Ports-help please

[jbmagic]

should u make a port in a providence that has no trade goods? or is that waste of florin and time if u do?


thanks

[FesterShinetop]

Well, ports are also useful to transfer armies between them. If there is a province next to it which allready has a port it might not be necesarry though.

[Balamir]

I build ports in all seaside provinces regardless of the trade goods it has or hasnt. Its good because it can transfer your emissaries to other ports, land armies on other ports if you have a safe route. Its up to you.

[Doug-Thompson]

You can move an army into any seaside province without a port, but need a port to move any units out by sea.

The incredible flexibility you get from having control of the sea AND ports everywhere you can get them is a huge advantage.

So, my suggestion would be to build a port everywhere you can IF you have a navy that allows you to take advantage of it, or plan to build one.

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Ports in barren provinces also allow you to upgrade to build warships. This is important becasue the first ports you build are going to be in rich, important -- and developed -- provinces. If you can shift warship production to less developed provinces, those advanced provinces can shift production to advanced land troops.

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Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but the support costs for ships is calculated by using the distance from the nearest port. So, having a port on each sea where you have ships will cut their support costs by at least half. Yes, ports are expensive, but the savings add up quickly.

[Nelson]

Quote[/b] (Doug-Thompson @ June 25 2003,09:36)]The incredible flexibility you get from having control of the sea AND ports everywhere you can get them is a huge advantage.

Too right. Ports and ships can save money in the long run because you don't need so many garrison troops. An expeditionary force can be maintained in one coastal province that can be whisked off when needed to suppress a revolt or to counter attack an invader. Most regions can be reached from the sea.

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

I like to keep some places port free for assasins - normally say I try to assasiniate bishop so-and-so in flanders, next move he goes to copenhagen and my assasin is a dead duck thanks to the danish border fort. But if there is no port (not a good idea for flanders itself though given the trade potential), next turn he is still in my territory and my assasin has a decent chance of getting the him.