navy3001
Notorious Pirate
hey guys so i found some one cannon defense tips on a old POTCO fourms! this will be helpful when its back in and ready!
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You get loot in cannon defense about every 6 or 7 waves, and everyone gets loot on the same wave. You get loot after waves 6, 13, 19, 26, 32, 39, 45, 52, 58 65, 71, 78, 84, 91, 97, 104 and so on. You also get loot after you lose, however, each time, you are not guaranteed to get a famed cannon ram, or even a cannon ram at all. Past wave 26 you can hope to start getting famed, but you might have to wait as far as wave 32 or 49 if you are unlucky. It is quite common to get wool cannon ram on wave 26, but not guaranteed. Think of it like this. From wave 1-13 loot is what you might expect in a loot pouch, almost always common or crude, if you are lucky a rare, and if you are insanely lucky a famed. From wave 19-26 loot is what you might expect in a loot chest, mostly rare with the occasional famed. Past wave 32 the loot is what you might expect in a skull chest, a pretty good chance of getting famed and rare. However, getting this far is obviously the hard part and the reason for this guide.
Rev ram, the reason people play cannon defense. And what I can hopefully help you get.
Strategies, Tips, & Tricks
Use A Mouse
Now for cannon defense I highly suggest you use a mouse not a trackpad. It may sound nitpicky but trust me. If you do not have a mouse or you really do not like them fine, but using a mouse will almost certainly improve your playing. Now the reason why a mouse helps so much is because they let you make much more fluid and constant adjustments to your aim. To get the most shots and the best aim this is what I suggest you do. Take your mouse and hold it in your right hand (if you are a lefty reverse it) make sure you have a nice open area to your right to move the mouse around on such as an open tabletop. When the wave starts click the right mouse button on the mouse and hold it. There is no reason to let go of it. Move your mouse around to follow the ships and use your left hand to shoot (either by clicking on the left mouse button on your trackpad or control on your keyboard) and to switch ammo by using the numbers. This is much better than using a trackpad because you can shoot while aiming much easier, and you can constantly be aiming in a much smoother, fluid, and controlled manner than using a trackpad. It helps greatly for following and hitting small ships like light sloops. Try it out in a practice game, you will find it is a much easier and natural feeling to move your mouse hand to follow ships. Trust me, you will be surprised how much easier using a mouse makes things.
What Level You Are Doesn't Really Matter
Because in cannon defense your cannon level resets with each game, what level the player is doesn't really matter. This means that a level 1 who is good at cannon defense could do far better then a 50 who has no idea what he is doing. One thing that does matter is basic or unlimited access. Basic members are greatly handicapped in cannon defense because they can only buy ammos up to mines. And as we all (really really should) know, mines are terrible so a basic member pretty much doesn't get any good ammos. Now you may have noticed that I am saying level doesn't really matter rather then saying it doesn't matter at all. This is because it actually does matter a little bit. The reason why almost all good cannoneers are high levels is because they can have more skill points on the passive skills named above, meaning they are better at cannon defense. That said this can't nearly make up for skill. And you shouldn't avoid people just because they aren't mastered. Like I said a good level 1 can be far better than a bad 50. You should chose who to play with based on skill not level.
Sinking Each Ship
It is pretty obvious that sinking light sloops doesn't take the same strategies as sinking war frigates. Now I will tell what those strategies are.
