I really suck at naval battles: need help!!

[Beeeno]

Hello

I'm playing Road To Indipendence and I do really suck at naval battles !! So I would be very gratefull for your advices, tactics and explanation about how to win!!!
Thanks a lot.

[Generaal Van Heutsz]

Do you have volumetric effects (in graphics options) enabled? If so disable them, you cannot do proper damage if they are enabled.

[Shaun]

Do you have volumetric effects (in graphics options) enabled? If so disable them, you cannot do proper damage if they are enabled.

Huh?

[Generaal Van Heutsz]

Huh?

just try it do a naval battle with and without volumetric effects

[MyKingforahorse]

just try it do a naval battle with and without volumetric effects

Volumetric effects change nothing for the damage collision.

There was some collision detection changes in the last patch though, it has rendered chain shot slightly less effective.

[Ondaderthad]

Do you have volumetric effects (in graphics options) enabled? If so disable them, you cannot do proper damage if they are enabled.

I tried that and in fact the sails show holes and torn bits. But I can't understand how a graphic setting can change the damage model.

See Naval Tactics in the Age of Sail It's a real life stuff so all might not be appropriate to ETW but it might give you an idea of the way they were conducted in that period. Some little historical research never hurts.

[Generaal Van Heutsz]

I tried that and in fact the sails show holes and torn bits. But I can't understand how a graphic setting can change the damage model.

I don't know why but the fact is it does; I guess this bug is similar to the bugged 2 handed animations in miitw

[GODzilla]

I'm with you, I also suck at naval battles. Yesterday I had a battle where I clearly outgunned the enemy: I had one frigate 5th rate as my flag ship, six 6nd rate frigates and six briggs. The enemy just had six 6nd rate frigates and one brigg.

I ordered my ships into two lines: One line consisting of the strong ships (the seven frigates) and one line - sligthly behind but still parallel to the first line - consisting of the six briggs.

My plan was to let the stronger line with my frigates to drive ahead of the other line and draw the enemy fire. My weaker ships, the second line of briggs, should then surround the enemy while they're fighting with the first line.

But even though the first line alone had superior firepower I lost way too many ships, including my only 5th rate frigate and flagship (admiral also died) and I quitted.

Maybe it was so difficult because the wind actually stood against me, but maybe also because of the AI being able to micromanage every single ship simultaneously while I can't.

[Theoo]

iam navel king. listen to tise advice.

gote make in line. youe put it on ful speed or wit if the wind on your way tht s good bt if wind oposite directon nt so good bt tht gona hav to hepen. wit wind on youe way wht you do put it ful sail. go on . the thin. kepp goin. untile you cn shot at them. pute canons on autoe fire. you gona shoot al the won them. wining wit less canoens nt so easy. bt you gote do it. bt thts the thing. pt wen come to close. put on graepshot. best to do. bt wen far awey. tryin run away ? pt chain shot. beter to do. wen dead. round shotes alweis to do. best to use. to breaked theyre ship. works wel. ! wen wind on bad wey. nt so good. wht nedd to do. go in circel. until you cn do it. to. od win. so wen fwind your way. do advice for. wen wind youre. way. so it beter. to do mor. damage wen wind youre way. it hard firste. bt you get beter. hop you get beter. hop advise hellps to ge t youe beter for todey . thankyou.

congretalutions now win navy

[sgmullins]

iam navel king. listen to tise advice.

gote make in line. youe put it on ful speed or wit if the wind on your way tht s good bt if wind oposite directon nt so good bt tht gona hav to hepen. wit wind on youe way wht you do put it ful sail. go on . the thin. kepp goin. untile you cn shot at them. pute canons on autoe fire. you gona shoot al the won them. wining wit less canoens nt so easy. bt you gote do it. bt thts the thing. pt wen come to close. put on graepshot. best to do. bt wen far awey. tryin run away ? pt chain shot. beter to do. wen dead. round shotes alweis to do. best to use. to breaked theyre ship. works wel. ! wen wind on bad wey. nt so good. wht nedd to do. go in circel. until you cn do it. to. od win. so wen fwind your way. do advice for. wen wind youre. way. so it beter. to do mor. damage wen wind youre way. it hard firste. bt you get beter. hop you get beter. hop advise hellps to ge t youe beter for todey . thankyou.

congretalutions now win navy

What ?

