Naval Battles and AI-Troop Transports via Sea

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Who said that there are no naval battles in EB / RTW? In my current campaign, I fight three naval battles every turn. The Romans and the Carthaginians build a fleet every few turns, and my fleets are always busy to send them to the bottom of the sea. Even the Lusitanians have built a fleet recently!

Also, who said the AI doesn't ship its troops around? In these navies I sink every so often I quite frequently encounter army units. I have three times sunk fleets with about half an elite stack, twice a full stack with Akontistai, and several times fleets with some medium units. All were shipped by the Carthaginians, from Africa to Spain or from their islands to Africa.

Now the Lusitanians have shipped 3 units to the Baleares, owned by me, and decided to attack me there, although we were allied. I thought my island possessions complety safe! I don't even border the Lusitanians. I was impressed to say the least.

Share your naval experiences in EB. I play EB with RTW.exe though, not BI!

[SwissBarbar]

yeah, me 2, and i have been attacked too on the baleares by the lusotannan.

i thik with "there are no naval battles" people mean you cannot play them yourself on the battle map. if one misses naval fights at all, just send some fleets at sea and they will chase you

[penguinking]

The AI does use naval invasions, only sparingly and not enough. I remember being shocked in my Casse campaign when I conquered Sardinia, and thinking that it was an island and thus wouldn't need any defense, only left a very small garrison and moved my main army elsewhere. Carthage promptly shipped a full stack of elite african pikemen to retake the province. Of course, by doing so they left Carthage undefended and easily sacked, but even so I was impressed by the AI.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

I always try to conquer all these provinces where you can build ships. This way I don't have to fight enemy fleets all the time. Against rebels I try to have some 4-5 unit fleet, that's more than enough.
Those who say that naval battles are not important I suggest you play KH, Romani or Karthadastim. I always try to build a mighty fleet when playing them.

[IrishHitman]

I generally use Alexander's tactic of conquering the sea via land...

Ships are too expensive to build en masse compared to the greater cost-effectiveness of another army.

[Maion Maroneios]

I play on BI, the year is 256BC and I have many experiences of AI naval invasions. Mainly from the Karthadast, that is. They've grown into a rich and strong empire, shipping over troops to Apulia. They've taken over Capua and are constantly sending reinforcements from Karali, Corsica and Afrike herself. I'll look at my AAR and post a pic here to show you I'm not bragging :-P

Maion