Ship cannons

[Valkynaz]

Guess it'll be worth opening up a discussion about cannons, now that the mighty Shrapnel Cannon has been nerfed, what set ups is everyone using?

[Valkynaz]

My guess right now would be:

Normal: x1 cannon + x1 foremast
AI: x1 Chain or maybe x1 ram? + x1 Foremast
Abdullah: Dual Shrapnel, or maybe x1 Shrapnel + x1 Foremast?

[Antiga]

My main ship doesn't get fore or aft cannons. It is the ship that decides the speed of the fleet. So sails all the way. AI ships are so incredibly stupid that it barely matters what you give them, as RNG will be of so much more influence than whatever gear they have. Even a 300 hp fleet ship set to boarding can survive a battle where a 1500 hp ship set to firing gets ganked.. Cuz battles are just bad.

But yea, non-flagships get full cannons at front and back, no sails. Now with the nerf that'll likely become normal cannons, rather than chain shot or shrapnel, but I have yet to test how bad the nerf is
That said, I've been sailing around with shrapnel since seeing you mention how powerful they are a few days ago. How they will insta KO a small ship and etc, but none of that has been remotely true for me. I don't think they needed a nerf at all. Perhaps we are getting wildly different experiences, or wildly different enemy sets.

[Valkynaz]

Main thing I would add, the sails don't effect the overworld speed do they? I thought that was just in combat speed and turning

[Antiga]

Originally posted by Valkynaz:

Main thing I would add, the sails don't effect the overworld speed do they? I thought that was just in combat speed and turning

I haven't properly tested so perhaps it's the imagination of "knowing" it to be so, while it isn't. But I thought I saw a definite fleet speed increase after throwing rare sails on my flagship. And no decrease due to taking away sails from any of the other 4 ships.
Really not sure now though.

[Valkynaz]

Yeah, the main ship is the one who determines the overworld speed, not sure how I feel about that, but I've never seen the speed boost overworld, maybe the top speed is the same, but it reduces the penalty for sailing against the wind?

[Valkynaz]

Did a bit of reading, if the game simulates it properly then the two types of rigging are:
1.) Square-rigged sails
1.) Fore-and-aft rigged sails

Square rigging increases speed going downwind, but likely has a larger penalty to moving against the wind.
Fore-and-aft rigging conversely gives a lower speed downwind, but has a smaller penalty to moving against the wind.

My guess is in game, our speed is the flagships speed in kn, then our Square and FaA rating changes how our speed works, likely Square gives a larger bonus for sailing downwind, where FaA gives us a small negative of going against the wind.

Imo, if that's how it works, FaA is superior because it'll give you a more consistent performance, and more importantly less of a slowdown during fighting when the enemy forces you to go against the wind.

[Valkynaz]

And for Foremasts, they go:
Bowspirit Square/Aftmast Gaff: high Square-rigged rating + high turning,
Staysail: medium Fore-and-Aft rating + medium Turning
Hardsail: high Fore-and-Aft rating, no turning

[Valkynaz]

Also, if I am right about that... that'd make the upgraded sails arguably a downgrade

[Antiga]

Originally posted by Valkynaz:

My guess is in game, our speed is the flagships speed in kn, then our Square and FaA rating changes how our speed works, likely Square gives a larger bonus for sailing downwind, where FaA gives us a small negative of going against the wind.

Indeed, that is how it seems to me as well. With the more FaA, the less of a slowdown. I believe since adding rare sails and thereby raising both stats, and steering as well I believe, I haven't gone under 6 KN when sailing downwind. Before throwing rare sails on this thing (The Ocean Ship from Shizuma) I was still hitting less than 6 KN.

[Antiga]

Originally posted by Valkynaz:

Also, if I am right about that... that'd make the upgraded sails arguably a downgrade

If a rare sail vs a normal sail shows lowered stats, it most likely increases steering, or perhaps a typo/visual glitch.

[Valkynaz]

I mean the versions, like staysail vs square vs full, for front or rear mast, they're fine, the main mast? The most expensive upgrade HAS to be a bug, since it gives Square and no luff, when it should give more luff then the default one at the cost of reduced turning

[Valkynaz]

Wait, even the hardsail gives Square in the fleet screen, wtf

[Valkynaz]

Originally posted by Antiga:

My main ship doesn't get fore or aft cannons.

Ok, I actually agree with this... that turning radius is actually godlike

[Valkynaz]

Ahh... the small aft-castle gives +2 boarding damage

[Grig]

Only the Flagship determines the speed of the fleet? Is that true? I didn't observe this ... and i upgraded all my ships for nothing then oh well it's nothing in money but still i would think the slowest ship determines the speed of the fleet .. that would be the logical thought .. oh boy
Also now that i can't capture ships as easily i just blow them up and capture one ore two. This nerf makes Abdullah meh now, My whole gimmick and RP was to capture ships with him .. Now i just have to trade more and avoid fighting since it's not as profitable any more ...
I like to fight with only the flaship since having more ships just equals more damage and money in repairs, not to mention the risk of losing them and i will not lose my 100k large ship fleet i have 5 Large Fachuan.
I loved the large ship with 3 cannos in front but the nerf sold it to the shipyard.