Originally posted by Prince Rupert
Could you perhaps elaborate on that? Telling someone they're doing a 'shyte job of it' without presenting a useful alternative doesn't aid yr argument.
Columbus made it to the Antilles with 3 ships (after much sailing in circles), and then made it back to Spain with one (leaving the other two behind, but very much functional). This historical example (something that seems to be much carped on around here) defeats just about anything you care to say --- especially the 'well if yr down to one ship, you better go dock in a port' bit. Duh! Unfortunately, by the time you reach Puerto Rico yr usually down to one ship! Where exactly are you supposed to dock at? Thanks to the inflated attrition rate, you'll never make it back to Spain! And, as I already pointed out, Magellan made it around the world with 5 --- a feat you'll never reproduce in EU!
How's this for an alternative? Maybe Naval Explorers should be made into their own type of unit: One that is unsinkable due to attrition, but still succeptable to storms, pirates, warships, etc. That way you'd still want to put them with a fleet for protection --- and the Movement bonus.
I thought it was pretty common sense and sommink I alreday explained. It's a game, not reall ife, u cannot sail around the world in one haul with Mahelhaes, so don't try it! Trying it and sinking after I toild u not to, ..., well
If ur halfway Europe-America and u just lost ur second to last ship, maybe u should go back to a harbour, like, maybe, I dunno, Spain ?!
Can't say I ever played Spain, but played England a lot and the distances u have to cover then are considerably bigger, like discovering Australia thru the pacific. It can be done with a little effort and dedication. It's not like it was easy back then either. And they refreshed quite a bit too, they didn't stay at water all the time.
LEt's take Cabot. U get him in London, u sail to Ulster or so for a first harbour visit and then sail as far as possible as attrition allows to get back with ur 2 ships. Check out attrition rates, just leaving them out of sea cuz u want it that way isn't gonna work. Normally u'll make the American coast easily the first time and with soem luck some territory. Then if possible colonize that for a harbour. Keep sailing on and off to England till u get that colonial harbour.
Xure, it isn't very realistic but IMO it beats the crap out of knowing the whoel world by 1525, sommink that is quite likely if there would not be attrition for explorers.
I also played Portugal who has to explore loads at the start and that is very easy to manage as long as u pay some attention.
If u want to get to India, get harbours on the way to dock in.
Another thing is that 25 ships will suffer much more attrition than 2 ships. Explorers needn't more than 3 ships, really.
And to think Columbus gets enormous attrition bonuses ...