Misha
Site Founder
GUIDE IS OUTDATED, PLEASE CHECK OUT THE ACTIVELY UPDATED VERSION HERE.
Upon completion of Cargo III, Cargo Ships have three primary upgrade directives. The paths that can be chosen upon completion of Cargo III are Fortune Hunter, Skull & Bones and Firestorm.
Introduction
Below are the direct calculations as to the price increase per ship and class, which can be used as reference in pricing for Gold and Materials. Do take note that all ship upgrades are consistent with the below chart, and will always be directly influenced by the type of ship you are driving.
Base Class
Sloop - 0% Cheapest Ship Upgrades
Galleon - 25% more Material & Gold
Frigate - 50% more Material & Gold
Brig - 75% more Material & Gold
War Class
War Sloop - 100% more Material & Gold
War Galleon - 125% more Material & Gold
War Frigate - 150% more Material & Gold
War Brig - 175% more Material & Gold
For those of you who are just starting your voyage in TLOPO, I would urge you to read the second portion of my High Seas Guide, explaining ship runs and other information that may become useful to you as you go along, found Here.
Starting Upgrades
Streamlined
Streamlined ships are the mainstream upgrade tree in order to get to advanced upgrades with speed modifications primarily. Streamlined ships are a Beige-ish white, with Sea Blue stripes across the hull, as shown above.
This upgrade path is also the most expensive in regards to materials in starting a ship upgrade path, requiring a hefty amount of pine and oak to complete.
Once a ship has been upgraded to Streamlined III they have the choice of two upgrade paths, one being Firestorm and the other Storm Chaser.
Cargo
The Cargo branch is a marginal increase to Armor while bolstering the ship's cargo space by a phenomenal 60% at Cargo III!
Cargo upgrade ships can be identified as having a tropically decorated wooden hull, combined with dark embellishments to create a stylish finish.
Below are the direct calculations as to the price increase per ship and class, which can be used as reference in pricing for Gold and Materials. Do take note that all ship upgrades are consistent with the below chart, and will always be directly influenced by the type of ship you are driving.
Base Class
Sloop - 0% Cheapest Ship Upgrades
Galleon - 25% more Material & Gold
Frigate - 50% more Material & Gold
Brig - 75% more Material & Gold
War Class
War Sloop - 100% more Material & Gold
War Galleon - 125% more Material & Gold
War Frigate - 150% more Material & Gold
War Brig - 175% more Material & Gold
For those of you who are just starting your voyage in TLOPO, I would urge you to read the second portion of my High Seas Guide, explaining ship runs and other information that may become useful to you as you go along, found Here.
Starting Upgrades
Streamlined
Streamlined ships are the mainstream upgrade tree in order to get to advanced upgrades with speed modifications primarily. Streamlined ships are a Beige-ish white, with Sea Blue stripes across the hull, as shown above.
This upgrade path is also the most expensive in regards to materials in starting a ship upgrade path, requiring a hefty amount of pine and oak to complete.
Once a ship has been upgraded to Streamlined III they have the choice of two upgrade paths, one being Firestorm and the other Storm Chaser.
Cargo
The Cargo branch is a marginal increase to Armor while bolstering the ship's cargo space by a phenomenal 60% at Cargo III!
Cargo upgrade ships can be identified as having a tropically decorated wooden hull, combined with dark embellishments to create a stylish finish.
Upon completion of Cargo III, Cargo Ships have three primary upgrade directives. The paths that can be chosen upon completion of Cargo III are Fortune Hunter, Skull & Bones and Firestorm.
Reinforced
The final ship path that Users can pick is what you'd imagine a tank in any sort of MMORPG being. This thing eats hits and dishes right back out like no tomorrow! Ships in this upgrade tree get a massive 54% boost to the ship's armor while losing 10% of its speed.
Reinforced ships are a purple-gray tint, closest resembling the Black Pearl in terms of color, with modifications to the lower hull to give it an armored look.
Completing Reinforced III gives the owner of the vessel access to either the Copperhead or Skull & Bones trees.
Broadside Modification Upgrades
Copperhead
The middle-school bully of upgrades here in TLOPO, you'll start feeling invincible out on the water with this monster. Upgrading your ship to Copperhead gives your vessel a starting 5% chance to fire an explosive shot out of your broadsides, to a maximum of 15%.
The looks and strength go right along with your power, too. This upgrade features a Bronze and green color scheme with elegant finishes to the ship to make you feel like royalty while you pummel everything else out of existence, as well as a maximum of 80% extra armor to your name!
