One mechanism that would be handy for nations would be the ability to organize a national navy, primarily for combat. Under the order of the king, a nation should be able to provide general orders for the subjects of the nation in order to expand or defend holdings.

The concept is pretty simple - general orders are given by the king and parliament, and once passed, subjects of the nation enlist selected fleets to serve in the nation's navy.

The following general orders could be issued:

Blockade: This naval order would keep all naval traffic, or only certain nations, guilds, or individuals from entering or leaving a port. Once the order has been voted on and passed by parliament, subjects of the nation would enter the fleet number of the battle fleet they intend to place at the port to patrol. Once the fleet arrives, it would then begin to patrol the port to enforce the blockade. For every fleet placed into service for the blockade, the nation would pay for upkeep on the fleet (which would be double for war time), yet retain 10-50% of the bounty won in victory.

A blockade against a port would reduce the tax income of the NPC tax to 1/2, and influence would drop double (or triple, perhaps) to all those with influence in the port - unless they can get past the blockade.

Break the Blockade: The naval order would be to go forth and break the blockade. Subjects would again place the id number of the fleet in service, then proceed to the port that has been blockaded. If they make it through the blockade, they would begin a patrol to locate the enemy patrols, and prepare to fight them. (If they get past the blockade, influence would reduce at its normal rates.)

Run the Blockade: This order would be an attempt to run a fleet past the blockade. If it gets past the blockade, the influence in that port would be saved for the nation. Once the order passes the vote, subjects would place the id number of the fleet to go into service, then proceed to the blockaded fort and attempt to run the blockade.

Patrol: The order would be to attack and plunder the fleets of a certain nation, guild or individual. Once again, enter the fleet id of the battle fleet to go into service. This time, the fleet could be put into a trade route. When it arrives at port, using the gossip page, if a target is found, it will be attacked. If not, it moves onto the next port. Once again, the nation pays for upkeep (x2) and splits the bounty with the owner of the fleet.

These are just a few ideas to spur discussion and pursuit to move the national battles to sea and out of the parliament!

I like the idea. +1 Will the chances to be able to run the blockade and such be increased with ship type and level? Or would it be dependent on Speed?

+1 i think that it should be increased with the speed of the ships so the fastest ship has the best chance and the slowest the worst

Haron made a good topic on Wars and Blockades, as did I with Nation Ports: Forts. Both discuss war and the use of blockades and how they can be formed and implemented.

Wars and Blockades
http://www.piratesglory.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2151

Forts
http://www.piratesglory.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2165

+1. collaboration and unified control of fleets could also be a possibility to expand into guilds as well

DezNutz wrote:Haron made a good topic on Wars and Blockades, as did I with Nation Ports: Forts. Both discuss war and the use of blockades and how they can be formed and implemented.

Wars and Blockades
http://www.piratesglory.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2151

Forts
http://www.piratesglory.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2165

I did read through these - they are excellent. Perhaps my suggestion could be a starting piece of the framework on which to build the rest of the system, putting full diplomacy and forts into place around the naval aspect....

Ferdinand wrote:I like the idea. +1 Will the chances to be able to run the blockade and such be increased with ship type and level? Or would it be dependent on Speed?

Speed and luck - Speed if ye can get out in front of the patrol, luck that ye can outrun his long nines....

This is where it would get exciting. If there is only one battle fleet patrolling the port, then the likelihood of getting through is greater than if there are 10 battle fleets patrolling the port. Speed will definitely increase your chances, and if ship specialization comes out, there will be ways to improve a ship's chances to run the blockade...as well as a patrol ship to catch that blockade runner - imagine a brigantine or brig or a frigate chasing that cutter making a run for the port....

John jacob astor wrote:+1. collaboration and unified control of fleets could also be a possibility to expand into guilds as well

I would not be too keen on anyone handling my fleets. If the war gets nasty, I want to be able to stand down and withdraw from service. Besides, it might prove to be an easy way to exploit the system.

The battle could use similar parameters as skirmish - however, it would not limit the number of skirmishes/battles that would be conducted. This is war, not raiding. A skirmished trade fleet will be emptied, bounty collected, and could then return to the previous port without having conducted trade at the blockaded port.

The National Navy will not quit until the orders are rescinded, or until the fleet owner stands down and pulls the fleet from national service. As it gathers DR from its battles, the patrols will be able to be spotted and dealt with individually. This could push DR up rather quickly on the battle fleet unless other parameters are used for DR for this mechanism. Or, perhaps limiting the number of attacks per hour the battle fleet can conduct would help control the DR.

Nations control the ports, and guilds are much more diversified - however, this may be an opportunity to introduce the Letter of Marque, for a nation to provide an individual to submit fleets to join in the general order of the nation - but I imagine an incentive would be in order to get that done.

Bumping.