Fast ship

**William_I** · March 23, 2009, 04:33 AM

From what I read, the consensus is that 3rd rate is the workhorse of the fleet. But do you recommend to add some frigates into fleet to pursue the enemy? What is the best suited for this role, 5th rate, 6th rate or sloop?

**Mahatma Gandhi** · March 23, 2009, 04:44 AM

AI doesnt run in this game. Closest I've seen in ship battle is 1-2 working on a little seperation from time to time in an attempt to win the gauge.

**Hebrew_Hero** · March 23, 2009, 05:17 AM

Brigs arent bad either, ive had one harass a 5th rate pretty well. It actually demasted it, and what not.

**Roman Knight** · March 23, 2009, 07:28 AM

I tend to go for fifth rates, although lately Razees have been quite effective.

**the_mango55** · March 23, 2009, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Hebrew_Hero

Brigs arent bad either, ive had one harass a 5th rate pretty well. It actually demasted it, and what not.

Brigs are pretty much terrible unmodded.

They have ok firepower and are pretty quick, but they are made out of kindling. They explode into a thousand pieces if a ship of the line so much as breathes on them.

IMO the only thing they are good for is chasing down and boarding ships that are routing after the battle. They will catch up to them easily, then as soon as they start boarding the other ship normally surrenders.

**moveable nu** · March 23, 2009, 07:34 AM

I think razees are pretty useful, and I'm also partial to cannonade frigates. None that these last ships have to get pretty close to the enemy to be effective.

**eatme** · March 23, 2009, 10:29 AM

Sure brigs and sloops when used in battle with 5th rates and higher are good only for chasing after. But having a fleet of brigs can be good for patrol and rading vs galley and indiamn fleets.

**MadJackMcJack** · March 23, 2009, 10:48 AM

IMHO, anything below a 3rd rate is good for cannon fodder and little else. Then again, I am the kind of person who'd sic 20 heavy 1st rates on a single sloop just for giggles.

**Mechstra** · March 23, 2009, 10:49 AM

In the early stages of the game, it's worth building fourth rates simply because they're a ship of the line and can outshoot pretty much anything else (and give you an equal footing with Galleons, if you're not Spain). They become obsolete later, hard, when you'll want to phase them out in favour of third rates and fifth/sixth rates depending on duties, but they're invaluable early on.

**keith moons liver** · March 23, 2009, 12:01 PM

mass heavy 1st rates or go home, baby

**the_mango55** · March 23, 2009, 12:31 PM

Unnecessary waste of money.

Most of my late fleets are made of 3rd and 5th rates, with 1 to 3 1st rates in the center of the fleet.

**guerra** · March 23, 2009, 01:01 PM

heavy first rates are only good in moderation. Especially in multiplayer. A good player can massacre a fleet of heavy firsts with one or two 1st rates and some 3rd rate and a razee or two.

**MyKingforahorse** · March 23, 2009, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by guerra

heavy first rates are only good in moderation. Especially in multiplayer. A good player can massacre a fleet of heavy firsts with one or two 1st rates and some 3rd rate and a razee or two.

Even less at times with the proper wind usage