Naval Battles

[Fondor_Yards]

Unless I end up sucking at naval ones, both equally.

[YellowMelon]

As I stated in a thread at CCS, I think class will have to start specializing. I mean it is possible that competitive players can become proficient in both land and naval battles, but in the past I have seen 1v1 specialists, team specialists, and I don't see why this won't apply to the introduction of naval 1v1 and naval team.

[Thermal]

Unless I end up sucking at naval ones, both equally.

What he said

[Fisherking]

Naval Tactics 101



Naval War you will find is simpler than land battles.

Go in with the strongest ships you can get and keep them together. Usually line a head works best…usually!

If you are up wind you have the advantage of closing quickly with the enemy. If you are down wind you can run away from the fight.

Close with the enemy and shoot for the rigging to cripple his movement then kill the crew with grape. Then wait for the ship to strike its colors. Round shot has a better range but it will sink him and you would rather capture the ships. Boarding is bloody so avoid it if you can.

If you think you are a real ace skipper you can try using lighter faster ships to damage him and capture them one at a time…Heavy Frigates do this work…

Happy Sailing!

[Sir Beane]

Naval Tactics 101



Naval War you will find is simpler than land battles.

Go in with the strongest ships you can get and keep them together. Usually line a head works best…usually!

If you are up wind you have the advantage of closing quickly with the enemy. If you are down wind you can run away from the fight.

Close with the enemy and shoot for the rigging to cripple his movement then kill the crew with grape. Then wait for the ship to strike its colors. Round shot has a better range but it will sink him and you would rather capture the ships. Boarding is bloody so avoid it if you can.

If you think you are a real ace skipper you can try using lighter faster ships to damage him and capture them one at a time…Heavy Frigates do this work…

Happy Sailing!

Good advice their Fisherking! Hopefully the game is accurate enough that these real world tactics actually apply.

[pevergreen]

Conceal the power of your fleet, flank and surprise him.

[Tomisama]

Naval Tactics 101

If you are up wind you have the advantage of closing quickly with the enemy. If you are down wind you can run away from the fight.

It is my understanding that the former windward approach (more aggressive but risky) was favored by the English (who had more ships to lose), and the opposite leeward attack was favored by the French of the same period (who had less). Neither was exclusive, but the consideration of the larger picture was of some effect.

If tacking is not required in the game, then most probably where the wind comes from may be nullified also. Does anyone have any definite knowledge?

[Fisherking]

It is my understanding that the former windward approach (more aggressive but risky) was favored by the English (who had more ships to lose), and the opposite leeward attack was favored by the French of the same period (who had less). Neither was exclusive, but the consideration of the larger picture was of some effect.

If tacking is not required in the game, then most probably where the wind comes from may be nullified also. Does anyone have any definite knowledge?

Tomisama

The British preferred to have the Weather Gage (up wind of the enemy), while the French wanted an avenue of escape.

Once battle is joined however it becomes difficult to flee with out some speed advantage and you may expose your self to a transom shot or a rake.(a shot through the back of the ship or straight down the bow)

Closing with the enemy is the ticklish part. Various maneuvers can be tried to put your self in the best position but having the Weather Gage gives you the initiative.

The windward would possibly expose you to long range fire but also may give you the advantage of crossing the T (shooting down the length of the line). It is usually a risk worth taking as ships in this position are almost guaranteed to damage the enemy vessels. The British considered long range fire a waste of ammunition and unlikely to result in serious damage. (not always so!)


Most of the decisive engagements were fought in under point blank range. (about 200m is considered point blank) Sometimes less than 50 feet!

Of course doctrine tells you to not allow the enemy to engage you decisively while you must find a way of defeating them “decisively”. A bit tricky!

Tacking is possible and gives you a speed advantage over sailing into the wind.

Ships in the game trying to sail up wind will be significantly slowed but will still make progress…rather than be blown backwards.

It should not nullify the Weather Gage.



I don’t know if I have made anything clearer or just gone on like a politician and said nothing?

[=NF=RuzSkullen]

So there will be a MP 4 the Naval Battles online, interesting I'll have to read the CCS topics

[Tomisama]

Tacking is possible and gives you a speed advantage over sailing into the wind.

Ships in the game trying to sail up wind will be significantly slowed but will still make progress…rather than be blown backwards.

It should not nullify the Weather Gage.

I don’t know if I have made anything clearer or just gone on like a politician and said nothing?

Then there will be wind effects

And yes, you did say something


A word to those who might think that sea battles might be less complicated than land ones.

If you have ever experienced trying to shoot from a moving platform, at another moving platform that is shooting back, you might reconsider your assesment

[Fisherking]

A very good point Tomisama.

A little lead goes a long way when targeting at a ranged target, and timing is essential so that the shot doesn’t just plow into a wave.

Also fire and maneuver is something to think about. Doing the unexpected, especially against a Human opponent is key if you expect to win.

Locking your ships together and seeing who has the best timber is not my idea of a true naval battle.

[t1master]

Naval Tactics 101



Naval War you will find is simpler than land battles.

Go in with the strongest ships you can get and keep them together. Usually line a head works best…usually!

If you are up wind you have the advantage of closing quickly with the enemy. If you are down wind you can run away from the fight.

Close with the enemy and shoot for the rigging to cripple his movement then kill the crew with grape. Then wait for the ship to strike its colors. Round shot has a better range but it will sink him and you would rather capture the ships. Boarding is bloody so avoid it if you can.

If you think you are a real ace skipper you can try using lighter faster ships to damage him and capture them one at a time…Heavy Frigates do this work…

Happy Sailing!

sounds like sid's pirates with upgraded graphics. hope it's more involved than that.

[CBR]

sounds like sid's pirates with upgraded graphics. hope it's more involved than that.

You will have more ships to control than Sid Meier's game

I doubt naval battles will have as much depth compared to land battles. Nice to play once in a while but something to play day after day...nah.


CBR

[pevergreen]

Speak for yourself. The sight of having two large ships, come up from behind, and dual flank a single one and rip through it. Ahhh . And even then, boarding, and hopefully, just maybe, explosive ships?

[Fisherking]

If it were as complex as it actually was just to sail a square rigged ship, I am afraid that we would all be far out of our depth. When it comes to weather and sail to fight a battle we would all be hopelessly lost.

Most people don’t know the difference between a sail and a sheet let alone know when to take a reef in one and may be pressed just to name the masts. You might consider your self expert if you can tell a stay from a jib, not even when to apply them.

Naval Battles in computer games need to be simple. If you think of the years it took to gain the sailing knowledge we would all loose. But then again, they would never be able to build an AI…