Quote Originally Posted by Sheogorath View Post
I was under the impression that fourth-rate frigates DID sometimes take part in line battles.


That is a good suggestion, though about the trade fleets.
Frigates did not usually stand in the line of battle, but they did so often enough to warrant their inclusion there in the game. I'm not talking about frigates though, I'm talking about Sloops and Brigs. Those ships NEVER stood in the line of battle.