Should i build a 1st rate?

[Rutherford]

I have turned my islands into corporate beasts with some mass producing islands and others selling well using guilds. I can finally build a first rate. Is it worth it to build and upgrade it? And what are it's drawbacks (that can't be solved so easily with upgrades)

[Turtlewing]

You'll only know if you like First rates by trying one IMO.

First rates are in general what you would expect.
On the plus side they have the most crew, the most guns, and thick hulls.
On the minus side they have the most crew (you have to pay them), the most guns (you have to replace ammo), and thick hulls (more HP you have to pay to repair), and the worst speed and turning rate.

They're a totally different experience form the smaller ships. You can just sail up to pretty much anything and board it without firing a shot (even another first rate once you upgrade the cabins) as long as they aren't fast and smart enough to run away. They are the biggest most deadly single ship on the water so they don't mind trading broadsides with anything out there as unless it's another first rate they win the trade, and even then with upgrades and bombs your first rate can win the trade with the AI's first rates.

They are IMO a perfectly viable playstyle and once you have one you'll want 3 more for that max battle line. They are not however an optimal choice especially if you want to have just one ship as too many things can run away from them and they don't do well when outnumbered by enemy first rates (some fleets have several so it happens, which is why you'll want that 4 ship battle line).

If you can afford to keep one you'll probably not regret building it even if you usually leave it in harbor and only take it out on special occasions.

[Jambie Lionheart]

It's about play style for the most part. The first as has been stated, is a big but lumbering beast. Has more cannons than just about any other ship out there but isn't really any sort of sprinter.
It'l stand toe to toe with just about anything but a corvette could run circle around it at close range, then sneak off before the return fire ensues (I've done it against AIs... players are usually too smart for that tow work on though). I reckon it would be fun to steer though and blow the unholy crap out of some unsuspecting 2nd rate >.>
1st rates are battleships, where as corvette type ships are the old equivalent of destroyers.

Each to their own and to their own to each of their kind.

[AlienObserver]

With 1st rates the repair kits are (almost too) good. Take four 1st rates, go right at them and repair when one gets too damaged. No more manouvering needed with larger fleets.

I find that the load for first rates is way too small though. For a big fight I fill them up with shots to load capacity and even then sometimes run out before a large fleet is sunk.

[Rhazim]

I have 3 first rate ships and basically all you need to do with those is board other ships, i take every city i desire by boarding and razing the forts to the ground. You get 5k ransom money from the city and all the ships you board, which are worth a lot more when you disassemble them in your port, making this the most profitable way for me.

[Mcthiccy]

I like the corvetes of frigates they are small fast and powerful. Since my tactic relys heavily on small menuverable ships.

[LittleBlueDuneBuggy]

Originally posted by imsorrytohearfromyou:

I like the corvetes of frigates they are small fast and powerful. Since my tactic relys heavily on small menuverable ships.

OP, did you read this? You're still playing the game, right? OP? OP!! Where are you? You only made this thread over a year and a half ago!

Sorry, man. I guess he's gone. Next time, try to type faster.