Mixed Trader Fleets

[TheHaney]

With the new patch, I'm thinking it would be nice to see an occasional AI trader with escorts that drops more consistent or better rewards.

Trader Snow with a couple of cutters,

LGV with a couple of frigates,

Indiaman with a couple of 4th rates,

etc.

Perhaps even fleets of just traders. That way if you see a trader with a fleet you can't be sure if it's a cakewalk or an escorted gold ship.

[Bubba Smith]

This patch is fantastic, the UI is great and the functionality seem easy enough to learn;  I really like what I see so far.

I also will like to see more NPC fleets with goodies roving around; traders, 5-6th Rate fleets at about 2-4 per fleet. It makes for more varied play and really helps the new player get a foot hold on the game. It will also help the more seasoned player make the teleport, crafting, and other fees/charges that seem to eat away at our treasure chest. 

I really like the Indiaman along or fleeted idea. 

[Zorg the Merciless]

More AI content would be good, the increased challenge of attacking AI fleets with some decent protection would be a welcome addition - I'd love to see a mission as well that required you to defend a fleet with some decent rewards.

[Sir Lancelot Holland]

An excellent idea, perhaps a daily newsletter like Lloyds shipping lists which announced sailings and cargo manifests could be added so it it not so much of a sail and pray deal. The sailing of convoys and single ships was always common knowledge and finding ships on known routes is not that easy, but, it is easier than scouring thousands of square KM's on the off chance of a sighting. 

[Archaos]

11 hours ago, TheHaney said:

With the new patch, I'm thinking it would be nice to see an occasional AI trader with escorts that drops more consistent or better rewards.

Trader Snow with a couple of cutters,

LGV with a couple of frigates,

Indiaman with a couple of 4th rates,

etc.

Perhaps even fleets of just traders. That way if you see a trader with a fleet you can't be sure if it's a cakewalk or an escorted gold ship.

The way the AI are programmed this would not work as by the time you have defeated the escort the trader will have escaped, or you go directly for the trader, board him, get the loot and run leaving the AI escort behind. Sure you may take a bit of damage while boarding, but all it becomes is an inconvenience.

Same with fleets of traders, by the time you board one the rest have escaped.

Yes I am sure some people with skill can keep multiple vessels tagged while taking them out one at a time, but do we really want to have this messing around with AI?

[Angus MacDuff]

12 hours ago, TheHaney said:

With the new patch, I'm thinking it would be nice to see an occasional AI trader with escorts that drops more consistent or better rewards.

Trader Snow with a couple of cutters,

LGV with a couple of frigates,

Indiaman with a couple of 4th rates,

etc.

Perhaps even fleets of just traders. That way if you see a trader with a fleet you can't be sure if it's a cakewalk or an escorted gold ship.

The issue with this is that we have no idea what is in an AI fleet. 

[Bubba Smith]

31 minutes ago, Archaos said:

The way the AI are programmed this would not work as by the time you have defeated the escort the trader will have escaped, or you go directly for the trader, board him, get the loot and run leaving the AI escort behind. Sure you may take a bit of damage while boarding, but all it becomes is an inconvenience.

Same with fleets of traders, by the time you board one the rest have escaped.

Yes I am sure some people with skill can keep multiple vessels tagged while taking them out one at a time, but do we really want to have this messing around with AI?

The point is "it would be nice to see an occasional AI trader with escorts that drops more consistent or better rewards"; it will work as this is the way NPC traders roved around before the recent wipe and update.  If I can spend hours sailing around a  predominantly British region and see zero AI traders. It has a significant effect on the trade economy of each player and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game in general. Attacking T-Brigs, LGVs and other trade vessels sailing in all regions would be more historically accurate as trade happened all over not ONLY in one area. Granted that some areas will have more trade traffic there should be many more traders in all areas than what I am seeing now. 

[TheHaney]

46 minutes ago, Angus MacDuff said:

The issue with this is that we have no idea what is in an AI fleet. 

But that's the point  If you see a trader with a fleet, you don't know if the fleet is more traders or escorts.

 

1 hour ago, Archaos said:

do we really want to have this messing around with AI?

Yes! Yes we do.

The player can choose to grab the trader for goods/dubs and leave, ignore the trader and grab the escorts for mods/consumables, or try and get both. It's an option.

[derekticus]

This new patch has it's good points, but the virtual lack of AI enemy Fleets, including Traders is VERY disappointing.  I have sailed the same routes I have sailed for years, and this patch is all but barren of AI ships.  We need more of them, including an occasional enemy Fleet coming into home waters.

[TheHaney]

5 minutes ago, derekticus said:

I have sailed the same routes I have sailed for years

Well, they did just completely change where stuff spawns

 

I've actually been pleasantly surprised with AI spawns so far. There's an occasional period of absolutely nothing but I've got three spots I frequent in the far corners of the sea that have very consistent shipping and soloable warships. With the new patch, free and open ports are incredibly valuable to me, both as trading hubs and raider bases from which I can strike out, capture a few LGV's, and come back.

The fun part is when I've stockpiled tons of stuff and have to sail it to a major market.

[Guedo]

The lack of AI is very concerning,  in low server pop usually when I can play there is hardly anything to hunt. The rest of this patch seems reasonable except the transport fee of doubloons.