where is my sextant??

[Eishen]

I really appreciate not having my position pinpointed in the map, it really adds to immersion in the game, but can not  understand why we are indeed worst equiped than our historical counterparts, as they can accurately calculate latitude (i.e. map-y coordinate) with a sextant and a clock.

[Henry d'Esterre Darby]

Check your bosun, it may have become a victim of cappabar.  

 

"Accurate" calcuation of Latitude wasn't exactly accurate at the time.  They could get a close approximation, assuming their clocks held fairly true (they did not), but the idea that they knew with GPS like precision where they were is definitely incorrect.  The presence of the map itself is a huge concession on the part of the Developers.

[PL_Harpoon]

"Accurate" calcuation of Latitude wasn't exactly accurate at the time.  They could get a close approximation, assuming their clocks held fairly true (they did not), but the idea that they knew with GPS like precision where they were is definitely incorrect.  The presence of the map itself is a huge concession on the part of the Developers.

 

Yeah, but it would still be cool to have an ability to use sextant.

 

I understand why it would be very low on devs "to do" list though.

[AKPyrate]

Check your bosun, it may have become a victim of cappabar.  

 

"Accurate" calcuation of Latitude wasn't exactly accurate at the time.  They could get a close approximation, assuming their clocks held fairly true (they did not), but the idea that they knew with GPS like precision where they were is definitely incorrect.  The presence of the map itself is a huge concession on the part of the Developers.

 

I believe for calculating using time, you're thinking of longitude.  Latitude is relatively easy to obtain, though accuracy for the day was not nearly the same as what we believe accuracy to be today.  Within 10 miles is still a pretty decent position fix for celestial navigation, as there are many possibilities for error in calculation, seas, atmospheric conditions, equipment accuracy, etc.  Chronometers of the time that were accurate enough for proper navigation (which meant a relatively steady error) were extremely expensive and many captains just didn't think they were important enough for the cost.  It was a gradual change, as many things are in the maritime field.

[Richard VonKleek]

Check your bosun, it may have become a victim of cappabar.  

 

"Accurate" calcuation of Latitude wasn't exactly accurate at the time.  They could get a close approximation, assuming their clocks held fairly true (they did not), but the idea that they knew with GPS like precision where they were is definitely incorrect.  The presence of the map itself is a huge concession on the part of the Developers.

AS someone who teaches open water navigation and coastal navigation, I agree that the term precision is an overstatement when concerned with open water, but when near known coasts or landmarks you could get relatively precision (enough to get the job done.)

 

That said, a map had to be implemented for game-play reasons.  Otherwise, I'd either go look one up that someone painstakingly made or be forever lost, without ever really knowing where to go for anything.  As for a sextant, how it'd be implemented without being overbearing is the key.  As someone who's done SAR, a map without a compass or a reference point of some kind (whether that be landmarks, the sun, sky, or prevailing wind) is not particularly useful.  While we do have a compass in travel mode (assuming it's adjusted to true north rather than magnetic north), and we can assume map orientation is always adjusted north as well, it's still a bit of a risk to sail directly across the Caribbean as is with the expectation that you'll arrive where you intend to arrive, instead of another random island, city, or (if you're rather unlucky/inattentive) way out pass the island chain that leads into the Atlantic.

 

With our current tools within game, we're put back much further chronologically in ship navigation technology and precision (for what it is) than what would be expected.

 

Now, I firmly believe we need tools of some sort.  A sextant?  Possibly, but possibly (and probably) not the best of solutions.  Do I want a precise mark on the map wherever I'm at with GPS like precision?  Hell no.  But I feel there definitely needs to be some sort of middle ground.

[eriks]

I've done a lot of offshore sailing and shot a lot of noon sights.

 

It would be OK to have a sextant and a chrono on a ship larger than say a Surprise. You could get a single noon fix a day, and only assuming you have clear skies and a sharp horizon at noon. Depending on the skill of your navigator your fix would be represented on the map as a probability circle. The more upgraded navigator you have the smaller the circle.

 

What would be massively more useful in the game is a bearing compass in OW and simple plotting tools on the map.