Supremacy at sea (not for fun)

[Brasidas]

Typical EB campaign:
First turn: disband all navy ;)
Some turns later: build single and the cheapest ship and transport your army wherever you want...

There is no reason to maintain navy. It is rather expensive whim.

I know it is banal truth: AI is stupid. AI uses navy chaotically and incidentally blocks player's ports. As a result trade by sea routes doesn't suffer regardless of lack of any naval forces you own.

So, why don't encourage players to invest in navy by establish severe money fine each time AI blockades player's port. It could simulate economic sea blockade quite well.

What is your opinion? Any hardcoding limits? Any script alternatives?

[Dhampir]

If a city is on an island, the majority of any income it gets will be from trade and under blockade a city receives no trade from the sea.

I always maintain at least a small navy to ensure that I can clear any blockades that last more than a couple of turns.

[Parallel Pain]

I disagree, at least if you are Sab'yn.

You need ships to go into Africa (and anyone trying to go into Africa by marching up the coast is not very smart IMO as it'll take too long and you'll be too easily ganged up without a place to retrain OR reinforce). Now try to win a campaign against the Ptolemy without reinforcements by sea and let the Ptolemy control the red sea after you land your army and see how well you do without reinforcements. Now try the same thing but with you controlling the red sea and able to reinforce your army regularly.

But then of course I was playing on VH/VH

I like the penalty idea though. Will probably work for easier factions like the Helens or Rome.

[beatoangelico]

if you use bi.exe you always need a strong navy...isn't much better to destroy the navy of the enemies than facing costant invasions?

[Parallel Pain]

Where's the thread for BI.exe?

And how does it compare to ALEX.exe?

[Dubius Cato]

As Rome you need a navy to secure the reinforcement of your national troops.

[pezhetairoi]

Agreed. Even during the early Marians you need the navy because your farflung garrison cities haven't got the MIC needed yet.

[Brasidas]

But You don't need a big fleet to supply your distant troops. So, the title of this subject is about SUPREMACY and how force players to keep big and very expensive navy.

Look at history, e.g. naval supremacy was key and pivotal factor during wars between Rome and Carthage.

Huge money penalty could support awkward and uncoordinated AI actions at sea.

So it will be your choice: suffer from economic blockade or engage in expensive warfare at sea.