In the last 30 days, we had a most interesting debate over more battles in the game per request from Game Admin.

Seems clear that if Game admin wants more battles, the quickest way to accomplish this is to implement mechanisms that push pirates to maintain more fleets. Without sufficient pirate fleet numbers , per pirate, it is difficult to impossible for a merchant to combat a pirate (ie generate large number of battles).

So Admin, you want more battles, let's put some mechanism in place that pushes a pirate to have more than 2 or 3 fleets!

For that I am lighting you up!!!.....Wait nvm out of turns.

That is naive, in my opinion. There are several things that could be done to promote more combat. Some ideas have been posted, and there are several other alternatives as well. Which of these are the best, is not an easy thing to determine. I think your suggestion might lead to fewer battles, though. If it becomes more dangerous to do pirating, I believe it is more likely that pirates will conduct fewer attacks, than that we'll see an increase in retaliation attacks from merchants. That said, it is definitely possible to attack pirates with the existing rules, but you need to attack them in a different way than you would attack a trader. Obviously.

Haron wrote:That is naive, in my opinion. There are several things that could be done to promote more combat. Some ideas have been posted, and there are several other alternatives as well. Which of these are the best, is not an easy thing to determine. I think your suggestion might lead to fewer battles, though. If it becomes more dangerous to do pirating, I believe it is more likely that pirates will conduct fewer attacks, than that we'll see an increase in retaliation attacks from merchants. That said, it is definitely possible to attack pirates with the existing rules, but you need to attack them in a different way than you would attack a trader. Obviously.

How does a merchant engage in more combat with a pirate, when that pirate only runs 1, 2 or 3 fleets??? If a pirate runs say 10 or 20 fleets, I guarantee I will be engaging in more battles with that pirate on my behalf not his.

I tis easy to do this, give merchant a voodoo card that allows them to lock up a pirate's fleet in port for say 12 hours or 24 hours. If a pirate is serious about attacking and being attacked, he/she will run more than 2 or 3 fleets in effort to combat that voodoo. So no, it is not naive.

Now, instead of throwing merchants under the bus, why don't you consider the repercussions of running merchants out of the game...

if you want more battles, add a game provided reward for winning that is held by all (aka another award separate from piracy tech bonus). you could make it a bonus of 10 credits for every 50 attacks won, or a recurring 10m for every 100 attacks like the one plunder mission already has. now, not necessarily these numbers, but if you make it recurring for all players, you will end up with more battles

John jacob astor wrote:if you want more battles, add a game provided reward for winning that is held by all (aka another award separate from piracy tech bonus). you could make it a bonus of 10 credits for every 50 attacks won, or a recurring 10m for every 100 attacks like the one plunder mission already has. now, not necessarily these numbers, but if you make it recurring for all players, you will end up with more battles

Already have that with game missions. Pirates are not viable targets, when they run a few fleets. casting voodoo is about the only way to combat them, otherwise its just to silly and costly to lit up 2 or 3 fleets and take a few sloops. I don't think so!

Give me more fleets per pirate and I'l happily give you more battles.

Anyone running more than 3 fleets can't even be classed as a pirate anymore.... so your saying hey let's remove pirates so we can have more battles?

Why do you think there are as many battles as there are? "Pirates", if we are forced to have more fleets, we will reduce the battles we engage in as we have more to risk... so in theory, your idea to increase battles will have a reversed effect...

John jacob astor wrote:if you want more battles, add a game provided reward for winning that is held by all (aka another award separate from piracy tech bonus). you could make it a bonus of 10 credits for every 50 attacks won, or a recurring 10m for every 100 attacks like the one plunder mission already has. now, not necessarily these numbers, but if you make it recurring for all players, you will end up with more battles

I agree. I think you have have incentive for people to engage in more battles. Right now the risk outweighs the reward.

Forcing a style of player into something won't accomplish anything, adding something for all players would produce the desired result.

Crackedcubes wrote:
I tis easy to do this, give merchant a voodoo card that allows them to lock up a pirate's fleet

Chains of Justice

All your positions are rendered mute as no merchant worth his mathematical salt is going waste expense voodoo on a measly 3 fleets. It is simple math.....