Targeting Ships

[Grey Vice]

In this game firing broadsides accurately is all about positioning your ship correctly for the situation. It's more realistic than you might think in that regard but you are right that it's not super realistic. To shoot accurately you must have your ship positioned at the moment you fire. The correct position for a perfect hit is different in different situations so there's quite a bit to learn, particularly when battling aggro ships. Ships that aren't aggro are generally easy targets once you figure out how it works.

Sure, but there have been many many many instances where I'm directly infront of a ship and my cannons shoot over it and into a ship in the background. Or, when moving, a ship next to me is aggroed and when I fire, the cannons go through the opposite side of the ship to another enemy near me. That is what im talking about when I say we need to have a better aiming mechanic. It isnt game breaking to just say 'oh boy I wonder where this will land because my calculations were wrong'.

 

[Eric Sailcutter]

Yes, but can you do a spatter shot into a full blown mat party with your Frigate, or will it shoot straight into nothing?
A spatter shot is where the broadsides take no aim and scatter the shot in a 180 degree radius, hitting everything in sight at a mat party. Very useful if you're being lazy and just want to tag 'em all for the mats and sink treasure ships while you wait for the mats to fill up the hold.
And I agree completely that the different ship types and shots are a plus, and also agree with you that War Frigates are good starter ships for timid pirates lacking in better sailing skills...

What on earth would I be doing at a mat party???

 

[Eric Sailcutter]

NO! DON'T GET ON ERIC'S SHIP! IT'S A TRAP!

So true... many don't care for my sailing style but few would question the results... maybe if you're unlucky enough to be aboard when I get stuck in between the Battle Royal and a juggernaut???

 

[Crashalot]

What on earth would I be doing at a mat party???

LOL, you might be lost?
I am perpetually making new pirates and thus recreating my War Brig Storm Chaser and am always visiting mat parties on my way to find loot skulls. It's a thing...

 

[Crashalot]

So true... many don't care for my sailing style but few would question the results... maybe if you're unlucky enough to be aboard when I get stuck in between the Battle Royal and a juggernaut???

The results do speak for themselves! I think I've only sunk 2 or 3 times max when sailing with you, and that hasn't stopped me.
But the repairs... Thank goodness I always have an alt onboard! Multitasking!

 

[squintz]

So true... many don't care for my sailing style but few would question the results... maybe if you're unlucky enough to be aboard when I get stuck in between the Battle Royal and a juggernaut???

I believe some time ago I got on one of your ships by accident and started immediately on repairs as masts were blowing out around me. I never touched a cannon even when one was always available. It was like baling water in a boat made of chicken wire.
Fun stuff.

 

[Eric Sailcutter]

I believe some time ago I got on one of your ships by accident and started immediately on repairs as masts were blowing out around me. I never touched a cannon even when one was always available. It was like baling water in a boat made of chicken wire.
Fun stuff.

Lol, I don't think it's really that bad but it's true that I like to take chances and get in close to my prey. That leads to damage of course. I do know my ships well and when to back off though, so, it's rare that I actually get sunk, maybe sunk 10 times in 2 years, about 3 or 4 of those by the hacker. I also solo some, which calls for more conservative sailing if you want to stay out long. The thing that bugs the crew is when I sail too close and get half damage and the crew fixes it only to see me do it again immediately, lol, I always feel a little guilty when that happens. I really feel that if you go an entire loot run without ever mixing it up with the big boys it's just not as exciting.

 

[squintz]

Lol, I don't think it's really that bad but it's true that I like to take chances and get in close to my prey. That leads to damage of course. I do know my ships well and when to back off though, so, it's rare that I actually get sunk, maybe sunk 10 times in 2 years, about 3 or 4 of those by the hacker. I also solo some, which calls for more conservative sailing if you want to stay out long. The thing that bugs the crew is when I sail too close and get half damage and the crew fixes it only to see me do it again immediately, lol, I always feel a little guilty when that happens. I really feel that if you go an entire loot run without ever mixing it up with the big boys it's just not as exciting.

lol. Not all pirates want to go down with their captain. Now that I'm remembering, your ship command could be a case for a mutiny button. lol
But if a pirate wants to mix it up, your ship is a good choice.

 

[Solomon Helmfitte]

your being serious right? like the broadsides miss ships that are right on the side of your ship. how is that working xD they hit like a good 80% of the time then the other 20% makes me want to delete my account they miss so bad.[/Q
Please don't delete your account! It would send a wrong message to the Hunters and War Ships and all those living on Isla Escondida!

 

[Solomon Helmfitte]

Lol, I don't think it's really that bad but it's true that I like to take chances and get in close to my prey. That leads to damage of course. I do know my ships well and when to back off though, so, it's rare that I actually get sunk, maybe sunk 10 times in 2 years, about 3 or 4 of those by the hacker. I also solo some, which calls for more conservative sailing if you want to stay out long. The thing that bugs the crew is when I sail too close and get half damage and the crew fixes it only to see me do it again immediately, lol, I always feel a little guilty when that happens. I really feel that if you go an entire loot run without ever mixing it up with the big boys it's just not as exciting.

