Why go for Naval Supremacy?

[Baldos]

I have played the CG as Spain and now as England. Both times France built a huge navy and a modest army.

As Spain I ignored France's navy since I had large armies in Flanders and Catalonia. Each of these armies were larger than France's and I was able to defeat France in two wars prior to the Dutch grinding-up my armies.

But as England I need a large navy to survive. I am just able to mach the French navy in numbers, and my army is equal to France's. But I still have Scotland at my back. I fear this will ruin England economicly and in an alliance war.

Why does AI France need such an large Navy? France was mostly a land power. I understand I can Blockade ports and control the seas, but what effect will this have on a continental power? Can I blockade trade & colonization?
Or is a naval blockade only used for pure naval supremacy by destroying the enemy navy without any further economic benefit to the victor nor economic loss to the defeated. Where is Alfred Thayer Mahan in this game?

 

[unmerged(1260)]

I believe it's a bug that I hope is being worked on in the next patch. Most AI majors with a coastline build a huge amount of ships, so much that they usually go bankrupt just trying to pay them. I've seen Turkey and Venice both do this in my current game.

 

[Freodin]

Hey, but France can even USE her huge navy. Regularly I get beaten up by the french navy when playing England. I cannot get troops to Calais, she brings large armies to Wessex, Ireland and Scotland.

But why does Poland build such huge fleets? I just sunk 120 polish Caracks with my 20 ship-of-the-line and Poland is already rebuilding.

I really hope they fix this with the next patch.

 

[Olaf the Unsure]

I may be wrong, but I think the image of France as a land-only power is mostly due to Napoleon's antics. The French navy in the 18th century was quite powerful and dealt the English more than a few serious setbacks. French naval power, of course, was largely responsible for the American victory at Yorktown.

I think France aspired to be a true naval power and successfully stood toe-to-toe with England during this period. It was only later, when Napoleon emphasized land over naval power, and England built up its navy as its only effective response, that the disparity between the two nations developed. It's that disparity that we remember, but I don't think it was so pronounced earlier.

If I'm right, then the French naval buildup depicted in the game may not be too ahistorical.

I'd welcome other views, though.

 

[Freodin]

French shipbuilding was considered more advanced than the british. But England was fixed on having a large and powerfull navy. They needed it to defend their island position. France on the other hand had to spend a lot of her efforts on the army. Not surprising, when you consider the long borderline to the hostile habsburg states.

 

[Baldos]

I agree that historically France in the time frame 1492-1792 also had an aggressive naval policy and it was from 1792 to 1914 that 'Britannia ruled the waves'. But why in EU do the AI powers spend so much on a navy instead of the army. Is it only a 'bug'?
This policy, baring any economic warfare advantage does not make sense in the game. Does anyone know if a navy can be used to inflict economic damage to the enemy as in Imperialism 1 & 2 by harming trade?

 

[Olaf the Unsure]

I agree that it doesn't make much sense for Poland to have a huge navy. I haven't seen that before, but I've mostly been playing Spain and Portugal, so my focus has been elsewhere.

 

[unmerged(962)]

In my current game as Spain, France declares war about every 20 years or so. And every time, they have almost no army. I simply march into Paris and a couple other provinces (to annex at peace negotiations).

Meanwhile France sails around with fleets with 100 ships or more. They LOOK impressive, but I simply steer my own fleet clear of them until the war is over.

This is an issue that definitely needs to be addressed in the next patch.

 

[unmerged(548)]

Does anyone know if a navy can be used to inflict economic damage to the enemy as in Imperialism 1 & 2 by harming trade?

Yes, everybody that has read my FAQ.

 

[unmerged(1641)]

Maybe one solution to help the AI is to reduce the cost for ships (easy done in the naval file). It's very expensive to have an 'standing' fleet anyway.

One other thing I have tried is to make the movement of troops more realistic.
I double the movement penalty for different terrain. Take's a lot of time to move them to right place and u have very hard to riech America and other continents if u play as Sweden for example early in the game.

Not. Spain,Portugal a.s.o have no problem with it.

 

[BiB]

I actually manage to win my games without a fleet (just some transports at certain points). Not building a fleet or having to maintain it obviously gives me a big edge over the AI financially.

Even with England my fleet was quite small (mostly kept the starting ships and stayed clear from battles as IMO they're not worth it). I just don't see the need for a big battle ready fleet esp at its cost.

 

[Baldos]

My apologies Huszics.

The answer to my question on economic damage from blockades is # 2 in your FAQ's. I read your FAQ a while ago, I need to read it again. One more question... The Faq states blockades reduce province income by half. It that total income or just trade?

 

[unmerged(548)]

My apologies Huszics.

Don't worry, sometimes even i don't exactly remember what's in it =)

A suggestion however, save the entire page to you HD, thus you will have easy access to it even when offline.
Makes it a lot easier to take a peake at it once in a while.
Or use the printable option to have a papercopy.

The Faq states blockades reduce province income by half. It that total income or just trade?

Total (you get a padlock on both values, which are also both lowered).