Byzantine's navy needs a rework

Age of Empires IV IV - Discussion
1

the problem here is the dromon.
Arrow ship counters demo ship, demo ship counters springald ship, springald ship counters arrow ship.

If you make the springald ship a melee one, it cannot snipe arrow ships because they’re behind the ships’line, and you cannot snipe enemy’s demo ships with your arrow ship, because your dromon needs to be melee to deal damage, so the rock paper scissor of naval warfare does not work.

I think byzantines need the springald ship in the roster, and with the dromon you have 2 options:

  • it replaces demo ship, dealing less burst damage but taking less damage from arrow ships as well
  • it’s a 4th ship for byz, that deals bonus damage to all ships and buildings, but vulnerable to demos

In any case, dromon should have a smaller size and an update in its damage, bonus damage, etc

5 Likes
2

Before Byz gets anything they should get nerfed. Not the other way around, Sir.

3

They did just get nerfed.

They aren’t viable on water right now.

4

On water they’re just unplayable atm

1 Like
5

Dromon needs significant further buffs.

1 Like
6

To be honest, the whole navy in AoE 4 needs rework

It should not be nothing complicated, just make naval combat simple and fun

Now it is annoying rock-papper-scissorss with dominant demo ships

1 Like
7

Everyone was asking for rock paper scissors though.

I don’t think demo ships are dominant, but my preference would be to remove them from the feudal RPS triangle.

I’d make a feudal upgrade for transports that gives them a melee “boarding” attack that counters springald ships. Rebalance archer ships to counter them (probably not as hard as they do demos currently).

Then move the demo to castle age. Have it do okish damage to other ships, good damage to buildings, and bonus damage to gunpowder ships.

They could also add a new ship instead of the transport change, but this way is less work.

Byzantine Dromons are so weak because of their short attack range and being countered by demos even more than springald ships. Barring any general water changes, they need something. Either more range, way more health, way more damage, or something.