Final Exam with new damage model

[Capsize More]

No new player will be able to beat this.  It's difficulty is extreme.  If that's what you want, that's fine, but it may or may not be something that was overlooked with the damage change.  In my latest attempt my stern armor was gone and I was on fire in under 1 minute.  I had over 50 mast hits, I would say 90% of them on the the lined up masts of a single ship, and no mast was felled.  I am gonna keep practicing because I'm gonna want my Herc and naval clock back upon losing them, but I think perhaps this was an oversight.  More of a heads up then a complaint by the way.  

[z4ys]

demasting will be lot easier with raking stern instead of masts.

Low structure = less hits for masts needed.

So my guess. Do a few stern rakes kill structure then switch to masts. That might lead to better results.

[Barbancourt]

I'm not looking forward to yet another go-around on the exams.  I never did the final by shooting at masts.  It's going to take more repairing time, so harder to get done within the time limit.

[Capsize More]

Tried multiple different tactics for hours today, including rage boarding, chaining one fighting the other, more demasting attempts.  No go.  Someone told me they beat it by immediately boarding one, I've tried that at least 4 times to no avail.  When I say I haven't passed "the exam", let me be clear:  I haven't come even moderately close, and I beat it before the change 2x, when it was challenging and acceptably difficult.  Will be interesting to see what others have to say about this when it comes time to get their herc and clock back.  Good luck!

Edited March 3, 2019 by Capsize More

[Liq]

Tried it again as testing, did it the first time, with mast raking which seems to be the most safe way

Though it did get close, as their carro chasers even took down half of a side of mine. Will have to get used to carros being absolutely devastating I guess

[Capsize More]

After trying again several times this morning, I can unequivocally state that "easy" should not ever even come close to describing this task in any way, shape, or form.  I almost wonder if both you guys are even playing the same game as me!

[Barbancourt]

6 hours ago, Capsize More said:

After trying again several times this morning, I can unequivocally state that "easy" should not ever even come close to describing this task in any way, shape, or form.  I almost wonder if both you guys are even playing the same game as me!

Are you familiar with kiting the AI? It was never "easy", but for as long as the AI lets us shoot it up the nose forever you can always resort to that.

 

Edited March 4, 2019 by Barbancourt

[Capsize More]

Of course I'm kiting.  You're not getting over fifty mast hits without kiting.  Several times I've gotten over 50 mast hits and have yet to knock down ONE mast.  This is of particular fascination to me, as in the past I've taken down six masts in the same scenario, before cannon ball damage was buffed.  

Edited March 4, 2019 by Capsize More

[Barbancourt]

OK, when I kite them I'm shooting into the bow.  (while repairing)  The damage per broadside isn't very impressive at first, but it kills crew and eventually armor and structure wears down.  I haven't tried it using the new damage model, but I'd imagine it should work even better now. 

Edited March 4, 2019 by Barbancourt

[staun]

3 hours ago, Capsize More said:

Of course I'm kiting.  You're not getting over fifty mast hits without kiting.  Several times I've gotten over 50 mast hits and have yet to knock down ONE mast.  This is of particular fascination to me, as in the past I've taken down six masts in the same scenario, before cannon ball damage was buffed.  

What range are you firing at? think to be sure to penetrate you have to be around 100 away, then I think 6-8 should be enough pr mast.

[z4ys]

Easiest way i figured out for myself is go into boarding with one play on time and use ] + [  to sink the first one while in boarding (AI does not use guns while in boarding).

Only trick is to be aligned like in the pic below. After first one is down disengage wait till crew is replanced to a decent ammount and engage the 2nd ship.

Pro tip: AI will alomst always pull first. So when not good aligned just disengage readjust with deadslow or battlesails and board [G] (it even resets moral a bit).

Edited March 4, 2019 by z4ys

[Angus MacDuff]

38 minutes ago, z4ys said:

Easiest way i figured out for myself is go into boarding with one play on time and use ] + [  to sink the first one while in boarding (AI does not use guns while in boarding).

Good point.  With his structure down, did you switch to grape?  Also, why didn't you "fire deck guns" after 3 braces?

[z4ys]

1 minute ago, Angus MacDuff said:

Good point.  With his structure down, did you switch to grape?  Also, why didn't you "fire deck guns" after 3 braces?

i played boarding bad on purpose (in this pic - I even forgot to defend once that cost me 40 crew) to see what is possible. I only used ball. But it might make sense to use grape at the start to get an crew advantage (Ai will not attack anymore) and than switch to ball or stay on grape. Havent tested if Exam has now fleet perk enabled. That would allow to fight the Ai 2 on 1 and use the AI ship as decoy

[Capsize More]

This is gold info!  Thanks z4ys.

[Cockeyed Callaway]

Yes Capsize, the final was as frustrating and aggravating as I could stand. I can guarantee you that I am not the captain that some of the above are, but I finally did it. For what it's worth, this is what I learned.

