Pirates less of a problem?

[Ambience]

I'm currently playing a game as France, H/H, Vanilla ETW.

I've noticed lately pirates are no longer the full stack naval terrors they once were.

A month ago I was playing France and Martinique was permanently blockaded by a full stack. Fighting pirates at sea was near impossible and all you can do was sit and weather out their raids.

Last week when I was playing, pirates only had 1 or 2 ships. I was able to dispatch them with 1 or 2 galleons patrolling around their islands (it gives a nice source of income). Finally pirates are acting like pirates... historically they were commercial raiders, not enough to challenge an entire empire as before, which was ridiculous.

Anyone else notice this change?

[pandoursbox]

I've been playing a sweden campaign for awhile now and i think I noticed this too, though I got to the trade routes later than usual. I have a had nodes attack though.

What I did notice for sure in the last patch is that more nations are building bigger stacks of ships. We all know about the minors spamming land units, but after last patch, they seem to spam fleets too. I've seen Italian States and Genoese stacks camping in the trade regions. They probably take care of the early game massed pirates.

[antaeus]

What I did notice for sure in the last patch is that more nations are building bigger stacks of ships. We all know about the minors spamming land units, but after last patch, they seem to spam fleets too. I've seen Italian States and Genoese stacks camping in the trade regions. They probably take care of the early game massed pirates.

yeah i'm pretty sure i sometimes run into pirate stacks which are on their last legs... they may travel in full stacks early on, but check the individual ship stats.. i was panicked by a full stack only to get attacked and realise some of their galleys had most of their guns missing because they'd been fighting for a while without repair.

i think portugal and the dutch seem to get early hits because their fleets are near pirates in the beginning, if you're lucky by the time you get to them, they've already been battle damaged.

[DarkArk]

Well, as Britain I ran into a near-full stack of pirates with a large number of galleons and fluyts around 1740. I had 2nd rates by then, so they were toast, but it was still a rather substantial fleet.

[antaeus]

Well, as Britain I ran into a near-full stack of pirates with a large number of galleons and fluyts around 1740. I had 2nd rates by then, so they were toast, but it was still a rather substantial fleet.

you allowed the pirates to survive until 1740?

by gosh, invade those islands straight away man!

[oxotower]

Talking of pirates has anyone else have them re spawn ? I had wiped them off the map when UP lost their last European foot hold,what ever they had in the Americas turned grey except the Curroco's isles which went Pirate again

They did not attack me again though dispite having a few full stack fleets.

[pandoursbox]

I've wiped out the UP in a couple games. The Guyanas turned grey, but it was just native troops. No ships were spawned. Not sure about the other islands (one brit and my current swede campaign)

[antaeus]

i've had them arrive when the up were destroyed. i was quick to stomp on them

[The Gallant Forty-Twa]

I personally never destroy the pirate island. After all why wud u want to? Whats the fun of 18th century life if there arent a few cheeky pirates about. Sure its annoying when they attack your trade routes but cmon, a large empire can cope with that every now and again.

I also just love seeing Callico Jack (sp?) flagged ships sailing about the Caribbean...

[A Very Super Market]

The pirates eventually get obcene amounts of Galleons and Fluyts (Unrealistic in their own regard) and start to sail around in large fleets. Uh......

[Xira]

Do not eliminate the pirates, else they respawn at peace, no fun.
Eliminate Spain instead, pirates will occupy Cuba and Hispaniola.
Now your fleet has some challenge.

Still not enough? Eliminate Britain/UP/France.