When will frigates become available?

[Capt Nemo]

I am running EIC Grand Campain using version 1.06 and I am now in the year 1636. I would like to get some frigates, but the shipyard says "Unlock for 200 000". I had expected them to become available from some specific year without any unlock. Therefore I have looked in a file "shiptypes.txt". I have cut out some lines:

---------------------------------------
frigate
{
// name from locale
type = str_SHIP_TYPE_FRIGATE
------------------------------------------
shipyard_min = 4

available_from = 1630
//available_from = 1645

hull_low = -4.9
-------------------------------------------

Does this not mean that frigates will be automatically unlocked at 1630 at my Home Port shipyard (level 4)? The line for year 1645 is commented away can I see as on old C programmer.

For a comparation I did look at a cutter. It says available 1600 (as expected) and an unlock price of 30 000. But I have never paid that unlock price! Why should I pay for frigate unlock in 1636?

 

[unmerged(137712)]

Think of the unlock as the Research & Development cost. In those times advancements in design were usually minor changes. Navies would experiment with design changes to hull form and rig by building smaller ships then scaling them up. I think the Diana Class of British frigates were base on the hull design of the Royal Yatch Caroline.

With regard to the game the purpose appears to be allowing the AI to use this ship type. You may have noticed there are not any other nations using Frigates. Once you unlock it you likely encounter pirates using it. Usually 3 Xebecs are more than a match. Allowing you to capture them and adding to your fleet for only the cost of repair. Which is the real payback for fighting the battles. Auto-resolve always sinks them.

Greg.

 

[unmerged(168417)]

I always auto-resolve the battles. I would like an option to sink or capture enemy ships. I think it would add an element to the game.

 

[Capt Nemo]

If I now have understood it right, it is so that you cannot unlock frigates until 1630, and then you must pay the unlock price before you can start building any. The first small ships are unlocked 1600 at startup of the game itself.

 

[delra]

If I now have understood it right, it is so that you cannot unlock frigates until 1630, and then you must pay the unlock price before you can start building any. The first small ships are unlocked 1600 at startup of the game itself.

Exactly.