• First patch will deploy insurance and several other game play improvements (including mod nerfs).
  
• Second patch will deploy pre-final damage model that will feature improved balance between classes and return of proper working thickness and angling.
  
• After testing combat and insurance - NPC port raiders will return to the Caribbean with good look and proper balance of battles.

First patch will be deployed today 12th June.
Key feature for testing: Insurance

• All ships can be insured. Insurance cost is 15% of the ship base value (which takes into account rarity and materials used to make a ship)
  
• If you lose the insured ship - Admiralty will return the same exact ship to you without guns and mods.
  
• Insured ships cannot be captured.
  
• We know that this feature is key and will change the flow of economy and combat drastically thus it is given out for testing first (before the updated final combat model with returning thickness).

Other Important changes

• All events like patrol or seasonal leaderboards tiers have been reworked. Rewards are now provided for every tier and can be received immediately after the tier has been reached.
  
• Fixed inconsistent water lines for all vessels. Penetrative leaks can now only be created if shooting under waterline (not at the waterline like before)
  
• Reworked and fixed all bugs in mast colliders (fixed size issues, length issues and other various bugs)
  
• Boarding is has been made slightly easier for 1-3rd rates. Splinter damage resistance has been lowered from 99% to 75%. Defensive and musket bonuses lowered allowing winning if you have proper fit out and have destroyed the enemy ship crew. It is still VERY HARD but now not impossible.
  
• Upgrades books and woods stats changed and generally lowered. Abnormal buffs have been lowered. Major key stats like reload, repair amounts, hp buffs, and others have been adjusted.

Here is a table showing changes to upgrades and books for the key stats: before and after
Other changes

• Several paints added to DLC ships
  
• Battle information now has BR and ship class info (accessible by pressing TAB in battle)
  
• Changed time formats for quests
  
• Galeon added to the game and awaits steam approval
  
• Players can now rename ships (visible only for them) to help identify their vessels in the docs

Minor tweaks that will be useful after the new season start

• NPC distribution is now based on counties (not on regions) allowing better precise distribution of NPC ships across the map
  
• It is no longer allowed to build deep water ships in shallow ports
  
• It is no longer possible to upgrade shipyard in shallow water ports
  
• Towing ships functionality now checks for port depth

Captains,

Diana loot event will run from daily maintenance on June 7th until daily maintenance on June 10th:

Captains have to find rare ships like Diana, Santa Cecilia and Admiraal de Ruyter in the search areas provided below. These ships may carry a very rare ship notes and special loot coins, rare wood and rare guns:

• Gold Ducat
  
• Gold Rouble
  
• Gold Sultani
  
• Gold Thaler
  
• Strange Gold Bar
  
• Rare wood
  
• Rare guns

Coins might be exchanged in the Academy building to receive:

• Additional outpost permit
  
• Additional dock permit
  
• Diana permit
  
• Admiraal de Ruyter permit

If you already have the Navy Connection using the item will add even more outposts or docks (up to a total limit).

Search locations

• South Antilles - triangle of Aves, La Blanquilla and Saint George ports
  
• Northeast of Tumbado - area between Cuba and Tumbado
  
• South of Hispaniola

In case of capture of certain ports in the area, the nation of ships will change.

Spotlight image by Revard from the January 2022 screenshot competition.