[Implemented] Skirmish Revision

[Bmw]

i find that being skirmished doesn't really cost me anything (of course i don't pay anything the nation pays for the cargo lost). and even when being skirmished a ton a day doesn't matter much it costs me less then 1% of my trade value per week

[Haron]

I have stolen gold bars maybe 4 times, I think (could be 5...). All but one of those were one or two cutters, only one was a "nice load".

[Most Lee Harmless]

The pirate has rarely paid for his 200 captains...95% will have been taken as plunder from stolen ships...

Think thru the logic : while the GS has a high chance of losing their cargo to skirmishers, then they wont send out big shipments : one load lost is a days profits on a billion GC investment : you only find cutter loads of bars? Damn right : thats the math at the other end : I can afford to lose 30 bars so thats what gets sent out : I cant afford to lose 600, so guess what, they dont travel in such numbers in my fleets.

Of course, we could change the rules so GB's can only be shipped in unarmed lvl1 Trade Galleons : maybe I woudl start skirmishing too then.

[Haron]

The trader never paid for his skirmish points either. And trading in gold is possible to do smart. I hardly think skirmishes eat any noticeable part of a gold smith's profit. And I'm not complaining about not Stealing more gold bars.

Anyway, it's the "ordinary" skirmish I'm worried about. Gold bars is a curiosity, a sidetrack - the important thing with gold bar trade is that it can't be risk free. Having most targets evade the ordinary skirmishes is a much more serious matter. It would make Skirmishing pointless for most players, and reduce further the already very low value of the highest levels of skirmish tech.

[Most Lee Harmless]

Well, we disagree, I'd be happy to see skirmish consigned to history as a failed experiment in instant gratification and easy action. Guess we will both be eternally disappointed in it, for different reasons.

[Haron]

Removing skirmish might have been an option before the introduction of the academy. I think it's difficult now.

In my opinion, there already is a very effective defence against skirmish: It's impossible to be attacked more than five times a day. This classifies skirmish as "mostly harmless". Without this protection, skirmish would be a potentially very dangerous tool, and would definitely require further protection. I'm not suggesting this is the way to go, though.

[Most Lee Harmless]

I rarely skirmish because it makes no sense to do so : As a GS, I need to have a purse sufficient to feed the smithy : as a trader, I need a purse sufficient to guard my fleets from other forms of attack : the loss in plunder from return fire will always exceed any gain from skirmishing. I reckon that is so for most traders/smiths : thats why we dont use the skirmish points we get for free. I dont agree that 'only' being hit 5 times a day is some form of defence : its like being grateful the mugger only takes your wallet but leaves your watch and phone.

The only times I skirmish is to complete the Rule of Three, where a couple of 'normal' PvP plunders mean I have room for another hit before DP exceeds 18, (or multiplications there-of).

Thus, for me, the feature is a total negative : its something that restricts, binds, taxes, irritates and annoys while contributing absolutely nothing. So no surprise then I have no time for it.

[William one eye]

i find that being skirmished doesn't really cost me anything (of course i don't pay anything the nation pays for the cargo lost). and even when being skirmished a ton a day doesn't matter much it costs me less then 1% of my trade value per week

technically the nation pays you, the nation pays for the skirmish, you get less pay from the nation because the nation has to pay skirmish insurance.
The cost is just spread between everyone that gets paid by the nation. As a higher ranking, better paid member of the nation it affects your pay more than someone who is military class.

Re the actual topic:

I started this game doing mostly skirmish, I used all my points everyday. I always wished for more turns or more skirmish points. I learned a lot starting that way and would not trade that learning experience for anything.
To make money at it you either have to know your targets very well, risk you may lose a lot of battles and lose more gc in return fire in danger hits than you will gain, or run danger up on warships that most will not attack but that could become someones prize. I rarely skirmish these days. I
feel they suggestions being made particularly point 2 would make skirmishing more desirable.

[Shadowood]

If someone maxed out Skirmish Tech they are getting 23 skirmish attacks per day. (92 turns used)
If that person also has Piracy Tech maxed, they would be making $1,610,000 just on the extra $70k from Tech.
Most traders have Skirmish Insurance so the money doesn't come from them.

I don't know if more storage is needed. If someone likes Skirmish so much they are going to use up those 23 skirmish points daily anyway.
Maybe a reduction in turns, as (rough estimate) $2milllion per day for 92 turns used is kind of steep. $2 Mil for 46 turns used would be much better.

I like Haron's formula on chance of evade based on Speed.

[Mack]

I dont know, I feel skirmish is fine the way it is...