RTW Question - Displacement restraint

[akmatov]

I've read here that there is a strong tendency for displacements to balloon into monster ships in the game.  Wondering if the game simulates the need for expensive support structure like larger dry docks and dredging out the Kiel Canal, which in the real world acted as a brake to monster ships.

[tbr]

In theory the docksize is representing this. But perhaps we need some steps in the progress for planned dock epansion. 2000 tons at 2,4 million (very large fleet size) in 12 months is a good step for the first few years, with the 1000 ton private epansion a nice bonus. Perhaps beyond 20000 tons private expansion should stop and deliberate epansion steps should expand to 5000 tons at 60 months and 10 million, from 30000 on increase the price for a 5kton 60 month step to 40 million, make it 2 6000 ton steps at 72 months for 90 million each to reach the 52kton construction limit.

In that way the really large steps cost more in money and time, become true investment decisions and it really feels like a true epansion step when the construction is completed.

[akmatov]

Historically the costs of new docks and dredging were significant issues. Dock, dry dock?, sizes were definitely factors in design decisions. Should really be in RTW, otherwise things can go crazy, as I gather they do.

[Fredrik W]

Ship sizes do tend to increase at the end of the game, but then there were "monster" ships planned IRL in the 1920s. Whether they were stopped by the Washington Treaty or by financial constraints (or indeed if the Washington Treaty was caused by financial constraints) is open for debate, but in the game, you can build those planned large ships, and the game allows players to play out an alternate history where the treaty never happened. I have not so far seen any feedback that things are "going crazy".

Large ships do have their disadvantages in that they cannot be everywhere, and you are putting all of your eggs in one basket, as a big ship is as likely to be in the yard or hit a mine as a smaller one.

[decourcy2]

I do find playing as Britain that I get one 1,000 ton free dockyard expansion every 12 months, which seems high. I barely had to pay to expand myself, it was all free.

[Fredrik W]

Britain as the advantage of efficient shipbuilding, which helps in this regard. This is WAD.