Light Sloops
These ships are considered some of the most annoying, possible some of the most difficult, ships in the game. Tiny and fast they can be a problem for even the best cannoneers. However if you have the right strategies their equally tiny hp can make them a piece of cake. Some people love using a nice keg to take these little guys out easily. Although this works, it can be a waste of money. These ships really aren't that hard to just shoot. The most important thing you need to be able to take these guys out fast is 5 on the shoot skill (see below). If they are moving, use your mouse to follow them and shoot a quick round (note: when I say "round" I mean 6 round shots not one) at them, remember to aim in front of them so they will move into the shot, odds are one or two will hit. If they are sitting at the beach don't shoot all the shots at the same time, they all might miss. Take a few quick shots and constantly be adjusting your aim as you shoot at them. Still, as you go through the levels ships get more and more lives and get harder and harder. This makes light sloops especially harder as they go from being sinkable in 2 hits to needing more like 5 or 6 hits to sink them. Firestorm can be very effective at taking these guys out, if you can hit them. Two things you can do is aim at a larger ship (if one is out) like one of the light galleons that often accompany light sloops. The other thing you can do is wait for one to stop at the shore, try shooting it with round shot until you get your aim right, the quickly shoot a firestorm without moving your aim. If you really really have to you can use a keg, but only in the very high levels. The general rule is, only use expensive ammo if you don't think you could do it with only round shot.
Light Galleons And Frigates
These ships are very easy. Slower and larger than the light sloops they are no problem to hit. Use your mouse to follow them, shoot one or two rounds, and they are gone. No problem. If you encounter a large group in a high level, a firestorm or even a keg might help. But make sure you are really using it well. If you think you could sink them without better ammo there is no point wasting money.
Sloops, War Sloops, And Heavy War Sloops
These ships are fast but they are large and have relatively low hp. They really aren't that hard. For them it is best to aim for the sails. However make sure the rounds don't go through the cracks. Unloading a few rounds quickly can sink them easily. Again a large group in the high levels might call for a firestorm or keg.
Galleons and War Galleons
Though they have good hp, being very large and very slow make them easy targets. Unloading several rounds into their hull can sink them before they even get to the beach. If there are a lot of them it might be good to hit them with a keg or firestorm. Often this won't sink them but will still make them easy to finish off with some round shots. In higher levels it might even take multiple big hits with firestorm of keg to take them out.
Frigates And War Frigates
These guys are a little faster and have a little more hp than the galleons, making them harder. However they are still large and easy to hit. A few kegs and firestorm and plenty of round shot should do the trick.
____________________________________________________________________________
You get loot in cannon defense about every 6 or 7 waves, and everyone gets loot on the same wave. You get loot after waves 6, 13, 19, 26, 32, 39, 45, 52, 58 65, 71, 78, 84, 91, 97, 104 and so on. You also get loot after you lose, however, each time, you are not guaranteed to get a famed cannon ram, or even a cannon ram at all. Past wave 26 you can hope to start getting famed, but you might have to wait as far as wave 32 or 49 if you are unlucky. It is quite common to get wool cannon ram on wave 26, but not guaranteed. Think of it like this. From wave 1-13 loot is what you might expect in a loot pouch, almost always common or crude, if you are lucky a rare, and if you are insanely lucky a famed. From wave 19-26 loot is what you might expect in a loot chest, mostly rare with the occasional famed. Past wave 32 the loot is what you might expect in a skull chest, a pretty good chance of getting famed and rare. However, getting this far is obviously the hard part and the reason for this guide.
Rev ram, the reason people play cannon defense. And what I can hopefully help you get.
Strategies, Tips, & Tricks
Use A Mouse
Now for cannon defense I highly suggest you use a mouse not a trackpad. It may sound nitpicky but trust me. If you do not have a mouse or you really do not like them fine, but using a mouse will almost certainly improve your playing. Now the reason why a mouse helps so much is because they let you make much more fluid and constant adjustments to your aim. To get the most shots and the best aim this is what I suggest you do. Take your mouse and hold it in your right hand (if you are a lefty reverse it) make sure you have a nice open area to your right to move the mouse around on such as an open tabletop. When the wave starts click the right mouse button on the mouse and hold it. There is no reason to let go of it. Move your mouse around to follow the ships and use your left hand to shoot (either by clicking on the left mouse button on your trackpad or control on your keyboard) and to switch ammo by using the numbers. This is much better than using a trackpad because you can shoot while aiming much easier, and you can constantly be aiming in a much smoother, fluid, and controlled manner than using a trackpad. It helps greatly for following and hitting small ships like light sloops. Try it out in a practice game, you will find it is a much easier and natural feeling to move your mouse hand to follow ships. Trust me, you will be surprised how much easier using a mouse makes things.