A bit of a forewarning, Upgrading to Copperhead does not fix the -10% speed reduction applied by the Reinforced upgrade branch, sufficing that speed even when fully upgraded for an absolute powerhouse killing machine. Copperhead uses tons of metals such as iron and steel, so be ready with the materials needed or start making your paces! It is also recommended maxing out Explosive shot in your Cannoneering skills if you wish to be as effective as possible, and possibly including an Iron Priming Ram, as shown below to maximize damage:
Skull & Bones
Derived from the depths to where only traitors and mutineers are held, we have the next upgrade, called Skull and Bones. Skull and Bones begin your ship with a 15% chance to fire Fury from your broadsides to a maximum of 50%. Unfortunately, selecting Skull and Bones reduces your cargo back to bare bones stock if your trek had been through the Cargo upgrade path.
As well, this upgrade gives you marginal armor increases, up to a maximum of an extra 65%! The broadsides of this ship upgrade are rather consistent, not doing the most damage, but having a high enough of a percentage to alter the broadside to equal out if you plan to be spamming your broadsides consistently. This also follows the trend of looking intimidating as blazes when you see it, having a traditionally dark look, lines with bones from bow to stern.
Being that this upgrade comes from both the Reinforced and Cargo trees, you have a choice in whether you want to spend more gold or material to get to the same place.
Storm Chaser
Found solely after completing the grind through the material-heavy Streamlined tree, this upgrade gives allows the ship to keep it's upgraded perks from Streamlined, as well as applying a starting 15% chance to fire Thunderbolt from the broadsides to a maximum of 45%. This upgrade does not give the ship any further enhancements, but it does also give it a very spectacular darkened blue paint job.
Whilst not the most expensive tree off the bat, Storm Chaser will dig into your Pine supplies and run you dry. It is also recommended to completely max Thunderbolt in order to get the most out of your broadsides when attacking.
Fortune Hunter
Fortune Hunter is an upgrade exclusive to the cargo tree and is essentially the equivalent of if someone doesn't want to part ways with Cargo's tremendous quantity upgrades, but wants to continue upgrading their ship. Along with a marginal 10% armor increase at both Fortune Hunter V & VI
Fortune Hunter gives your vessel the ability at a minimum chance of 15% to release firebrand; this chance is increased to 45% at Fortune Hunter VI. This upgrade as stated prior continues to sport a 50% extra cargo space for you adventurers and greedy pirates. Fortune Hunter vessels are one of the most unique looking styles in the Caribbean, sporting a Black, Red, And Gold paint-job that gives even Her Majesty's Navy a run for their wallets.
While Fortune Hunter only gains Firebrand, it is recommended to stick a few points into the shot in order to increase your broadside's total damage output, even if you don't plan to buy or use Firebrand when you man a cannon elsewhere, and is recommended to us the Cajun Cannon Ram to further increase Broadside damage:
Firestorm
The overlooked love-child of Fortune Hunter and Streamlined, Firestorm is just about the most underused Upgrade in the Caribbean. This upgrade is obtainable both through Streamlined and Cargo, so pick your poison in terms of your spending. Sporting a 20% beginning chance to release Firebrand from its broadside, this upgrade maintains it's speed and turning, making it agile enough to circle those ship-of-the-lines that you see trying to keep the waters free of us Buccaneers.
Maximizing your Firebrand chance to a 60% at Firestorm VI, you'll be setting fires and turning your enemies into charcoal. Atop of this, Firestorm ships sport one of the most intimidating decals of these waters, the deck blazing and the ship raging in its own inferno of hatred.
Being that your broadside is your specialty when combined with your speed, it is recommended maximizing your Firebrand through your Cannoneering skill, as well as with a Famed Cajun Ram, as shown below:
Best-In-Class: Activities
Q: Material "Mat" Runs
A: Fortune Hunter or Skull & Bones
Q: Loot Runs
A: Storm Chaser or Copperhead
Q: SvS
A: Storm Chaser or Skull & Bones
Q: Tanking
A: Copperhead or Skull & Bones
Q: Beginner Friendly
A: Skull & Bones, Firestorm, or Fortune Hunter
Conclusion
Any and all feedback is appreciated on the guide! If you have your own opinion, feel free to leave it below, but remember to be prompt and civil.
EDITS
v1.01 - Firestorm Image Updated for better resolution.
v1.02 - Reworked and adjusted the layout of the entire guide.
v1.03 - Reworded and adjusted different text to make it easier to follow.
v1.04 - Added Cannon Ram suggestions to certain upgrades.
v1.05 - Recreated the upgrade path photos to be at a higher quality.
The final ship path that Users can pick is what you'd imagine a tank in any sort of MMORPG being. This thing eats hits and dishes right back out like no tomorrow! Ships in this upgrade tree get a massive 54% boost to the ship's armor while losing 10% of its speed.
Reinforced ships are a purple-gray tint, closest resembling the Black Pearl in terms of color, with modifications to the lower hull to give it an armored look.
Completing Reinforced III gives the owner of the vessel access to either the Copperhead or Skull & Bones trees.
Broadside Modification Upgrades
Copperhead
The middle-school bully of upgrades here in TLOPO, you'll start feeling invincible out on the water with this monster. Upgrading your ship to Copperhead gives your vessel a starting 5% chance to fire an explosive shot out of your broadsides, to a maximum of 15%.