Thanks for having me onboard each time you've sunk Eric!
ROFL

 

[Solomon Helmfitte]

The only ships I tend to go out of my way for are Corsairs and occasionally Juggernauts, love them for their explosive broadsides and the danger that they present to your ship.

Now I know why we've sunk 10 times!

 

[Eric Sailcutter]

Now I know why we've sunk 10 times!

Was it because my broadsides misfired?

 

[Shamus The Brute]

Lol, I don't think it's really that bad but it's true that I like to take chances and get in close to my prey. That leads to damage of course. I do know my ships well and when to back off though, so, it's rare that I actually get sunk, maybe sunk 10 times in 2 years, about 3 or 4 of those by the hacker. I also solo some, which calls for more conservative sailing if you want to stay out long. The thing that bugs the crew is when I sail too close and get half damage and the crew fixes it only to see me do it again immediately, lol, I always feel a little guilty when that happens. I really feel that if you go an entire loot run without ever mixing it up with the big boys it's just not as exciting.

I need to read this whole thread through but your above post caught my eye.

With much of the trouble a ship’s cannons are having for people these days wouldn’t a more sensible strategy for everyone to embrace (while sailing) include:

• Recruiting known, trustworthy cannoneers to assure the ship itself takes on less damage
• A more “rested” and focused crew (on account of less repairs having to be made/everyone’s time not wasted)

The marriage of even the riskiest ship Captain with talented/high caliber cannoneers is dang near unstoppable and what is better, everyone’s (sailing/plundering) MORALE is boosted!

*Time is precious. The less time wasted, the better for everyone (a SVS/privateering ‘golden rule’ it took me a while to adopt).

 

[Misha]

Looking at this idea from a step back, I think a manual aiming mechanism in the game would possibly sit in place better, rather than a buff or skill to increase the accuracy of the AI's targeting system. Sailing skill points are already pressed thin, even in the best of situations.

Taking in the fact that the game has embraced the idea of automatic lock-on because of how Disney designed the mechanic, I do think at any point it may be in the best interest of changes in gameplay to add a manual aiming of some type, even taking up to some of my favorite aim mechanics from games far more technologically advanced then the age of pirates. Something like this.

Again, this is , but I think if it is well done, it could make for an interesting gameplay variation, even if many choose not to use it.

Also, let's try to keep on topic to the original post, folks!

 

[squintz]

Looking at this idea from a step back, I think a manual aiming mechanism in the game would possibly sit in place better, rather than a buff or skill to increase the accuracy of the AI's targeting system. Sailing skill points are already pressed thin, even in the best of situations.

Taking in the fact that the game has embraced the idea of automatic lock-on because of how Disney designed the mechanic, I do think at any point it may be in the best interest of changes in gameplay to add a manual aiming of some type, even taking up to some of my favorite aim mechanics from games far more technologically advanced then the age of pirates. Something like this.

Again, this is , but I think if it is well done, it could make for an interesting gameplay variation, even if many choose not to use it.

Also, let's try to keep on topic to the original post, folks!

About on topic - wouldn't it help if the title were right next to the last item 'new post' so that it was always in view? Reading then scrolling back 2 pages sometimes just to remind myself what the tread was about isn't very convenient. If the title was in your face, perhaps it wouldn't be that easy to drift off topic?

 

[Samuel Calicoswain]

wouldn't it help if the title were right next to the last item 'new post' so that it was always in view? If the title was in your face, perhaps it wouldn't be that easy to drift off topic?

Although easy to forget, the titles of threads are always in view, no matter where you are in the thread. I marked them in the image below:

Let's try to keep this discussion focused towards the original topic of the "Accuracy Skill" and the broadside targeting mechanic from here on out.

 

[Crashalot]

Um, go ahead and delete all of my posts. I got nothing to say here.

 

[OurGangsDarkOath]

I honestly prefer to position my ship and hit enemy ships rather than selecting which enemy ships I want to attack only because I like the challenge of it

 

[squintz]

Although easy to forget, the titles of threads are always in view, no matter where you are in the thread. I marked them in the image below:
View attachment 111486


Let's try to keep this discussion focused towards the original topic of the "Accuracy Skill" and the broadside targeting mechanic from here on out.

Aye Carrumba. I never thought of looking there. Although I see nothing about accuracy skill in the 2 word title of targeting ships.
But it's very handy nonetheless. Thanks.

 

[Eric Sailcutter]

Well.... I see a lot of people want to make the game easier at sea just as they do on land, no surprise there but wow. Maybe there should be a different version of the game on every server, each having little differences such as a rework of the broadsides targeting system for people to try out, multi-beta. Maybe in the end there should be two games: 1) a POTCO 2013 recreation, and 2) a progression to all new combat mechanics, mini games, quests, etc., etc... I really feel that there is a big difference between better and easier. I would prefer the combat in game to be more challenging and more realistic. I see the targeting as working great and just needing a bug fix or two but clearly others want a completely different targeting system, presumably because they either never figured out how the existing one works or they were really, really bad at it. One way or another I think the existing system should be an option for people to use since the game is supposed to be a recreation of POTCO 2013 and we shouldn't completely loose sight of that.