Selling or Sinking?

Perry · Swabbie Posts: 54 **2746 Gold** -

It seems a general consensus that you should keep a 'core fleet' of about 3 ships.

But, given that, what approach do you usually take, in regard to captured prize ships?

Sink or Sell?

When do you use either option?

I nearly 95% of the time Keep the captured ships, and try to sell them off (with any cargo I can't keep) in a nearby port. Sometimes I have to travel a small distance to get rid of the ships in a port that pays well for the goods. Obviously, if I am Duke of a nation, I'd like to sell the ships there, so I can freely repair/upgrade them , before the sell. However, I am uncertain wheter it is economical to sail into a port where I am Duke, in order to sell them..

loki59 · Rigger Posts: 1068 **24252 Gold** -

Every little bit o gold helps in the early game, but if the ship has a lot of damage your speed will be reduced, also if you don't have enough crew for the minimum amount of crew required for said ships your speed is further reduced. Sometimes it pays to just take the cargo and sink them.

Cussler · Cutthroat Posts: 371 **2686 Gold** -

For me it depends on a few factors:

1. What type of ship is it? Is it something worth keeping to use, or keeping to sell later?
2. How close am I to a friendly port if I'm taking it just to sell it?
3. What shape is the captured ship in?
4. Do I have the crew to spare?

Typically, I'll sink ships I won't include in my core fleet. I hate lugging a slow ship with no Cotton Sails behind me. But if the conditions are favorable, I'll keep a ship. If it's something I have no intention of using, I take it only if I can sell it quickly.

Capt. Cannon · Cutthroat Posts: 413 **151 Gold** -

It depends on how close i am to a worthy port, also the speed of the ships and the price. Amount of crewman also effects it.
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Asclepius · Cutthroat Posts: 329 **11353 Gold** -

I agree with most that it depends on several factors to make the decision to Sink or Sell. At the first of any adventure, I capture every ship that is at war with the country I am working on my promotions with. I rarely fire a shot, as an 18 year old, nobody can beat me in a duel. Therefore, every ship is as good as it was when I found it, and I sell off everything that the nearest freindly port can buy, sell all the ships I can. I never keep a "Core Fleet" as a single ship works best for me. I'll add one or maybe two more when I'm rich enough to fully man them, to sack cities, but my idea of a "Core Fleet" is a fully upgraded Royal Sloop with 20 cannons and 187 crew.

Asclepius was here

Undershaft · Powder Monkey Posts: 32 **1150 Gold** -

I will generally keep the ships I capture and sell them as soon as possible. Even if I only get 10 gold, its better than nothing. I prefer taking them to ports where I get free repairs at least. I'm usually high in rank with a couple nations early on in the game. Sometimes this backfires when you have 7 barely afloat galleons putting along behind your beat to hell sloop of war and a bunch of spanish pirate hunters on your tail. I have an aversion to abandoning ships at sea, especially if it means giving up cargo.

rupertlittlebear · Helmsman Posts: 4434 **10381 Gold** -

remember that every trip to any port costs your limited pirating career 7 days.

Dave the Knave · Rigger Posts: 1188 **22948 Gold** -

jakethescot · Swabbie Posts: 104 **355 Gold** -

After I capture the ships I use, I sink everything. All I keep is food and gold.

GO IRISH !!!

Dutchmans Bane · Powder Monkey Posts: 37 **153 Gold** -

I usually keep and sell the ships, if possible. I'll sink a ship if 1) it's too much trouble to get to the ship (Like if it's a long distance eastward from your ship and thus it takes too long to get to it Mad

), 2) I don't want to risk losing crew in a boarding action or 3)I'm a good ways away from a friendly port, and I don't want my fleet to be slowed down by a badly damaged prize.

Dave the Knave · Rigger Posts: 1188 **22948 Gold** -

Captain Blood · Cutthroat Posts: 452 **6396 Gold** -

Dave,
Makes me insane when that happens. That's why I don't usually use chain shot!
I don't like to poke so many holes in the sails of a ship I'm going to keep and put a crew in that I can't catch up with any other plunder.

Guns Blazing

_________________
'Vast heaving! Belay there, I say!

Dave the Knave · Rigger Posts: 1188 **22948 Gold** -

Captain Blood · Cutthroat Posts: 452 **6396 Gold** -

I guess I've just been lucky then. I have had to resort to chain shot so infrequently that I don't even really bother thinking about it any more.
I can always catch a prize without it and I really don't like the amount of damage that it inflicts.
Even close to a friendly port with free repairs I just can't make myself tear up all the sails and masts.

To each their own, I guess, but I really just don't like to fire chain shot and I certainly don't like being on the receiving end of it.
If I could, I'd take it right out of the game.
But then again, what fun would that be?
Lost

_________________
'Vast heaving! Belay there, I say!

Dave the Knave · Rigger Posts: 1188 **22948 Gold** -