TO SEA OR NOT TO SEA?

That is the question. One of the many subtle aspects of GSI's Middle Earth Play-By-Mail Game is the role of the navy. Initially, only some of the players are in the naval arena, but all players have the potential to avail themselves of this very powerful tool. Many players I have talked to feel like the navy is more of a burden than a benefit and would just as soon scuttle their ships the first turn of the game to avoid the maintenance cost. It is my belief that naval forces can be a very powerful tool for any player if used judiciously.

Naval forces in Middle Earth play many of the same roles as modern military naval forces. Protection of sea lanes against enemy navies, intercepting enemy convoys, establishing beachheads, invasions, troop transports, protecting ports, and blockading enemy ports are some of the uses of a strong navy.

There are a number of disadvantages to maintaining naval forces. First, they are expensive to maintain. Port cost 500 gold per turn to maintain and harbors cost 250 gold per turn to maintain. In addition, each warship and transport cost 50 gold each to maintain. If you have a large fleet with many harbors to support, it could easily cost you 5,000 gold per turn or more. Second, unescorted transports are extremely vulnerable when traveling alone. A small fleet of warships can easily defeat unprotected transports and eliminate all troops (and possibly all characters) with little or no casualties. Third, characters in navies, while at sea, are very limited in the types of orders they can issue. Fourth, most nations' navies are subject to random catastrophes if they attempt to cross open seas. This forces most navies to stay near the coast. Fifth, warships and transports are expensive to replace when lost in combat. Each ship costs 1,000 gold and 1500 timber to build.

So, with all these negatives, why would any nation want to maintain a strong naval presence in Middle Earth? In my opinion, there are quite a few very convincing reasons. First, navies have an increased range of movement. They can move 14 hexes and each water hex only cost 1 point to enter. You can move from one end of the map to the other in four turns or less. Second, it is much more difficult for your enemies to track your naval movement because it is harder to anticipate where your navies will come ashore and they can quickly move off any nation's map. In land combat you usually know when your enemy is marching on your city, but navies can strike almost anywhere at any time along the coast. Nobody can defend all their coastal holdings from naval attack without a major drain on their resources. Coordination of land and sea assault is particularly effective. Third, navies assigned to cruise specific coastal regions can prevent other navies from sneak attacking. If a navy of warships can catch poorly defended transports in the open, they can also inflict heavy casualties without severe damage. Fourth, navies can be used to transport troops to remote population centers. In many cases it is swifter to move troops by sea instead of by slow land movement. Emissaries can establish camps on distant shores and be protected by troops in a few turns. Troops can also be taken to assault enemy population centers with little or no warning. Fifth, stationing a navy offshore of an enemy population center, while an army sieges the population center, will prevent any reinforcements from arriving by sea. This is particularly effective if you lay siege to an enemy capital and blockade with a strong navy. Unless he has troops close by to reinforce by land he is in serious trouble. Sixth, transports can be used as mobile bridges to cross major rivers without having to build a bridge. Since navies can move on coastal hexes and major rivers they are also effective inland.

In conclusion, it is my opinion that the advantages of maintaining naval forces far outweigh the disadvantages. You must be very careful not to leave your navies unprotected and do not travel in the open without sufficient warship support. Many players have additional advantages for their navies, so do not assume all nations have the same cost, range or strength as you do. Tis it nobler in the mind...