Rule the Waves 3: Tips and Tricks for Beginners

by Fernando Diaz / Articles, Rule the Waves 3 / 03 Feb 2021

Rule the Waves 3 plunges players into the intricate tapestry of naval strategy, engaging warfare, and delicate diplomacy. As the chief of your navy, you’ll face a wide range of challenges, spanning rapid technological changes, complex ship design, strategic fleet composition, and managing the high expectations of your nation. This guide serves as a navigational aid for beginners, offering essential tips and strategies for mastering the game. Let’s get started!

Understand Rapid Technological Development:

Be aware that technological progress in the game is fast-paced. This is especially true at the beginning and end of the era your game is set in.

Recognize that the time it takes to build ships spans several years. Consequently, many of your vessels will become outdated by the time they are ready for service.

Initially, this might cause frustration, but remember that your opponents face the same problem. Therefore, adapt your strategy and tactics to accommodate this facet of the game.

Balancing Research and Construction:

After experiencing the fast pace of technological progress, you might be tempted to delay building ships until you’ve researched more advanced technology.

However, doing so can lead to potential issues. National leaders or organizations in the game, like the Navy League or the Kaiser, will demand new ships for the sake of national prestige.

A foreign policy crisis may erupt unexpectedly, possibly more rapidly than your ability to construct ships.

Because ships take years to build, you should prepare for conflicts with the navy that’s already in place at the outbreak of war, rather than relying on the one you’re planning to build.

Strategic Ship Design:

When designing a new ship, always consider its role and the context within your navy.

Different types of ships will have different roles. For instance, cruisers can be designed for a range of tasks depending on your nation’s needs.

If your nation has widespread colonies and global interests, consider building a colonial cruiser.

A colonial cruiser should be specially equipped for duties in these colonies. You can optimize it for reliability and long-range capabilities, ensuring it can perform its duties in remote colonial territories.

Prioritizing these features might add extra weight to the cruiser, potentially reducing its speed. However, the result would be a sturdy, versatile workhorse that can serve your nation in colonies and still be useful during wartime to chase down raiders.

Manage Obsolescence:

Recognize that the obsolescence of ships is an integral aspect of Rule the Waves 3. As mentioned earlier, the rapid technological advancement often results in ships becoming outdated before their launch.

Use older ships wisely in your strategy. Even if they aren’t at the technological forefront, they can still be used effectively in various roles, such as convoy escort or coastal defense.

When planning your shipbuilding strategy, consider how a ship might be used throughout its service life, not just when it is brand new. Such foresight can optimize your resources and maintain a versatile navy.

Adapt to Your Nation’s Needs:

Pay attention to the unique requirements and objectives of your nation. The needs of a global empire will differ from those of a smaller, more regional power.

Tailor your ship designs to meet your nation’s strategic needs. For instance, if your nation has a vast colonial empire, consider investing in a fleet of long-range cruisers.

Similarly, if your nation is more concentrated in one region, you might focus more on battleships and destroyers to protect your home waters.

Always consider your nation’s political and strategic situation, balancing demands for prestige-building new ships (such as from the Navy League or the Kaiser) against the practical needs of your navy.

Fernando Diaz

Fernando is doing what he always did, sharing his honest opinions about games whenever he can. The difference is now he is writing and not talking about it.
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