It's just a little rabbit!

[Fisherking]

I'm not saying it would be easy, and would still be a rather epic battle, but it would certainly be possible

You're certainly right chain isn't as good in 1.5 but that doesn't mean it's bad either. In 1.4 you could take ships out using just chain shot and they'd surrender, which doesn't work now. What it's useful for (especially against larger fleets like the one in the screenshot) is taking down the rigging of each ship as it comes at you, sailing away abit, then taking down the rigging of the next one. When you've finally slowed them all down (will take some time with 20 of them ) you can start hammering them with round shot one at a time to sink/surrender them.

It may seem like a slightly cheesy tactic but I personally see it as using chain shot for it's intended purpose - slowing down ships and removing their manouverability, thus ensuring you always have local naval superiority. I've had some great naval battles (most won, some lost) in the 1.5 campaign I've been playing and really like where naval balance is currently.

Personally, I try not to use round shot.

From the demo on I have been using chain shot and when they are spread out and crippled I go in with grape shot and rake them into submission.

I never use British Naval Tactics; go in close with round shot and strike them. That creates too money fires and explosions. And sunken ships count for 0 prize money.

Naval Prize Money has been in some campaigns the only cash I had to run the economy.

As for the 5 5th rates taking on 20 galleons, anything is possible but I would say ill advised in this version. I would recommend as the minimum force; 6 3rd rates and 2 5th rates...

Also when using chain it is best to give the enemy the weather gauge and catch them coming down wind with full sails.

If everyone were using battle sail then it would be a whole new game.

[Durallan]

you reckon the AI works better on smaller unit sizes? I haven't really been able to tell, with my old computer I used to use normal, but I figured with this pc I'd try huge, I thought it might mean more realistic battles (don't know how many people fought in battles normally in that period)

unfortunately I can't change unit size on the fly in a campaign otherwise I'd give it a try.

[Boohugh]

As for the 5 5th rates taking on 20 galleons, anything is possible but I would say ill advised in this version. I would recommend as the minimum force; 6 3rd rates and 2 5th rates...

I said five 3rd rates, not 5th rates . You're absolutely right that using 5th rates against all those galleons would be very tough indeed

[Sheogorath]

He said it was in 1722 as well. Who has access to 3rd rates in 1722? Who, even, has access to that many galleons in 1722 (besides Spain, obviously)?

I mean, if you got lucky with your agent spawns and researched nothing but naval tech, yeah, but as the UP that probably wouldn't be a good idea.

[Fisherking]

I said five 3rd rates, not 5th rates . You're absolutely right that using 5th rates against all those galleons would be very tough indeed

Indeed you did! Not easy but doable.

I guess these poor old eyes are failing me.


And if Spain has that many galleons lurking they don’t have any troops....hint, hint....

[Durallan]

well I reached 1740, I got steam power, and by the way I've never really made the steam drydock for steam ships, in fact this is the first game I've ever made any, I build the steam drydock, for the heavy first rate, because while rather unrealistic (most nations only ever built the 74 gunners, or at least that was the main battleship of fleets) it is so damn fun! plus it takes a hell of a beating, which gives other ships more of a chance. The Dutch Navies first real fleet is 1 First Heavy Rate, 2 First Rates, 3 Razees and 2 steamships, I'll see how that works, its very hard to tell because all the campaign map unit cards are all so COMPLETELY WRONG! you have to exit your campaign and load up a battle to actually figure out what a units stats are, very irritating! (you'd think they could do a patch to like maybe fix that major omission!