More varied Ship Roles (Xebec's, interceptors etc.)

[Lancezh]

I've played PotBs for a long time and while naval action is absolutely superior in my book when it comes to combat mechanics what i loved most was the different roles of the ships (although at lvl 50 there was few viable choices).

 

This baby here was always my favourite type of ship: Xebec's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xebec

 

Their unique sail layout allowed them to sail extremely agressive against the wind (with drawbacks when they were downwind). They had very light armor, superior speed and definitely couldn't stand their own against 3rd Rates and anything bigger. However, they were superior in chasing and stopping other ships (with desailing) for the main fleet to arrive and pound. I couldn't find anything on the forums. 

 

Historically these ships were used mainly for trading but my point here is that i would like to see more "extreme" ships that excel and diversify even more than what's in the game as of now. I think it would add alot to the game in that regard, i couldn't find anything specific regarding this topic, but is there any info known for the roadmoap ? Apologies if this has been covered somewhere else already.

 

[SteelSandwich]

Sneak preview of the Xebec that is build in the game, look on the right:

 

[Mirones]

xebecs were not the ultimate interceptor ships they get praised to be every time you tack through the wind or with it you would have to lower the boom and hoist it on the other side of the mast.

wich is why they were so OP in Potbs

[maturin]

Yeah, I imagine xebecs were no better on the wind than your average schooner, although they likely excelled in (absent from the game) light winds. But a big lanteen is probably better downwind than gaff rigs.

[Lancezh]

Yeah, I imagine xebecs were no better on the wind than your average schooner, although they likely excelled in (absent from the game) light winds. But a big lanteen is probably better downwind than gaff rigs.

 

Is that really the case ? I was under the impression that their rigging allowed them to sail even tighter on the wind than your standard schooner with less actual windforce.

[Lancezh]

Sneak preview of the Xebec that is build in the game, look on the right:

 

 

 

Oh my, this is exciting me so much =) Thanks!

[AKPyrate]

Really where xebecs excelled was in lighter winds due to their lighter build.  This made them more fragile, but nimble.  Additionally, many carried sweeps as well.  As for dousing the sail and hoisting it on the other side, this is not a necessary step, though it was likely done on longer legs.  However, by not rehoisting the boom, you'd often have one 'good tack' and one 'bad tack'.  Sometimes they would have tried to mitigate this by hoisting the fore and main sails on different sides so that at least one of the sails was drawing well.  This would create a decent compromise that, while not achieving their best sailing trim, would be much better if successive shorter tacks were required (say beating up a channel or going for that prize to windward).

 

Below, though not a xebec, shows the lateens on each side of the mast:

 

 

Additionally, this shows lateen rigged vessels sailing on both tacks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAByJmEsOdg

[maturin]

Is that really the case ? I was under the impression that their rigging allowed them to sail even tighter on the wind than your standard schooner with less actual windforce.

I doubt it, unless you heard it from an authoritative source.

 

Of course, most lateen craft are not only lightly-built, as AKPyrate said, but have a very large sail area:displacement ratio. Compared to an oceangoing schooner of conservative rig, they may have proportionately more sail area. And nothing harms windward performance so much as light winds, so the advantage would be felt there most of all.

 

However, the game lamentably ignores wind strength altogether. We sail around with canvas for light airs, but the speed of a stiff gale.

[AKPyrate]

I doubt it, unless you heard it from an authoritative source.

 

Of course, most lateen craft are not only lightly-built, as AKPyrate said, but have a very large sail area:displacement ratio. Compared to an oceangoing schooner of conservative rig, they may have proportionately more sail area. And nothing harms windward performance so much as light winds, so the advantage would be felt there most of all.

 

However, the game lamentably ignores wind strength altogether. We sail around with canvas for light airs, but the speed of a stiff gale.

Then again, we sail around with the canvas for light airs even in a stiff gale...

[Destraex]

As long as it sticks to history I don't mind. The moment we start making concessions just because people want super powers and rocket motors that never existed I am out the door. I want to sail and learn what it was like rather than turning things into sci-fi uber l33t pirates of the carribean super ability cooldown.... 

On the other hand taking more sail types, extra sail, better wind types dictating ships that do well in them etc... thats the good stuff.