3D Units and Faction Info Over At the Official Empire Site

[ULC]

Fix'd ;)

LOL,

I really wasn't expecting that! Thanks for the laugh

[Sir Beane]

A new naval unit. http://www.sega.co.uk/empire/units/?id=2

Fifth Rate

Frigates are single-deck warships, used for a variety of tasks thanks to a combination of good handling, firepower and endurance at sea.

“Fifth rate” is a Royal Navy term for the largest of the single-deck frigates, square-rigged ships that carry some 44 guns, usually no heavier than 12-pounders. Originally a French design – but quickly adopted by the other European powers – the frigate is used for pursuit, convoy protection, commerce raiding and reconnaissance work. The design’s excellent sailing characteristics and good handling, especially in inshore waters, make it a useful addition to any blockading fleet. The frigate’s ability to operate far away from a home port also makes them it a useful cruiser, carrying the fight to the enemy in unexpected waters.

Frigates can have the advantage over larger, two-deck ships in rough waters. A frigate captain rarely has to worry about his gun deck taking on water, and can therefore fight in conditions that leave bigger ships at a disadvantage. However, fifth rates are not powerful enough to face battleships. They have the speed and handling to stay out of trouble; they do not have the strength of construction to survive a pounding! Against sloops, brigs and merchantmen, however, they are deadly. This makes them excellent postings for officers hungry for prize money and glory.

Frigates captains made splendid role models for fictional heroes: Thomas, Lord Cochrane earned a fortune in prize money, gained the nickname “le loup des mers” (sea-wolf) and was the inspiration for fictional heroes Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey.

[Martok]

Nice. I wonder, though, how many players will name at least one of their Fifth Rates the "Surprise"?

[Sheogorath]

LOL,

I really wasn't expecting that! Thanks for the laugh

That's what you get when you tangle with the Prince of Madness ;)

ANYWAY

They seem to be avoiding giving out anything particularly interesting just yet...I mean, everything thus far we could've expected to be in the game from the start. Except maybe 24-pound howitzers, which I always thought were generally confined to siege trains...

[CBR]

24pdr howitzer would IIRC be the 5.5 inch version and that has same caliber as a 24pdr gun. Of course a shell would weigh less, maybe 18 pounds.

The Russian 1/2 pud Licorne fired a 20 pound shell.

Such weapons were meant for the heavy foot batteries and worked in the 12 pdr field gun batteries.


CBR

[Thermal]

i saw this already, been there 4 a while i think still nice info....

[Megas Methuselah]

Nice. I wonder, though, how many players will name at least one of their Fifth Rates the "Surprise"? :biggrin:

Wait, wait, wait! You can give units and ships names?

[PBI]

At the very least I would hope the ships will have names randomly selected from a list, like family members.

[Martok]

Wait, wait, wait! You can give units and ships names?

I don't remember now if it was at TWC or the official forums, but I know at one point CA hinted we might be able to change a ship's default name, yes. While I caution that this has yet to be officially confirmed, it did sound like it was a real possibility.

[Megas Methuselah]

Too bad we couldn't do the same with land units, too. That'd be sweet, to sort of see how far a unit came from when it was first trained...