Ships, Boats, Things that Float

**Sir Beane** · 12-25-2008, 19:10

Originally Posted by SwordsMaster

What about Manila Galleons? Are we to assume these are outclassed too?

The manila galleions more or less fall under the category of galleons. If I remember correctly they were paticularly large galleons, but were sluggish and poorly armed. Since they were intended purely as a transport ship they probably won't be available as a naval unit.

They may however be in the game if CA intend to replicate the Spanish gold fleets.

**SwordsMaster** · 12-26-2008, 13:39

Originally Posted by Sir Beane

The manila galleions more or less fall under the category of galleons. If I remember correctly they were paticularly large galleons, but were sluggish and poorly armed. Since they were intended purely as a transport ship they probably won't be available as a naval unit.

They may however be in the game if CA intend to replicate the Spanish gold fleets.

They were large, displacing in the region of 2000 tons. Considering galleons were a ship type built purposefully for war, I wouldn't say they were entirely useless, even though they wouldn't really stand up to a ship of the line individually. Which is why they ceased to be used by navies in the early XVIII century as main warships.

Yet the Manila Galleons continued until 1815, starting in 1565 which is a lot more than any other ship type in history, meaning they were good at doing what they did.

**Sir Beane** · 12-26-2008, 14:21

Originally Posted by SwordsMaster

They were large, displacing in the region of 2000 tons. Considering galleons were a ship type built purposefully for war, I wouldn't say they were entirely useless, even though they wouldn't really stand up to a ship of the line individually. Which is why they ceased to be used by navies in the early XVIII century as main warships.

Yet the Manila Galleons continued until 1815, starting in 1565 which is a lot more than any other ship type in history, meaning they were good at doing what they did.

I agree that they were very sturdy ships and good ad what they did, but what the ydid din't involve combat.

'Galleon' is a pretty broad class that encompasses small ships with two masts all the way up to four masted giants like the Manila galleons. It's true some were built for war, but others were built for exploration or for trading or for transport.

I'm sure we will see galleons in the game as war ships for at least Spain and Portugal, I doubt however that we will see them in any role other role than as a warship.

Incidentally this excludes several otehr classes of ships from being listed purely because they were not used for war, for instance the Dutch Fleut.

Fleuts were the first ship to be mass-produced based on standardised blueprints. They were made to be cheap to build, using pine rather than the preferred oak, because pine grows much more quickly and cheaply. Sadly though I doubt they will be in game aside from maybe a mention in a technology or port upgrade.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 12-27-2008, 23:13

Only a little on-topic, but do we know anything regarding privateering?

**Fisherking** · 12-27-2008, 23:21

I wish we knew something about Privateers!

They darn sure should be there!

Maybe they will handle them as Mercenary Ships?

**Sir Beane** · 12-27-2008, 23:26

Privateers will almost certainly appear in-game using a similar system to mercenaries. Although it would be innacurate to portray them totally as such since they were not always paid to fight. In fact the British government made a profit out of privateering, taking a percentage of the loot.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 12-28-2008, 02:48

I'd be equally happy with seeing them infrequently in battle but being a factor in how effective trade is. I'm currently reading Patriot Pirates, a book about American privateers during the Revolution. They seem to have been fairly costly for the British, and certainly very profitable for the actual privateers.