Cpt. Ed's Port Battle / Conquest Flag Suggestions

[randomtaskkk]

So this is my suggestion for port battles / flags.

 

It is grounded on the belief that the further you try to reach into enemy territory the more it should cost you and the more notice should be granted to the defender.

 

Point 1:

 

The further the port you want to capture is from your Nations front lines the more the flag costs.

 

For example, buying a flag to capture an enemy port immediately next to your front line might cost 250,000 gold.

The flag for the next enemy port (further into enemy territory) might cost 500,000.

The flag for the third enemy port might cost 1,000,000, etc.

 

Such a mechanism realistically represents the increasing cost of waging war further from your empire (think supply lines, sail time, crew wages, provisions etc.), and reduces the effectiveness of “steam rolling” through enemy ports, as it will cost you significantly more the further you go.

 

Of course, once you successfully capture the first enemy port, your Nations battle lines have extended, so what was the second port (which would of cost 500,000) is now the first port, and thus costs just 250,000.

 

Point 2:

 

Notification timers should be set to represent a “nation’s intelligence”. Think of all the small ships / fishing boats / outposts etc. dotted around a Nation which would warn of an impending attack by your enemy. Tying in with Point 1, the notification timers should be set depending on the distance from frontlines.

 

For example, the attacking nation buys a flag to capture the defenders most remote port (i.e. the one immediately adjacent to the attacker). The defenders get 30 minutes notice to prepare a defence.

 

If the attackers chose to buy a flag to attack the defenders next port (i.e. the second one from the attacker), the defenders get 60 minutes to prepare a defence. The third port might provide 120 minutes warning, etc.

 

Such a mechanism realistically represents the increased warning a Nation would have, generated by its citizens, of an enemy fleet sailing deeper into their territory. This will concentrate fighting on the front lines, and provide stability to a Nations core ports.

 

This should help with Nations losing huge swathes of their territory due to ninja attacks when the server population is low.

 

Point 3:

 

Sneak attacks should be possible, by decreasing the warning given to the defender. This would be achieved by paying more for the conquest flag.

 

For example, the attacking nation wants to capture the defenders second port. Point 1 and 2 implies this would cost 500,000 and the defender would be given 60 minutes notice.

 

The attacker however buys a “sneak attack flag” which costs double (1,000,000) but reduces the defenders notice to 30 minutes.

 

Such a mechanism realistically represents the additional expense of preparing a sneak attack, such as the planning, bribery, waiting for the opportune moment, chasing down witnesses, etc.

 

Point 4:

 

All of this could of course be supplemented by a "cooldown" on port re-capture. The 7 day suggestion currently circulating seems too long - maybe 2 days, in combination with these other points, would represent a good balance.

 

Example:

 

The attacker wants to capture three ports on their front line.

 

They opt to buy a normal flag for the first port – 250,000 gold and 30 minutes notice.

 

They also buy a “sneak attack” flag for the second port – 1,000,000 gold and 30 minutes notice.

 

They opt to buy a normal flag for the third port – 1,000,000 gold and 120 minutes notice.

 

Assuming they are successful at capturing ports 1, 2 and 3 then the following day, what would have been the defenders ports 4, 5, 6 are now reclassified as 1, 2, 3 and the process can begin again.

 

Of course the attacker could opt to also try and capture ports 4, 5, 6 on the first day, but the (exponentially?) increasing cost would bankrupt most players and the (exponentially?) increasing warning notice would give the defending nation time to mobilise their defence.

 

Conclusion:

 

I hope the point I am making is clear enough – the further you try to reach into enemy territory the more it will cost you and the more notice is granted to the defender. Of course the numbers are just suggestions and open to discussion.

 

Cpt. Ed - Great Britain.

Edited June 17, 2016 by randomtaskkk

[OlavDeng2]

Port battles assaults are being reworked as per this thread, please continue any discussion of change in port battle assault there

 

Closed as duplicate