Port Battle Suggestion

[Blackjack McGee]

First of all, I am so very happy to see this game and the progress made so far.  Keep up the great work.  I was a major fan of early to mid PotBS and the similarities have me excited about the potential of Naval Action.

 

A posting in the Dev Tab mentioned the usage of terrain capabilities being integrated into the various Combat options.  I'd like to suggest this same capability being integrated into Port Battles to provide for variety in the battle.

 

In PotBS Port Battles evolved into everyone bringing their biggest ship, all cookie cutter outfitted to maximize damage etc.  In the end, this left a lot of people sitting on the sidelines because they didn't have 1st rates or at least they were not willing to gamble on losing them in the fight.   You see the same dynamic in other MMOs where only the highest geared players get to partake in the Port Battles or Raids (or whatever else you want to call them). 

 

Using the terrain capabilities, I believe you could enhance the Port battle by having certain areas that would need smaller ships to accomplish the battle objectives.  Think deep water areas and shallow water areas.  This would force the nations to deploy various types of ships with different capabilities allowing for a more diverse participation base.  For example, you could have a gun emplacement that needs to be taken out but only accessible by shallow water ships.  The strategy involved in this undertaking would be increased many fold.

 

Also, the fog of war function you have incorporated in the OW sailing (ie, no map placement) needs to be maintained in the Port battle.  The more diversity you can add the more challenging the engagement and henceforth, the more enjoyable the gaming experience.

 

Finally, let me add a troop transport idea to the Port battle.  Lightly gunned troop transports were critical to any potential landmass conquest.  The 1st rates did not unload all of their troops to fight on the land (many were still needed to man the ship).  Imagine the strategy involved with having to protect the troop transports en route to the landing zone.  Again, the more diversity the more options for different levels of players to get involved.

 

Keep up the great work and I can't wait to be playing this game for many a year to come.

 

Blackjack McGee

Former Turtle Bay Trading Company