Hiring AI Trader Fleets

[SeamanStaines]

I recently tried a trade run with a captured brig. I made a modest profit, but way below that I could have made by combat. However it occurred to me that if I could hire a few trader brigs, I would have a trade fleet that would increase my profit and allow me to escort it on route. This would enhance trading and also provide a tempting target for aggressors trying to hijack ships from my fleet, hence creating interesting combat scenarios. So whilst I am not sad to see AI fleets disappear I would like to see the option to be able to hire multiple trader brigs. 

[Chustler]

This kind of idea is of interest to me. It makes sense.

[akd]

I like this idea. In fact, I even posted it in another thread.

Player warships with warship escorts are terrible, in particular higher-level players running around in cheap and/or agile ships, dropping SoLs into fights, then running away or dieing with little or no consequence to themselves.

 

However, I think people broadly agree that there should be some sort of escort system for poorly-armed and crewed merchants, but simply restricting AI warship escorts to a particular type of player / ship is open to the same abuse (every group would have a "trader" in it to bring along AI Bellonas to drop into fights).  Why not instead of players hiring warship escorts, player traders escort their own hired merchants.  This makes a lot more sense from a gameplay standpoint, as it puts the AI in the low combat value role (and in ships that frankly should not be fun to fight in), and the player in the decisive warship role.  It also puts less of a burden on the devs making AI warships effective on their own (or having to develop a full-fledged RTS game-within-the-game to control them).   This could also interact naturally with total crew limits, forcing players to divide up their resources more naturally between a warship escort and multiple traders, leading to fewer absurd combinations.  Such a system would provide the player trader a lot more options and flexibility, as well as better risk management.

 

high-risk, high-reward - sail your trader ship solo.  High profits (you need only pay for the small crew aboard the trader) but high risk.

 

medium-risk, medium reward - hire a merchant to carry your cargo and escort it yourself.  profits are diluted a bit by need to crew multiple ships (although this may be offset by the increased cargo value made possible by a convoy of multiple traders), but player in the escort role greatly reduces risk.

 

low-risk, low-to-high reward - sail your merchant ship yourself and bring along other players as escorts.  Combination of players in both the escort and trader ship role has lowest risk., but profits would vary depending on the circumstance.  They might be as high as sailing solo in a trader, because your escorts are free friends / society-members, or they might be low because you hire another player in game with a reputation for effectiveness for a premium price.

[Prater]

Restrict player owned ai to frigates or below, and that takes care of the trader abuse.  I'm not sure who would want to join in a trader snow or brig anyway, just to have 2 ai bellonas.  I would take 1 player bellona over 2 ai bellonas any day.

 

I do think that if you are in a trader ship, you should be able to hire an ai escort.  When I was doing some trading before they took out the player owned fleets, I made a decision to not hire ai fleet because it would cut into the small profit you get.  That was an interesting choice to make.  Do I risk my cargo and ship because I want to make more money, or do I play it safe and pay for an ai escort?

 

The commander tablet could be used for the highest ranking player to control the non-player owned ai in every battle instead of naval captains controlling their own ai.  That way the feature isn't "wasted."

[nornica]

I have other question.

Do You remember guys about that idea of Commanding fleets of players as some kind of Admiral? Giving them routes and commands? And If they will obey they would get some boost etc.?

Does this idea went off for evar? or it will be implemented in PB?

[Chustler]

That idea caught a lot of hate when it was mentioned, because it amounts to magic boosts and people really did not like the idea of magic buffs in this game. I am one that feels magic has no place here. Being in an organized group is enough of an advantage in itself, without adding Gamey buffs in.