[GODzilla]

iam navel king. listen to tise advice.

gote make in line. youe put it on ful speed or wit if the wind on your way tht s good bt if wind oposite directon nt so good bt tht gona hav to hepen. wit wind on youe way wht you do put it ful sail. go on . the thin. kepp goin. untile you cn shot at them. pute canons on autoe fire. you gona shoot al the won them. wining wit less canoens nt so easy. bt you gote do it. bt thts the thing. pt wen come to close. put on graepshot. best to do. bt wen far awey. tryin run away ? pt chain shot. beter to do. wen dead. round shotes alweis to do. best to use. to breaked theyre ship. works wel. ! wen wind on bad wey. nt so good. wht nedd to do. go in circel. until you cn do it. to. od win. so wen fwind your way. do advice for. wen wind youre. way. so it beter. to do mor. damage wen wind youre way. it hard firste. bt you get beter. hop you get beter. hop advise hellps to ge t youe beter for todey . thankyou.

congretalutions now win navy

It was around the half of your post where something in my brain refused to read on. Sorry mate.

[Ascarona]

iam navel king. listen to tise advice.

gote make in line. youe put it on ful speed or wit if the wind on your way tht s good bt if wind oposite directon nt so good bt tht gona hav to hepen. wit wind on youe way wht you do put it ful sail. go on . the thin. kepp goin. untile you cn shot at them. pute canons on autoe fire. you gona shoot al the won them. wining wit less canoens nt so easy. bt you gote do it. bt thts the thing. pt wen come to close. put on graepshot. best to do. bt wen far awey. tryin run away ? pt chain shot. beter to do. wen dead. round shotes alweis to do. best to use. to breaked theyre ship. works wel. ! wen wind on bad wey. nt so good. wht nedd to do. go in circel. until you cn do it. to. od win. so wen fwind your way. do advice for. wen wind youre. way. so it beter. to do mor. damage wen wind youre way. it hard firste. bt you get beter. hop you get beter. hop advise hellps to ge t youe beter for todey . thankyou.

congretalutions now win navy

Your supposed to speak english on this forum.

[BigB]

I seem to win pretty much all my battles, or if I lose its because it was severely outnumbered although I still take a ton of them with me.

I pretty much ignore traditional tactics. I control each ship individually and leave them on fire at will using normal round shot. I get them sailing full speed and move them into a line manually. Then I sail them right into the middle of the enemy ships and try to split them so they end up on each side of me. Since your ships can fire from both sides this effectively doubles your firepower. If the enemy ships can only fire one side at you they are wasting all the firepower on the other side of their ships. Then I just keep looping my ships through the middle of the enemy group trying to keep in positions so that my ships can continue to fire from both sides. I dont pay any attention to the wind since it doesnt seem to make any difference using this tactic.

Works for me.

[GenesisNow]

I seem to win pretty much all my battles, or if I lose its because it was severely outnumbered although I still take a ton of them with me.

I pretty much ignore traditional tactics. I control each ship individually and leave them on fire at will using normal round shot. I get them sailing full speed and move them into a line manually. Then I sail them right into the middle of the enemy ships and try to split them so they end up on each side of me. Since your ships can fire from both sides this effectively doubles your firepower. If the enemy ships can only fire one side at you they are wasting all the firepower on the other side of their ships. Then I just keep looping my ships through the middle of the enemy group trying to keep in positions so that my ships can continue to fire from both sides. I dont pay any attention to the wind since it doesnt seem to make any difference using this tactic.

Works for me.

Spoken like Admiral Nelson, this usually what I do as well. Your strategy of doubling your firepower is exactly what you want to go for. I used to have so much trouble winning at sea, but once I figured out attacking with both sides of your ship and making sure to keep a solid formation, I haven't lost since. Usually I only fall if the enemy dwarfs me in size. Another thing to keep in mind is using the broadside command and getting in close to deliver it can absolutely crush enemy morale, don't forget to do some manual firing. Its fun too!

Also, even if you have a huge advantage against the enemy, think Sun Tzu, if you underestimate the enemy, you'll lose more than you want to. If the enemy has only a few ships and you have a battlefleet, use every advantage you can, swamp him and gun him to the depths.

