Grape Shots

[Alex06114]

How to effectivly kill crew ? I have seen people killing almost all crew within a few minutes and I need to take almost all armour to be able to kill just a few..

Where is the trick on this one?

[Mansen]

Take down half of their armour on that side - it acts as protection.

[Nocturnal626]

id like to know as well.

[Alex06114]

Originally posted by Mansen:

Take down half of their armour on that side - it acts as protection.

I do that, but whever i shoot with grape shots it just do nothing

[Delta-9]

Tip:
1: Chain shot. Take their sail down to 50% at least. (I have done it with 65%, but they were still a little too fast for a quick board.)
2: Ball shot. Take their armor down at least half way. (You can still take out some crew with full armor, but it take a lot longer, which allows you to take a lot more dmg too)
3: Grape shot: Get close! 50yds at least. Aim just about even, or even slightly above the top deck. (On a single deck ship) I like to be point blank. And, with their sails down, its a lot easier to get a "drive by" grape unload. It will still take a few shots. Even with just 50 crew, it will be a few shots. But, if they are slow, it should be hard to hit them with port side, swing around and hit them with starboard side.

[Alex06114]

Originally posted by BSCBad-Dog:

Tip:
1: Chain shot. Take their sail down to 50% at least. (I have done it with 65%, but they were still a little too fast for a quick board.)
2: Ball shot. Take their armor down at least half way. (You can still take out some crew with full armor, but it take a lot longer, which allows you to take a lot more dmg too)
3: Grape shot: Get close! 50yds at least. Aim just about even, or even slightly above the top deck. (On a single deck ship) I like to be point blank. And, with their sails down, its a lot easier to get a "drive by" grape unload. It will still take a few shots. Even with just 50 crew, it will be a few shots. But, if they are slow, it should be hard to hit them with port side, swing around and hit them with starboard side.

Does it work against all ships?

[Delta-9]

Originally posted by ☻ Alexander ☻:

Originally posted by BSCBad-Dog:

Tip:
1: Chain shot. Take their sail down to 50% at least. (I have done it with 65%, but they were still a little too fast for a quick board.)
2: Ball shot. Take their armor down at least half way. (You can still take out some crew with full armor, but it take a lot longer, which allows you to take a lot more dmg too)
3: Grape shot: Get close! 50yds at least. Aim just about even, or even slightly above the top deck. (On a single deck ship) I like to be point blank. And, with their sails down, its a lot easier to get a "drive by" grape unload. It will still take a few shots. Even with just 50 crew, it will be a few shots. But, if they are slow, it should be hard to hit them with port side, swing around and hit them with starboard side.

Does it work against all ships?

I'll be honest, (What on forums? No Way!...lol), but Im on my 3rd rank, pr lvl up. And, so far, it has worked. Not sure if the same tactic is going to work later..But, I WILL find out..haha

[triptyx]

Don't pound grape into the side of the ship - unless you've reduced the planking as mentioned above.

The real trick is to get downwind of the other vessel, so that it is heeling towards you slightly (you can see more of the deck because it's leaning towards you). Stand off about a boatlength or so - you don't want to be right on top of them. Aim above the rail, far enough that the grape "arcs" down into the area occupied by the crew. Profit!

[Nocturnal626]

Originally posted by triptyx:

Don't pound grape into the side of the ship - unless you've reduced the planking as mentioned above.

The real trick is to get downwind of the other vessel, so that it is heeling towards you slightly (you can see more of the deck because it's leaning towards you). Stand off about a boatlength or so - you don't want to be right on top of them. Aim above the rail, far enough that the grape "arcs" down into the area occupied by the crew. Profit!

so it is better to keep a slight distance so it drops right on their heads?

[Mansen]

Originally posted by ☻ Alexander ☻:

I do that, but whever i shoot with grape shots it just do nothing

Gotta hit it where the people are. Try to imagine where the floor are, and aim for center mass of where you'd expect the crew to be. Aim just above cannons, and you're sure to hit some poor meatbags.

Carronade is more effective up close, but you could probably use longs at range because of the added penetration.

[triptyx]

Originally posted by GNS Nocturnal:

Originally posted by triptyx:

Don't pound grape into the side of the ship - unless you've reduced the planking as mentioned above.

The real trick is to get downwind of the other vessel, so that it is heeling towards you slightly (you can see more of the deck because it's leaning towards you). Stand off about a boatlength or so - you don't want to be right on top of them. Aim above the rail, far enough that the grape "arcs" down into the area occupied by the crew. Profit!

so it is better to keep a slight distance so it drops right on their heads?:galley:

Yes. By not putting the grape shot into wood that is more than likely going to stop it, and instead sending it zinging at head level across the deck, you're going to do some serious damage.

I was involved in a PvP match in OW a few days ago where a friendly Niagara boarded an enemy Cutter. I was in a Privateer, and the moment the boarding started, came to a stop at a couple of boatlengths distance on the rear quarter of the cutter. My broadside killed 17 crew in one shot as I sent the grape howling nearly straight down the deck from fore to aft. The Niagara won the boarding a moment later due to the crew shock I caused.

[Nocturnal626]

Originally posted by triptyx:

Originally posted by GNS Nocturnal:

so it is better to keep a slight distance so it drops right on their heads?

Yes. By not putting the grape shot into wood that is more than likely going to stop it, and instead sending it zinging at head level across the deck, you're going to do some serious damage.

I was involved in a PvP match in OW a few days ago where a friendly Niagara boarded an enemy Cutter. I was in a Privateer, and the moment the boarding started, came to a stop at a couple of boatlengths distance on the rear quarter of the cutter. My broadside killed 17 crew in one shot as I sent the grape howling nearly straight down the deck from fore to aft. The Niagara won the boarding a moment later due to the crew shock I caused.

thats awesome I didn't know that crew shock also affects boarding.

[Primus Palus]

Originally posted by ☻ Alexander ☻:

Originally posted by Mansen:

Take down half of their armour on that side - it acts as protection.

I do that, but whever i shoot with grape shots it just do nothing

Take down the rear armor... then shoot grapeshot up their rear. Wipes the crew out.

[Ketsa]

Aim a bit above the top of their sides to hit their crew after you take down their broadsides armor.

The same goes for the stern except aim in the dead center of it.

[triptyx]

Originally posted by GNS Nocturnal:

thats awesome I didn't know that crew shock also affects boarding.

I'm not sure if it does or not from a game mechanics standpoint, but he won awful quickly despite having more than a few crewman left on the enemy vessel. Either way, when you have 30-someodd crew in boarding and it gets reduced by over half in a single round, BEFORE the boarding actions occur, it's an extremely bad day for you.