleys to the fleet), the fleet will simply hide in port. Rather than have a large fleet sit in port all day, I chop up the fleet and scatter them around my war fleets. This is not necessary, not optimal, and not what I want to do. But it is either that or sit in port all day. I cannot use this fleet for its intended purpose.
I would therefore suggest that players be able to force a trade fleet (and any other fleet mission for which this is a problem) to perform its mission anyways. If my naval superiority enabled me to blockade all the enemies' fleets in their ports, my trade fleet is completely safe. Let me use it. Just because the enemy *has* a superior fleet does not mean that superior fleet will actually *be* a threat.
I think the best way to go about this would be that, when a fleet is set to 'bold,' it will always perform its mission. If a player wants it to return during wartime, he can either set it to 'cautious' or enable the 'return to port during wartime' option.
I paid a great many ducats to have a trade fleet. Let me use it when it matters most.
It is well-known that the "hiding from stronger fleets" property of trade fleets during wartime is technically a feature, but I would argue it is a poorly conceived one. There is no way for the player to force the fleet to do its mission anyways. Indeed, in searching for solutions online, I have seen screenshots where large trade fleets were hiding in port, having been set to 'bold,' while the entire enemy alliance has zero ships. This really needs to be reworked, as the current implementation is at best comedic and at worst frustrating.
Many players already question the value proposition of having naval superiority versus, e.g., having an extra 20k army for the land battle. This hiding problem exacerbates that value problem. A nation with naval superiority, in theory, should be able to maintain its trade fleet presence while either sinking or forcing into port its enemies' trade fleets. Combined with blockades, a nation with naval superiority should be able to maintain its trade revenues while greatly reducing its enemies' revenues. During wartime, this could be the difference between my taking zero loans and my enemy taking ten. Unfortunately, trade fleets lose all purpose during wartime. No matter what I do (bold, never repair, do not return to port during wartime, attach a bunch of galleys to the fleet), the fleet will simply hide in port. Rather than have a large fleet sit in port all day, I chop up the fleet and scatter them around my war fleets. This is not necessary, not optimal, and not what I want to do. But it is either that or sit in port all day. I cannot use this fleet for its intended purpose.
I would therefore suggest that players be able to force a trade fleet (and any other fleet mission for which this is a problem) to perform its mission anyways. If my naval superiority enabled me to blockade all the enemies' fleets in their ports, my trade fleet is completely safe. Let me use it. Just because the enemy *has* a superior fleet does not mean that superior fleet will actually *be* a threat.
I think the best way to go about this would be that, when a fleet is set to 'bold,' it will always perform its mission. If a player wants it to return during wartime, he can either set it to 'cautious' or enable the 'return to port during wartime' option.
I paid a great many ducats to have a trade fleet. Let me use it when it matters most.
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