Poll Best Cannons

[The Nameless Pirate]

I want to upgarade the Black Pearl's cannons beyond possible in the Isla de Muerta shipyard but I am not sure which of the three options to use.

 

[Grey Roger]

Cannons are all defined in "PROGRAM\CANNONS\Cannons_init.c", so you can look up the stats there.

In general, carronades do more damage but long guns have better range. The difference in damage doesn't look all that wonderful in "Cannons_init.c" so, unless I have a novice gunner who can't hit anything at long range anyway, I tend to prefer long guns. (Especially since I like using grapeshot to reduce an enemy's morale in the hope of forcing him to surrender, and grapeshot already has a very short range.)

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

Let's put them in order from worst to best in my opinion.
42lbs Long Gun: range 323 yards

        // Big, scary fort guns
        makeref(rCannon,Cannon[CANNON_TYPE_LONG_LBS42]);
        rCannon.type = CANNON_NAME_LONG;
        rCannon.caliber = 42;
        rCannon.ReloadTime = 150;        // LDH was 240
        rCannon.Cost = 5000;
        rCannon.Weight = 75;
        rCannon.sound = ("cannon_fire_LG42");//JRH
         rCannon.gunpowder = 9;// added by MAXIMUS [gunpowder mod]
        rCannon.FireAngMax = 1.0;
        rCannon.FireAngMin = 1.0;
        rCannon.DamageMultiply = 5.5;
        rCannon.TradeOff = true;
        InitBaseCannons_CalcSpeedV0(&rCannon,1940.0*FORT_RANGE_SCALAR); // PB: Different value for forts
        n++;

The difference between the range of the 32lbs and the 42lbs is huge, while the difference in damage doesn't make up for it.

32lbs Long Gun: range 693

        // Used to represent mix of 24 and 32 pound guns.
        makeref(rCannon,Cannon[CANNON_TYPE_LONG_LBS32]);
        rCannon.type = CANNON_NAME_LONG;
        rCannon.caliber = 32;
        rCannon.ReloadTime = 120;
        rCannon.Cost = 4000;
        rCannon.Weight = 70; //56
        rCannon.sound = ("cannon_fire_LG32");//JRH
         rCannon.gunpowder = 8;// added by MAXIMUS [gunpowder mod]
        rCannon.FireAngMax = 1.0;
        rCannon.FireAngMin = 1.0;
        rCannon.DamageMultiply = 4.0;
        InitBaseCannons_CalcSpeedV0(&rCannon,2080.0*CANNON_RANGE_SCALAR);
        n++;

Biggest range of all cannons only 1.5 less damage than 42lbs long gun.

Flying Dutchman carronades: range 560 yards

        makeref(rCannon,Cannon[CANNON_TYPE_CARRONADE_DUTCHMAN]);
        rCannon.type = CANNON_NAME_CARRONADE;
        rCannon.caliber = 128;
        rCannon.ReloadTime = 100;        // LDH was 240
        rCannon.Weight = 72;
        rCannon.Cost = 10000;
        rCannon.sound = ("cannon_fire_DUTCHMAN");//JRH
        rCannon.gunpowder = 5;// added by MAXIMUS [gunpowder mod]
        rCannon.FireAngMax = 1.0;
        rCannon.FireAngMin = 1.0;
        rCannon.DamageMultiply = 9.1;
        rCannon.TradeOff = true;
        InitBaseCannons_CalcSpeedV0(&rCannon,1680.0*CANNON_RANGE_SCALAR);
        rCannon.Dispersion.X = CARRONADE_DISPERSION_MULT;
        rCannon.Dispersion.Y = CARRONADE_DISPERSION_MULT;
        rCannon.Dispersion.V = CARRONADE_DISPERSION_MULT;
        n++;

Best choice, damage is a whopping 9.1 , 3.6 more damage than the 42lbs LG and a over double the damage of the 32lbs LG at the cost of only 133 yards when compared to 32lbs LG.

At smaller calibers I always go long gun but when we go to the big guns, I now prefer the 128lbs Flying Dutchman carronades.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Indeed those Flying Dutchman cannons were added as ABSOLUTE COMPLETE OVERKILL!

 

[DavyJack]

...At smaller calibers I always go long gun but when we go to the big guns, I now prefer the 128lbs Flying Dutchman carronades.

That reload time kills though I'd rather have less powerful cannons with shorter reload times. If I miss my shot or two on that one, I'm done for.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

That reload time kills though I'd rather have less powerful cannons with shorter reload times. If I miss my shot or two on that one, I'm done for.

Well... There needs to be some challenge left, no?

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

That reload time kills though I'd rather have less powerful cannons with shorter reload times. If I miss my shot or two on that one, I'm done for.

Well yes, but you have superior range so with good actually, you can hit before an enemy with carronades can hit you.