Hethwill, the Red Duke

Make up a "storyline" for your captain. Ignore and bypass any urge to power game. Take each sortie as a "chapter" of that story. You could go circum venting the map, establish new outposts in strategic regions, have a taste of the varied geography, fight other players that dare to intercept you ( make sure you use something else than a free ship aka. no power gaming allowed ). There is a lot of space for imaginative activities other than - missions, missions, trade hunt, trade hunt, craft craft, get bigger ship get bigger ship uurrrrrrrr - but to each its own. A game like NA is a lot about the History and playing a character, a ship, a nation... Salute.

Maybe resort to privateers and frigate types and keep reserve roster for the big ships if the need arises.

Maybe that's where Admiralty build will come in ? More than not navy Captains preferred to stick to frigates at maximum. Prize money was more important to some than fame and immortality.

Can you unleash the Kraken in OW ?

It's a compromise I think. Bloody 3rd rates and bigger wouldn't even be sailing all the time on cruising tours like we do, so the big versus small is far fetched. A frigate is a different thing and re-enacting the Philadelphia can be done. Just jump a Consti with a group of privateers and proceed to the best of your abilities to take over her.

You totally lose the wind otherwise that mast would be carrying. Depending on which one the turning ability will be severely diminished, same as the speed.

Sounds reasonable for the time being Prater. Nationals attacking nationals turn Neutral. Case solved until piracy/infamy is setup from the cauldron of years of discussions.

The will to RP is too meek to even bother. Nice thread invaded by a lot of power gamers.

Easy mode mechanics come to play at two levels. The game as a whole and particular pvp - in a PvP server all activities in the future, I hope and from what've read since I first backed the project, are to be player driven with AI presence, but ultimately pvp confrontation would be the norm, so better to think as a whole than thinking little bits at a time. At moment there is little high seas frigate combat as there is little consequence. The only way around, maybe because of fear to lose duras, for many is to jump with more guns, more ships, any single combatant. Not bad in itself though, just easy game. - easy mode mechanics. There is no multiplier regarding BR difference. If I interdict with a Privateer or a Trinc the damage bonus multiplier is the same. There is no consideration for BR difference, in a 1v1 or in a group BR vs BR values, and as such the "bigger the better syndrome" gains pace in a pvp environment. Sorry if it sounds offset again.

I actually like this a lot. Can be a placeholder for future crew hiring and supplying.

This remarks deserve a thread of their own...

For that we have to wait for Crew expenses and proper introduction of Officer characters, which are in the roadmap at least the latter.

Bad jokes gives way to serious business. We all been around a table having beers where it all started with a bad taste joke.

Hence the omission of the capital C. *** In truth word and written word and the way it was proffered and written was of ultimate importance back in the day, so it is a quirk of mine to keep it that way ***

Word has reached La Tortue of a exceptional vessel type, flying the banner of a certain branded H.Company that was full of half starving people forced to carve fittings and braid cordage with false hemp. The decisive actions taken by the High command, for the Republic, did save those poor colonists, driven away from their homes with promises of riches and profit, from true exploitation. Some of them were ferried to La Tortue and promptly joined privateer crews.

In reality you might thrown the grapples. The issue is how to exert enough force to make the ships come to a halt... without snapping the cables... 3.5 knots is a bloody awesome compromise in my book.

Maybe because I am just a humble privateer captain Neith, with no need to surround myself with 24 other ships to feel safe and strong. Engaging myself into high seas combat against the odds is more pleasing. To each its own. I rather lose a fight to a flotilla of french rebels than side with a port fleet of dutch dissidents.

Second day of March, report concerning a encounter with a pirate vessel in sight of Baracoa. _____________ Having set sail from Key West, where the Continentals were extremely welcome to my crew presence, we proceed deep into what is known as Black Reaches, pirate territory. It is our intention to establish a outpost in La Tortue to complement the recent establishment at Île-a-Vache. No sooner than the sun raised we were hailed and approached by a vessel flying no nation flag. A long black and white hull featuring more than two scores of guns on a broadside. We decidedly threw ourselves to the wind in a good position to, at least, try to gain time and exchange messages about their intentions. A few shots from the interceptor's stern chasers put the entire crew at an uneasy pace and cursing between their teeth why did we sail with the brig and not the more powerful ladies. I calmly explain them that our intentions are not to engage but to explore and establish a new base of operations. They are good lads and been a part of our endeavour since the "Hyena" with many of them being veterans of the "Aardwolf" they return to their posts and stand ready again with confidence. The exchange of messages was interesting. This black flag vessel was quite intrigued to see a united provinces privateer sailing through black seas. We explained our intentions and these were hailed with reserved enthusiasm. In return the pirate captain informed us of continuous raids from the Royal Navy and a strong build up of ships of the line. He could not be more specific but he could account for at least three brand new 1st rates... ( As such they must be preparing 1st rate and 3rd rate fleets for a in depth campaign from both West and East... ) We went our separated ways hoping to see each other again in better and more profitable circumstances while preying upon rich and fat British captains and trustful harmless traders. _________________________ Hethwill Eskeath, Kommandeur Kaptain UPP "Aardwolf Prince"

Well said.

Yes, let's kick the eastern man on its knee instead of standing up to the proud giant in the west. Well played pvp choice, well played.

I am just a humble traveller sir but the information gathered from hear say, especially when sailing through the black flag territories, do tell of a Great Britain build up. Surely no nation spends time and resources on powerful fleets just to sit at anchor. As I said... a most humble captain circumventing the territories.

French and Swedish navies fought bravely. They are now a part of a commonwealth. Common. Wealth. And the biggest prize still lies untouched...

is this a Great Battles or a Big Battles thread ?

It is not a punishment. We will not agree on that point. It is risk management versus ship hoarding mentality. Keep your immortality and arena fights tot he last timber, that is indeed the death in the crib. But then packages of 5 lives make up for immortal ships already... I look more to crew mechanics than ship mechanics, that is where we differ on our standing points. Losing ships and winning ships is part of the game and buying a new 4th rate ship every week is not even an issue let alone feeding privateers by the dozens. I remain adamant in leaning more towards the cruelty of a system which yields great rewards - the capture of a prize versus the risk of the crew striking colours due to fighting spirit being lost. I have yet to pay any tax for the fun and threw a lot of caution to the wind, but I simply pass all the "Trafalgar syndrome" mechanics and rather retain a special interest in small actions. The game won't be dead in the crib, it is a mistake. Actually it cannot become easier than it is at the moment, there is no challenge other than striking out opposing factions in their own turf, and that, despite the losses, is extremely rewarding.

As a privateer and frigate captain I must support the suggestion. I have no interest in trafalgars ( had enough of that in trials ) and being open sea skirmishes way more the caribbean way this suggestion can work nicely. Actually, by opening Outposts, the player themselves could be the direct creators of trade routes between ports and influencing how the AI fleets would spawn and behave.