Whats the largest Pirate Fleet you've every fought.

**Didz** · 05-31-2009, 00:40

I just ran into the largest pirate fleet I've seen so far.

Three seperate pirate fleets totally 14xGalleons, 8xFluyts, 1x4th Rate, 1xRace Built Galleon, 1x6th Rate, 1xBrig and 2xbomb ketches. 28 pirate ships in total.

**Prussian to the Iron** · 05-31-2009, 03:12

cant think exact numbver ATM, but i believe i once faced a fleet of 10 galleons, 4 indiamen, and 4 brigs

**Mailman653** · 05-31-2009, 06:02

How in the world did the get the money to afford that when no one even trades with them.

**Monsieur Alphonse** · 05-31-2009, 08:11

Originally Posted by Mailman653

How in the world did the get the money to afford that when no one even trades with them.

They steal it.

Raiding is a huge source of income. Their base income is 3000 + some gold from their two regions. It is possible that their base income is more then 3000 since they get an AI bonus. The rest is from raiding and possibly price money from captured ships. And they have nothing to build.

**Mailman653** · 05-31-2009, 08:17

Originally Posted by Monsieur Alphonse

They steal it.

Raiding is a huge source of income. Their base income is 3000 + some gold from their two regions. It is possible that their base income is more then 3000 since they get an AI bonus. The rest is from raiding and possibly price money from captured ships. And they have nothing to build.

I didn't know it was that profitable. The times I raided enemy shipping lanes, it felt as if I wasn't even making a dent into their economy, much less mine.

**Prussian to the Iron** · 05-31-2009, 22:17

Originally Posted by Mailman653

I didn't know it was that profitable. The times I raided enemy shipping lanes, it felt as if I wasn't even making a dent into their economy, much less mine.

the longer you stay on the trade route, the more money you take and you make. also, if you have more than 1 enemy on the trade route, you take everyone's money.

also(for the 3rd time

) if you have 20 fleets of 1 ship each pirating a trade route, it is more profitable for you (and hurtful for the enemy) than if you had 1 fleet of 20 on it.

**Forward Observer** · 05-31-2009, 09:06

Originally Posted by Monsieur Alphonse

They steal it.

Raiding is a huge source of income. Their base income is 3000 + some gold from their two regions. It is possible that their base income is more then 3000 since they get an AI bonus. The rest is from raiding and possibly price money from captured ships. And they have nothing to build.

That's why if you are playing one of the powers who deal in the new world, your best bet is to capture their two island capitals early in the game. It doesn't take a cracker jack army either--since all you will facing are pirate mobs--generally not too much better than armed citizens.

I think as the English, I had both pirate strongholds well within the first 5 years (10 turns) , and never fought a single fleet action against them. Besides, once you have their islands their fleets magically disappear.

You don't get a lot of income from their taxes, their island ports are so close to the teleportation boxes in the Atlantic that they come in handy for launching Indiamen to try to get as many trade slots as one can early in the game.

Cheers

**Didz** · 05-31-2009, 09:43

I'm playing Britain and I'm over 50 turns into the game and haven't really had much trouble with pirates up to now, so I've just left them alone and let the Spanish and Dutch deal with them. But it looks like like they failed miserably to keep them under control.

Just recently I started getting full sized pirate fleets wandering north and interfereing with my American trade lane, and then they really got bold and started blockading Jamaica. That was the point at which I decided to intervene.

So, I sent my local fleet to deal with them. 4x5th Rates and a few figates. It ran into a huge pirate fleet south of Jamaica and basically got pawned. Only one 5th rate and two sloops survived.

So, now I have 6 x 3rd rates at Jamaica on pirate duty, but last time they tried to chase down a pirate fleet they ran into the three full stacks I listed in the opening post. I think there are more ships in that pirate fleet than the Nelson had a Trafalgar.

Talking about where the money comes from, I have seen pirate fleets parked on Trade Posts. Whether they are actually getting any benefit for being there is less certain but they certainly seem to be trying.