What Level You Are Doesn't Really Matter
Because in cannon defense your cannon level resets with each game, what level the player is doesn't really matter. This means that a level 1 who is good at cannon defense could do far better then a 50 who has no idea what he is doing. One thing that does matter is basic or unlimited access. Basic members are greatly handicapped in cannon defense because they can only buy ammos up to mines. And as we all (really really should) know, mines are terrible so a basic member pretty much doesn't get any good ammos. Now you may have noticed that I am saying level doesn't really matter rather then saying it doesn't matter at all. This is because it actually does matter a little bit. The reason why almost all good cannoneers are high levels is because they can have more skill points on the passive skills named above, meaning they are better at cannon defense. That said this can't nearly make up for skill. And you shouldn't avoid people just because they aren't mastered. Like I said a good level 1 can be far better than a bad 50. You should chose who to play with based on skill not level.
Sinking Each Ship
It is pretty obvious that sinking light sloops doesn't take the same strategies as sinking war frigates. Now I will tell what those strategies are.
Light Sloops
These ships are considered some of the most annoying, possible some of the most difficult, ships in the game. Tiny and fast they can be a problem for even the best cannoneers. However if you have the right strategies their equally tiny hp can make them a piece of cake. Some people love using a nice keg to take these little guys out easily. Although this works, it can be a waste of money. These ships really aren't that hard to just shoot. The most important thing you need to be able to take these guys out fast is 5 on the shoot skill (see below). If they are moving, use your mouse to follow them and shoot a quick round (note: when I say "round" I mean 6 round shots not one) at them, remember to aim in front of them so they will move into the shot, odds are one or two will hit. If they are sitting at the beach don't shoot all the shots at the same time, they all might miss. Take a few quick shots and constantly be adjusting your aim as you shoot at them. Still, as you go through the levels ships get more and more lives and get harder and harder. This makes light sloops especially harder as they go from being sinkable in 2 hits to needing more like 5 or 6 hits to sink them. Firestorm can be very effective at taking these guys out, if you can hit them. Two things you can do is aim at a larger ship (if one is out) like one of the light galleons that often accompany light sloops. The other thing you can do is wait for one to stop at the shore, try shooting it with round shot until you get your aim right, the quickly shoot a firestorm without moving your aim. If you really really have to you can use a keg, but only in the very high levels. The general rule is, only use expensive ammo if you don't think you could do it with only round shot.
Light Galleons And Frigates
These ships are very easy. Slower and larger than the light sloops they are no problem to hit. Use your mouse to follow them, shoot one or two rounds, and they are gone. No problem. If you encounter a large group in a high level, a firestorm or even a keg might help. But make sure you are really using it well. If you think you could sink them without better ammo there is no point wasting money.
Sloops, War Sloops, And Heavy War Sloops
These ships are fast but they are large and have relatively low hp. They really aren't that hard. For them it is best to aim for the sails. However make sure the rounds don't go through the cracks. Unloading a few rounds quickly can sink them easily. Again a large group in the high levels might call for a firestorm or keg.
Galleons and War Galleons
Though they have good hp, being very large and very slow make them easy targets. Unloading several rounds into their hull can sink them before they even get to the beach. If there are a lot of them it might be good to hit them with a keg or firestorm. Often this won't sink them but will still make them easy to finish off with some round shots. In higher levels it might even take multiple big hits with firestorm of keg to take them out.
Frigates And War Frigates
These guys are a little faster and have a little more hp than the galleons, making them harder. However they are still large and easy to hit. A few kegs and firestorm and plenty of round shot should do the trick.