1) Patience; If the right set of circumstances does not present it's self or it looks like your plan has gone array...quit and start again. You can do it as many times as needed (a shot of tequila helps with the aggravation.)

2) Board the first ship as soon as possible. This will mean having your crew set to board from the outset and your gunnery crew off. Rage board the closest ship. If you miss and he slips away, have a shot of tequila and start over.

3) In boarding hit ATTACK, wait till the last two seconds and switch to your guns or muskets. Wait a round and repeat. If you lose, have a shot of tequila and start over.

4) When you 'finally win' and your ship is beaten to a pulp by the other enemy ship...switch ships and DON'T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR REPAIRS.

* Special not, remember how we turned our gunnery off? Well the AI didn't, so he'll have a broadside ready and since you didn't fire at him and neither did his partner...you'll have a brand new ship aswell.

5) Now its you against one other ship. Sail away and repair and or recrew. If at some point you end up on another sinking ship, go back to your original, TRANSFER THE REPAIRS and continue the fight.

At the point where you take the first ship you will have an hour at the very least to sink his partner. take your time and play smart. If you do get sunk, have a shot of tequila and start again.

[Capsize More]

 

2 hours ago, Cockeyed Callaway said:

Yes Capsize, the final was as frustrating and aggravating as I could stand. I can guarantee you that I am not the captain that some of the above are, but I finally did it. For what it's worth, this is what I learned.

1) Patience; If the right set of circumstances does not present it's self or it looks like your plan has gone array...quit and start again. You can do it as many times as needed (a shot of tequila helps with the aggravation.)

2) Board the first ship as soon as possible. This will mean having your crew set to board from the outset and your gunnery crew off. Rage board the closest ship. If you miss and he slips away, have a shot of tequila and start over.

3) In boarding hit ATTACK, wait till the last two seconds and switch to your guns or muskets. Wait a round and repeat. If you lose, have a shot of tequila and start over.

4) When you 'finally win' and your ship is beaten to a pulp by the other enemy ship...switch ships and DON'T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR REPAIRS.

* Special not, remember how we turned our gunnery off? Well the AI didn't, so he'll have a broadside ready and since you didn't fire at him and neither did his partner...you'll have a brand new ship aswell.

5) Now its you against one other ship. Sail away and repair and or recrew. If at some point you end up on another sinking ship, go back to your original, TRANSFER THE REPAIRS and continue the fight.

At the point where you take the first ship you will have an hour at the very least to sink his partner. take your time and play smart. If you do get sunk, have a shot of tequila and start again.

Great reply and basically what Ive been shooting for.  But I think I will save some sanity for when the reward is there, I have had way more then enough *cough* "practice", albeit no attempts ending with success.  I will be sure and vent here on this thread when the time comes and I still can't do it, because when I talk to my wife about this stuff she starts talking about therapy.  

Edited March 4, 2019 by Capsize More

[jodgi]

3 minutes ago, Capsize More said:

because when I talk to my wife about this stuff she starts talking about therapy.

Let her try, then you can both go in therapy 

[Barbancourt]

With the new high damage model if you're boarding one isn't the other wrecking the hell out of you while you're exposed?  I've only used boarding in the final exam when it doesn't look like I'll be able to sink the second one within the time limit. 

[Thomas Boyle]

Unfortunately I put the final task off for later. I'm hercules owner and used improved sextants instead of naval clock. I suppose that was much easier before. I've passed the exam with new DM. Right after countdown - rage boarding(more crew is optional), changing ship after winning. And killing 2nd ship by cannons.

Edited March 5, 2019 by Thomas Boyle

[Sir Texas Sir]

1 hour ago, Thomas Boyle said:

Unfortunately I put the final task off for later. I'm hercules owner and used improved sextants instead naval clock. I suppose that was much easier before. I've passed the exam with new DM. Right after countdown - rage boarding(more crew is optional), changing ship after winning. And killing 2nd ship by cannons.

 I think folks want to pratice it cause it fast tracks you to MC level so you don 't have to grind up those fist 3-4 levels and can get further on your way to levels where you can man better ships.

[z4ys]

4 hours ago, Barbancourt said:

With the new high damage model if you're boarding one isn't the other wrecking the hell out of you while you're exposed?  I've only used boarding in the final exam when it doesn't look like I'll be able to sink the second one within the time limit. 

The trick is to board the ship that is upwind to the other one. Luckily AI isn't good in tacking so 9 out of 10 AI will not be able to shoot you.

[VirtuallyIdiotic]

The strat should still work as you mentioned even with the new cannon stats. Only issue is you have to switch over to the other Cerberus fast and hope that the one Cerb that is not getting boarded is putting too many holes into the the Cerb you want to capture. Also what will be interesting is seeing how many repairs that are available. If you can take a shot at the other Cerbs sails before you make the board. 

[z4ys]

Updated Version (Patch 30)