A few questions about ships!

[RaptiCon]

Every time I start to play this game I get more addicted to it. Now I rule duelling AND dancing. My last dance was flawless, and I got the biggest heart I've ever gotten. And it wasn't a kiss on the hand after the dance, I took her in my arms and kissed her like never before. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="onya.gif" /> I've got the touch on the dance floor, amazing! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" />

Now, finally what this topic is about <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blah:" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />
I am now captain of a Fast Galleon. I find this ship very powerful, but it's extremely slow. I can manage to dodge enemy fire from for example brigs and stuff, but when it comes to hitting small ships like Royal Sloops and so on I struggle a little bit. The idea of changing a ship came when I captured a 'Frigate', it looked pretty ok when it comes to speed and those kinds of adventages. But I was wondering, which ship shall I get myself? It shall not be as slow as the Fast Galleon, but I would like if it could pack good firepower.

I will be grateful for every answer. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="onya.gif" />

 

[Barnabus]

There are some comments about "best ship" in the FAQ sticky (above), and also a thread further down about this. But it mostly comes down to personal preference. All the ship stats are in the manual so you can see how they compare.

I personally like the Frigate or Large Frigate. It has plenty of firepower, and enough cargo capacity that I can just sink most ships I plunder, instead of having a string of merchant and treasure ships tagging after me until we reach port. It's also very flexible in the number of crew. I can either sail with 100 or so men to keep everyone happy, or load up with more if I'm sacking a heavily defended town.

Also, the larger ships feel at least a *little* more realistic in combat. I'm a recreational sailor, and I know that "Pirates!" isn't supposed to be a simulation. But some of these ships are ridiculous... like the Sloops, which feel like driving a powerboat around the screen. At least with a big ship like the Frigate or one of the Brigs, the pacing of combat is a little slower and more realistic, you have to pay more attention to the wind direction, and you have to think a little harder about plotting your direction of travel around the map.

Barnabus

 

[RaptiCon]

Okay thanks a lot. Sorry about the topic by the way, I didn't pay much attention to these stickys. When it comes to wind direction etc, I suck real hard <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="sad.gif" />.

 

[Barnabus]

Here's a tip I didn't figure out until recently (duh!). Your starting position for the closeup ship combat screen depends on where your ship is on the main map, just before you attack. So try to steer to the upwind side of the enemy on the main navigation map *before* you choose to attack. That will always give you the weather gauge (upwind) advantage in combat. It also works if you're being pursued by a pirate hunter or another pirate. Just swing around to the upwind side before his ship gets close enough to initiate the closeup attack sequence.

Barnabus

 

[thesdale]

Barnabus:

Further to that, if you end up upwind of the enemy, and showing your broadside to their bow you can get the first shot at them way before they can fire (and hopefully lessen their cannon count). <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pirate2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":" border="0" alt="pirate2.gif" />

Dale

 

[thesdale]

RaptiCon:

I like the Brigatine (Brig/Brig 'O War) for my ship. With full upgrades this killing machine of the water is unstopable! Enough speed and agility to battle with the fastest pinnance, and enough guts and firepower to toe it with War galleons. All up, you can have 20 odd cannons, and just under 200 men. Cargo hold is a bit small, but just pickup one of those many Spanish Trade Galleons for that. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Dale

<!--`QuoteBegin-RaptiCon`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RaptiCon)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Every time I start to play this game I get more addicted to it. Now I rule duelling AND dancing. My last dance was flawless, and I got the biggest heart I've ever gotten. And it wasn't a kiss on the hand after the dance, I took her in my arms and kissed her like never before.   I've got the touch on the dance floor, amazing!  

Now, finally what this topic is about <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blah:" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />
I am now captain of a Fast Galleon. I find this ship very powerful, but it's extremely slow. I can manage to dodge enemy fire from for example brigs and   stuff, but when it comes to hitting small ships like Royal Sloops and so on I struggle a little bit. The idea of changing a ship came when I captured a 'Frigate', it looked pretty ok when it comes to speed and those kinds of adventages. But I was wondering, which ship shall I get myself? It shall not be as slow as the Fast Galleon, but I would like if it could pack good firepower.  

I will be grateful for every answer.    [/quote]