[upsettingshorts]

Another thing to keep in mind is using the broadside command and getting in close to deliver it can absolutely crush enemy morale, don't forget to do some manual firing. Its fun too!

I find broadsides miss too much unless you're RIGHT up next to the enemy, like if you're about to board them.

But using manual fire is a good idea, I just use it by toggling fire at will on and off to better time the shots.

You can do broadsides this way, the difference is the gunners tend to, you know, aim.

[Gornard]

Spoken like Admiral Nelson, this usually what I do as well. Your strategy of doubling your firepower is exactly what you want to go for. I used to have so much trouble winning at sea, but once I figured out attacking with both sides of your ship and making sure to keep a solid formation, I haven't lost since. Usually I only fall if the enemy dwarfs me in size. Another thing to keep in mind is using the broadside command and getting in close to deliver it can absolutely crush enemy morale, don't forget to do some manual firing. Its fun too!

Also, even if you have a huge advantage against the enemy, think Sun Tzu, if you underestimate the enemy, you'll lose more than you want to. If the enemy has only a few ships and you have a battlefleet, use every advantage you can, swamp him and gun him to the depths.

I used to think that getting all my guns firing at the same time is the answer, but if you think about it it's better to get both of your sides facing just one of the enemy sides. This is why i prefer the double back line maneuver. Sort of like a naval Immelmann turn.
If you sit inbetween the enemy, they can attack you from both sides as well, reducing your men and your guns and increasing your chance of moral damage etc.

Alternativly, keep on one side of the enemy and try not to disrupt their formation (as it'll soemtiems cause them to turn around and expose the fresh broadside) and alternate your port and starbord as one side begins to take damage. In a sense this can almost double the worth of your fleet.

[BigB]

I used to think that getting all my guns firing at the same time is the answer, but if you think about it it's better to get both of your sides facing just one of the enemy sides. This is why i prefer the double back line maneuver. Sort of like a naval Immelmann turn.
If you sit inbetween the enemy, they can attack you from both sides as well, reducing your men and your guns and increasing your chance of moral damage etc.

Alternativly, keep on one side of the enemy and try not to disrupt their formation (as it'll soemtiems cause them to turn around and expose the fresh broadside) and alternate your port and starbord as one side begins to take damage. In a sense this can almost double the worth of your fleet.

Sometimes I use this strategy. It depends on the situation.

Lets suppose you have a 2vs1. You have one slightly heavier ship with 30 cannon per side. They have two slightly smaller ships with 25 cannon per side. Your ship also has a little more armor.

If you split them with one on each side you outgun them both 30 cannon vs 25 cannon, and you out armor them both.

If you take them on one side at a time they outgun you 50 cannon vs 30 cannon. Now the question is, how much damage can you do to one of them before they force you to present your other side. Can you sink one before they force you to present your other side? If you cant sink one before switching sides you are probably going to have problems.

Splitting them also has its problems. If you split them and allow one of them to switch sides to an undamaged side you will probably lose since you have now given them the armor advantage.

[LinoraN]

iam navel king. listen to tise advice.

gote make in line. youe put it on ful speed or wit if the wind on your way tht s good bt if wind oposite directon nt so good bt tht gona hav to hepen. wit wind on youe way wht you do put it ful sail. go on . the thin. kepp goin. untile you cn shot at them. pute canons on autoe fire. you gona shoot al the won them. wining wit less canoens nt so easy. bt you gote do it. bt thts the thing. pt wen come to close. put on graepshot. best to do. bt wen far awey. tryin run away ? pt chain shot. beter to do. wen dead. round shotes alweis to do. best to use. to breaked theyre ship. works wel. ! wen wind on bad wey. nt so good. wht nedd to do. go in circel. until you cn do it. to. od win. so wen fwind your way. do advice for. wen wind youre. way. so it beter. to do mor. damage wen wind youre way. it hard firste. bt you get beter. hop you get beter. hop advise hellps to ge t youe beter for todey . thankyou.

congretalutions now win navy

It's not allowed to drink alcohol on the forums

[Beeeno]

Yes, it seems I can't do damages to enemy ships and I feel impossible for me to control all my ships !!!!
@Theo: strange accent !!! I can hardly understand you!!

[TSD]

I dont seem to have issues. I just put em in a line, move along side the enemy and keep circling round them. Leave it on auto fire and just let your ships do all the work, seems to garner the best results.