Question about sails, spars, and other things.

[Osseon]

I bet you guys get this a lot, people that know nothing about sailing, and coming on here looking like idiots.  I was reading a book and one of the characters states that running full sails can actually slow the ship down by pressing it too hard into the water.  Often running full sails on a windy day could actually damage spars and rigging if you deployed all the sails at once.  (Anyone want to guess as to which book series haha?)

I was wondering if this is true, and if so is it planned to be modeled in the game?  I think it would be nice to risk damaging your masts to outrun a dangerous situation, kind of a risk vs reward thing.  Are long ship chases, where you have to adjust the sails, to get that half a knot of extra speed to outrun your pursuer going to be a thing?

 

I tried searching for it but the forum search function wasn't helpful.

Edited March 15, 2015 by Osseon

[Nicholls]

Hi Osseon All the things that you have read are true. Writers like CS Forester and OBrian go to a lot of trouble to research the facts before they write their story's and we reap the benefits. Sailing is a complex business but the basic aim is to make the sheet of canvas that is the sail into the most effective airfoil that you can and then transfer the power that you generate into forward motion of the ships hull through the water.

At the moment the relationship between the sails and the wind in Naval Action is very realistic in the calm sea scenarios. The storm scenario is not as realistic because there is no damage model or handicap for carrying too much sail. I have read quite a lot of comment from players about this in the forum but I haven't seen any comment from the developers yet.

[Osseon]

Hi Osseon All the things that you have read are true. Writers like CS Forester and OBrian go to a lot of trouble to research the facts before they write their story's and we reap the benefits. Sailing is a complex business but the basic aim is to make the sheet of canvas that is the sail into the most effective airfoil that you can and then transfer the power that you generate into forward motion of the ships hull through the water.

At the moment the relationship between the sails and the wind in Naval Action is very realistic in the calm sea scenarios. The storm scenario is not as realistic because there is no damage model or handicap for carrying too much sail. I have read quite a lot of comment from players about this in the forum but I haven't seen any comment from the developers yet.

 

 

 

Thanks for the informative reply.  From what I've read in the above mentioned books, chasing and positioning typically was just as important as the fight themselves, so I'd love to see a chase be a little more than just a passive point to the fastest point on the wind and AFK for a few minutes.

Edited March 15, 2015 by Osseon

[StuffinBeard]

I would like to see something like damage during high winds implemented as long as there was some indication like when flying in some flight sims where you can hear things creaking and ready to snap if you don't back off. I would hate to be in the middle of a battle and accidentally push full sail and screw things up. Maybe there is a global setting where you could tell your crew that atm only run as high as 3/4 sail. (love sailing games just not very versed in the real thing so... 3/4 sail?) kind of like the setting to change what shot you are using.

 

Edit: I had asked about key commands here... I should have looked in "guides"  8)

Edited March 16, 2015 by StuffinBeard

[Nicholls]

There is a great deal of discussion going on about just this subject on this thread

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/forum/40-open-world-discussions/

But there is plenty to learn about positioning ie strategy and tactics once you get into the instance arena. Mr Dorian has written a small book on the subject here-

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/3685-a-treatise-on-naval-action-a-complete-guide-mr-doran/

[Osseon]

I would like to see something like damage during high winds implemented as long as there was some indication like when flying in some flight sims where you can hear things creaking and ready to snap if you don't back off. I would hate to be in the middle of a battle and accidentally push full sail and screw things up. Maybe there is a global setting where you could tell your crew that atm only run as high as 3/4 sail. (love sailing games just not very versed in the real thing so... 3/4 sail?) kind of like the setting to change what shot you are using.

Btw how do you control your ship? is W for forward and full sail or is there separate keys? Scroll wheel?

Some creaking wood sound would be enough, but in a battle that might be hard to hear.  I'm not sure if that would be good or bad.