Worst off path Crusade ever!

**Microwavegerbil** · 12-06-2005, 00:41

Massive naval showdowns are pretty good fun, although in my recent campaign on XL mod the Danes are beginning to look dangerous. They have several stacks of ships near Spain, and though not as insane as they are on the screenshot I've seen floating around, they're getting there.

**Mooks** · 12-06-2005, 03:37

Running a crusade through your enemy's armys is the best way to start a war

**Ludens** · 12-06-2005, 14:06

Originally Posted by The Darkhorn

One thing about seperating ships though. One on One they tend to lose 70% to the Italian and Sicilian alliance breakers. Any other ships DON'T seem to be able to help it in that situation. The AI attacks your "stack," in this case of one ship. It would be better to keep them all together when at peace and just sitting there. It may even discourage these notorious trade route disrupting attacks anyway. The AI's not likely to attack your stack of 2 barques and a caravel with his firegalley, but he will laugh and sink your stack of one of your barques while your other two ships watch, cheer, and drink beer.

Absolutely! Naval fights are just between two fleets and one-ship fleets are considered irresistable by the A.I. Only separate a single fast ship if you want to catch a small enemy fleet that is most likely going to flee when you attack with the big stack.

When in Naval war, I always try to clear the sealanes of opposing fleets as fast as possible, but land war has the priority. BTW, several players say that succes in sea battles is inversely related to succes on dry land, so sending a unit of peasants on a suicide attack just before a decisive sea battle is a good way of ensuring success. I have never tried this, though.

**The Darkhorn** · 12-16-2005, 16:05

Originally Posted by Ludens

Absolutely! Naval fights are just between two fleets and one-ship fleets are considered irresistable by the A.I. Only separate a single fast ship if you want to catch a small enemy fleet that is most likely going to flee when you attack with the big stack.

When in Naval war, I always try to clear the sealanes of opposing fleets as fast as possible, but land war has the priority. BTW, several players say that succes in sea battles is inversely related to succes on dry land, so sending a unit of peasants on a suicide attack just before a decisive sea battle is a good way of ensuring success. I have never tried this, though.

I find if I keep 2-3 ships in every zone with a a couple of larger ones to augment storm losses, I avoid the backstabbing naval attacks.