Quote Originally Posted by econ21 View Post
From what's been said, it sounds like the problem is with the now overpowered chainshot rather than the (I agree, ridiculous) "balancing" of smaller ships to make them more effective. Is that right?

A couple of other questions:
(1) Does the AI use chainshot? (if it doesn't, the player can also just abstain)
(2) How common was chainshot used historically? My impression is that at battles like Trafalgar, ships were mainly just firing normal shot, but maybe I am wrong.
The AI does use chainshot. I think, the problem is not so much in its power but in the fact that the chainshot in 1.4 has 100 more range than the round-shot. Before 1.4, the roundshot had 100 more range than the chainshot. The longer distance + the fact that sloops, brigs and frigates now have the "good accuracy" renders SOL ship types useless.