Heavy First Rates

[RebelCobra]

Are they worth it? They cost a lot, and take a while to build. Not to mention their speed and turning is terrible.

BUT they have the most guns and can take a pounding before sinking.

[Insaniac]

Uh...I mean they're nice, but frankly you can win campaigns with no real navy at all. As a rule I'd focus on fielding large amounts of raiding fleets though if you're interested in naval combat. A fifth rate, supported by a few sixth rates, or something similar.

[The Dark Spectacled Admiral]

Yep you don't need them at all, but boy are they fun. They are absolutely monsters and can destroy anything with extreme ease... not to mention how badass they look. I use them alongside steamships to board routing ships as the first rates are terribly slow.

[The Blind One]

I'm a third rate man myself.

Third rates have decent speed compared to anything heavier and will take out literally any other ship it can come across. With a bit of microing you can even take out the heavier ones in 1 on 1 because you have the speed and turning advantage.

Everything heavier isjust for show ... imho ...

[Didz]

I did work out at one point that strictly on a 'bang for buck' basis 3rd rates and 6th rates are the best value for money. But that doesn't stop me buying 5th rates and an occassional 1st rate. Though usually I try to capture them if I can.

[Szelma]

Do not buy them, AI will overmanouver you with many smaller ships, also 1st grade has just 400 range which is bad fighting anything tougher like galleons. Buy only 5th grade, they are perfectly equal between range, power and speed.

[Insaniac]

AI couldn't outmeaneuver a piece of chewing gum, the 1st rate has the same range as galleons.

[Szelma]

Originally posted by Scarlet Commander Mograine:

AI couldn't outmeaneuver a piece of chewing gum, the 1st rate has the same range as galleons.

Yes, that's why I mentioned 5th grade which outrange galleons so your ships won't be hit.

[Insaniac]

Well who cares about a 1st Rate getting hit? It's not like it's gonna take damage.

[The Dark Spectacled Admiral]

Originally posted by Scarlet Commander Mograine:

Well who cares about a 1st Rate getting hit? It's not like it's gonna take damage.

lol, your quite right!

[Szelma]

Well with 4 fifths grade I can take full fleet of pirate galleons without taking hit and here they sink your mighty 1st grade, waste of money.

[Insaniac]

Sure but if you can afford the 1st Rate you may as well just to save having to micromanage and so that you can dickwave.

[Faramir's Rangers]

take a whole fleet of heavy 1st rates vs 5th rates no contest 5th rates win. when 1st rates got no sails u just go behind and shoot til they give up.

[[LYF]Levi o Lusitano]

Frigates/Galleons and 5th Rates are by far the best ships to use,especially in MP. Just use the wind in a clever way and you can easily rekt any and all 1st rates that come on your way.

1st Rates are Heavy Ships so if they get you on a broadside or two you can kiss your ship goodbye(if a smaller ship) so use smaller but faster ships and try to hit and sail,using chainshot to dismast the 1st rate and try and capture it :D

[Teh_Diplomat]

Late game when money isn't an issue, and my navies have already been established, then I typically add in a few Heavy 1st Rates - purely for the cinematics; I mean at this point you should be the dominant naval force.

But in terms of becoming the dominant naval power (at least with respect to your enemies) I accomplish that with 5th rates, and micromanagement.

First because they have the best overall value, and secondly, tech wise they're quite accessible, provided you're not a faction with a single port.

To me the Heavy 1st rates, are like rockets. Whether by land or sea, they are a fun addition to a manual battle, but I've never added them as a tactical decision, purely aesthetics.