Tactics?

headrock · Rigger Posts: 1567 **354 Gold** -

We are the Pirates who say Chu-van!
You must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with...

A CARGO FLUYT!!! *horror chord*
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Blondebeard: "Madre de Dios! Es el Pollo Diablo!!"
<Spanish Guitar Riff>
Guybrush: "Si! He dejado en libertad los prisioneros, y ahora vengo por TE!"

Maxwell · Powder Monkey Posts: 37 **370 Gold** -

Emmerson · Swabbie Posts: 105 **1743 Gold** -

bryce777 · Gunner Posts: 632 **652 Gold** -

bryce777 · Gunner Posts: 632 **652 Gold** -

headrock · Rigger Posts: 1567 **354 Gold** -

Airsaw · Rigger Posts: 1840 **3281 Gold** -

What I'd REALLY love, what would REALLY get me going is to be perfectly upwind perpendicular, without having to aim it's so dead-on. Then, of course, my method of approach is direct, as I prefer to work close. I aim for the stern, he keeps rotating...he's eventually going to be heading into the wind, I'll get a good round off at him there, he'll pick a side to swing around, I go back to staying on his stern. Generally at one point, as he swings and as I come about, I'll tack directly toward his bow. 'T is then I pull ahead of him, keeping a bit of distance, so as not to race too far ahead, and use whatever shot I think I need. Just to avoid the hassle of lugging a damaged ship, I'm tending toward crew reduction these days. Grapeshot still damages the ship, however, but not so much.

Best of all worlds: I land that initial shot, I'm going downwind cutting it at a 45 degree angle, while he's pivoting on his stern. He'll unload, I zig zag beneath his fire, tacking toward just behind his stern. When I get there, I come about and fire again. The next load of chainshot will get a surrender here. Grapeshot takes a couple more volleys. Generally, it's over without taking a lick from anybody, or using cold steel.

This WON'T work as easily with Montebaln, because his ship is very fast for a galleon, and very maneuverable for a galleon. There may be a quick and dirty way to get this guy, but I find I can't do it as cleanly as the above method works. I figure we're pretty even shot-for-shot, meaning his last shot will sink me just as my last shot sinks him. SO, I need to get in one more shot sooner than he, and anything better than that is gravy. Once I disable him, and he surrenders, THEN the sword fight. I think he cheats. So, even if I have 200 guys, and he only has 40, I will grapeshot his a$$ until there's only HIM and that guy in the purple suit that gives me a sword, I've already got one, thanks.

Reynoldo is just costly to beat. He can be beaten even-up. It's just that you walk away with cost. I get tired of shelling HIM till he's crewless. I get tired of sword fighting him. I get tired of him altogether and would SINK him if there was another way to get the map. This is just a poorly executed idea with merit. But, he's got no advantage over a maneuverable ship at close quarters and, he cheats, too, on deck.

What you have to watch are fast galleons. They can maneuver a lot of guns quickly, and even the sturdiest ships will sink, ahar. The other vessels, which can put up a good fight, tend to come straight for you in order to board, by and large. So, there's not a lot of maneuvering.

I find it challenging to go against the two brigs sent to waylay your escort mission. The computer finds this difficult to deal with, but I like the added dimension of two moving targets and fire coming unpredictably way more than what becomes the predictable choices of the AI. Every now and then, though, this fabulous shooting duel will break out, and it's thrillin', especially if you WIN! On those, it's fun even if you don't quite make it.

Reset
Where was I?
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Justin Tyme · Powder Monkey Posts: 19 **392 Gold** -

I try to always start with the weather gauge, and...

... if it's a ship that I know will put up a fight, I send in the opening broadside of roundshot.

Then I run downwind towards them until they turn and give me a broadside. I'll dodge this (often involves a tack), hit 'em with grapeshot, and head off on the new tack while we both reload.

A slight variation on this: Get them to chase you on a reach. Depending on which boats are being used (I use a Royal Sloop) you might have to put some chain-shot through their rigging to keep them from catching up. With full sails run ahead of them and gain some ground, then reef sails, head up straight into the wind and let a broadside of grape shot fly down at their bow. As soon as you've stopped firing, bear back off onto the reach and shake loose the reef so you start gaining on them again. Repeate until satisfied.

A reverse variation on this: You're both running downwind and you're to weather. Weaving in an S pattern will keep the other ship trying to turn broadside to you while you reload. Reef sails, turn to a reach and let fly at their stern quarter while they try to turn up towards you. Turn towards them and shake out the reef, ducking their stern and making them change course to try to get you on their other side.

Named Pirates I usually just chain-shot them into surrender.

Montabal, et all. I'll grape-shot them until their crew is less than or equal to mine and then ram them and duel. I'm pretty good at dueling, and I usually use skill in fencing though I'll try medicine next game. I figure with this guys you'll have to duel anyhow so there is little point in a lasting sea-battle. Also, these apparently have superior AI, as they'll circle on you instead of weaving back and forth.

Attacking escorted ships: The escort ship wants to board you. He'll come head-on at you as much as possible. I usually attack this group from the side, switch to chain shot, and head straight for the escorted ship. The escort will turn and run right into a broadside of chain-shot that tears out his rigging or at least slows him down so I can get to the escorted ship first. In this case, I generally don't get/take the chance to grape-shot the escorted ship, and simply board it and duel.

I recomend playing an entire game at the Journeyman level, so you can really perfect your coordination with the number-pad and the different aspects of this game. Then start the next game at adventurer.
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Operor retineo bastards adepto vos down

Lord Ameal · Powder Monkey Posts: 5 **21 Gold** -

Usually I just go straight towards them, dodging their fire and board them.
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rupertlittlebear · Helmsman Posts: 4545 **10381 Gold** -

watson42467 · Cutthroat Posts: 350 **573 Gold** -

I use rupert's idea all the time. Steer them going into the wind and then attack. It works great on the big tubs that can't turn.
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You may fire when ready.

Dirk Struan · Seaman Posts: 127 **2440 Gold** -

[quote="bryce777"][quote="headrock"]We are the Pirates who say Chu-van!
You must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with...

A CARGO FLUYT!!! *horror chord*[/quote]

oh what days are these that passing pirates may say chu-van to an old lady?

I am roger, the shipwright![/quote]

*strums lute* Bravely brave Sir Francis, Sailed forth from Panama, he was not afraid to die. Brave brave sir Francis! He was not at all afraid to get killed in nast ways brave brave brave brave Sir Francis......he was not in the least bit scared to get shot into a pulp, or to have his hull shot out or his cannons broke, to have his masts a'splintered and his rigging torn away... "Ummm thats enough singing for now lads"
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