The looks and strength go right along with your power, too. This upgrade features a Bronze and green color scheme with elegant finishes to the ship to make you feel like royalty while you pummel everything else out of existence, as well as a maximum of 80% extra armor to your name!
A bit of a forewarning, Upgrading to Copperhead does not fix the -10% speed reduction applied by the Reinforced upgrade branch, sufficing that speed even when fully upgraded for an absolute powerhouse killing machine. Copperhead uses tons of metals such as iron and steel, so be ready with the materials needed or start making your paces! It is also recommended maxing out Explosive shot in your Cannoneering skills if you wish to be as effective as possible, and possibly including an Iron Priming Ram, as shown below to maximize damage:
Skull & Bones
Derived from the depths to where only traitors and mutineers are held, we have the next upgrade, called Skull and Bones. Skull and Bones begin your ship with a 15% chance to fire Fury from your broadsides to a maximum of 50%. Unfortunately, selecting Skull and Bones reduces your cargo back to bare bones stock if your trek had been through the Cargo upgrade path.
As well, this upgrade gives you marginal armor increases, up to a maximum of an extra 65%! The broadsides of this ship upgrade are rather consistent, not doing the most damage, but having a high enough of a percentage to alter the broadside to equal out if you plan to be spamming your broadsides consistently. This also follows the trend of looking intimidating as blazes when you see it, having a traditionally dark look, lines with bones from bow to stern.
Being that this upgrade comes from both the Reinforced and Cargo trees, you have a choice in whether you want to spend more gold or material to get to the same place.
Storm Chaser
Found solely after completing the grind through the material-heavy Streamlined tree, this upgrade gives allows the ship to keep it's upgraded perks from Streamlined, as well as applying a starting 15% chance to fire Thunderbolt from the broadsides to a maximum of 45%. This upgrade does not give the ship any further enhancements, but it does also give it a very spectacular darkened blue paint job.
Whilst not the most expensive tree off the bat, Storm Chaser will dig into your Pine supplies and run you dry. It is also recommended to completely max Thunderbolt in order to get the most out of your broadsides when attacking.
Fortune Hunter
Fortune Hunter is an upgrade exclusive to the cargo tree and is essentially the equivalent of if someone doesn't want to part ways with Cargo's tremendous quantity upgrades, but wants to continue upgrading their ship. Along with a marginal 10% armor increase at both Fortune Hunter V & VI
Fortune Hunter gives your vessel the ability at a minimum chance of 15% to release firebrand; this chance is increased to 45% at Fortune Hunter VI. This upgrade as stated prior continues to sport a 50% extra cargo space for you adventurers and greedy pirates. Fortune Hunter vessels are one of the most unique looking styles in the Caribbean, sporting a Black, Red, And Gold paint-job that gives even Her Majesty's Navy a run for their wallets.
While Fortune Hunter only gains Firebrand, it is recommended to stick a few points into the shot in order to increase your broadside's total damage output, even if you don't plan to buy or use Firebrand when you man a cannon elsewhere, and is recommended to us the Cajun Cannon Ram to further increase Broadside damage:
Firestorm
The overlooked love-child of Fortune Hunter and Streamlined, Firestorm is just about the most underused Upgrade in the Caribbean. This upgrade is obtainable both through Streamlined and Cargo, so pick your poison in terms of your spending. Sporting a 20% beginning chance to release Firebrand from its broadside, this upgrade maintains it's speed and turning, making it agile enough to circle those ship-of-the-lines that you see trying to keep the waters free of us Buccaneers.
Maximizing your Firebrand chance to a 60% at Firestorm VI, you'll be setting fires and turning your enemies into charcoal. Atop of this, Firestorm ships sport one of the most intimidating decals of these waters, the deck blazing and the ship raging in its own inferno of hatred.
Being that your broadside is your specialty when combined with your speed, it is recommended maximizing your Firebrand through your Cannoneering skill, as well as with a Famed Cajun Ram, as shown below:
Best-In-Class: Activities
Q: Material "Mat" Runs
A: Fortune Hunter or Skull & Bones
Q: Loot Runs
A: Storm Chaser or Copperhead
Q: SvS
A: Storm Chaser or Skull & Bones
Q: Tanking
A: Copperhead or Skull & Bones
Q: Beginner Friendly
A: Skull & Bones, Firestorm, or Fortune Hunter
Conclusion
Any and all feedback is appreciated on the guide! If you have your own opinion, feel free to leave it below, but remember to be prompt and civil.
EDITS
v1.01 - Firestorm Image Updated for better resolution.
v1.02 - Reworked and adjusted the layout of the entire guide.
v1.03 - Reworded and adjusted different text to make it easier to follow.
v1.04 - Added Cannon Ram suggestions to certain upgrades.
v1.05 - Recreated the upgrade path photos to be at a higher quality.
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