Steam vs Sail

I love steam ships! Ever since NTW came out and i saw all the new steam ships (and ironclads!) ive wondered what would happen in a battle with one side all traditional sailing ships and the other side all steam ships. Playing as Russia the largest ship type i can build are 80 gun third rates so i figured the only way ill have a change against France and Spains naval prowess id need some sort of advantage like steam power and ironclads

So finally i got my chance! I had built an all steam fleet in the Mediterranean and recruited an admiral with an awesome hat

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I sent my new fleet right into Spanish waters and found the mother load!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When the battle started the balance of power meter was at 50/50 and looking at their fleet i wasnt sure id win either, heres some screens of the battle...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Those little 38 gun steam ships are like little ironclads they stood up to a ton of fire and held their own, i was surprised i thought theyd be goners for sure. You guys should try this method, it takes a long time and alot of money but the battle was awesome, you cant do this in the custom battles unfortunately cuz youll run out of money before you get a full stack and ironclads are locked at around 5 per fleet

Here a replay...

Cool when i get my internet back ill watch it

Originally Posted by Petrov

Cool when i get my internet back ill watch it

Well now... that's got me confused!

Looks like you captured some higher quality enemy ships. Guess that is how Russia can get better than 3rd rates. However, can you repair them?

Originally Posted by Wavemanmav

Looks like you captured some higher quality enemy ships. Guess that is how Russia can get better than 3rd rates. However, can you repair them?

yes, at least up to 106 guns, in reality this match-up was clearly won by steam ships however in the game the steam ships have fewer guns it's basically:
steamships (ironclad): manouverability (hull)
sail: firepower
I would personally go for sail ships with additional steamships untill ironclads are availible unless you can't build good sail ships

Originally Posted by Ulan1990

yes, at least up to 106 guns, in reality this match-up was clearly won by steam ships however in the game the steam ships have fewer guns it's basically:
steamships (ironclad): manouverability (hull)
sail: firepower
I would personally go for sail ships with additional steamships untill ironclads are availible unless you can't build good sail ships

Every other faction can build up to first rates AFAIK, Russia is the only one whos borked in the sail department, even with steam ships theres only two good ones. Other factions get a 50 gun steam ship aswell which i was pissed when i realized i couldnt build them also the steam paddle frigate is broken, on the unit card it says they have 450 range but in the battle it says they have only 250

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

So my only choice was ironclads and 38 gun steam ships but they make a really good combo

Haha this is awesome. I'm definitely going to try this in my Russian campaign. There's this annoying french fleet in the English channel raiding my trade lines and it needs to die. You'd think the British would do something about it but they are being really passive.

Hey this is awesome, I also enjoy using the steam ships

Whats that, the mighty Federico Gravina only has 3 command stars? Heresy!!!

Beautiful screen shots, btw.

I wish there was a steamship sloop, imagine how fast it could go!

I did this as Prussia, since they can only build up to 72 guns (they have it worse than Russia)

The paddle frigates really are much better than the 38 gun steam frigates though. Although they are more expensive.

Originally Posted by the_mango55

I did this as Prussia, since they can only build up to 72 guns (they have it worse than Russia)

The paddle frigates really are much better than the 38 gun steam frigates though. Although they are more expensive.

Yes the paddle frigates would be better but as i pointed out in my last post they are broken... their max gun range is 250 not the 450 the unit card says

Prussia only gets 72 gunners as their biggest ship? man that really sucks

Originally Posted by BDIZZLE356

Yes the paddle frigates would be better but as i pointed out in my last post they are broken... their max gun range is 250 not the 450 the unit card says

Prussia only gets 72 gunners as their biggest ship? man that really sucks

its because you changed shot type to either chain or buck,put it on round and it will be 450.
However sometimes cards bug out when you change shot types few times in battle and will allways show for either one of the types.
Going simply by logic,you can take 2 types of ships with same range,paddle and some sail ship and compare range visually from the broadside marker

Thanks for this sir, I love reading about what has happened in your campaign/battles. I much enjoyed your 'crazy scots' thread too.

hmmmm I have 2 squadroons of 3 ironclads each in my Russian campaign.

Originally Posted by BDIZZLE356

I love steam ships! Ever since NTW came out and i saw all the new steam ships (and ironclads!) ive wondered what would happen in a battle with one side all traditional sailing ships and the other side all steam ships. Playing as Russia the largest ship type i can build are 80 gun third rates so i figured the only way ill have a change against France and Spains naval prowess id need some sort of advantage like steam power and ironclads

So finally i got my chance! I had built an all steam fleet in the Mediterranean and recruited an admiral with an awesome hat

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I sent my new fleet right into Spanish waters and found the mother load!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When the battle started the balance of power meter was at 50/50 and looking at their fleet i wasnt sure id win either, heres some screens of the battle...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Those little 38 gun steam ships are like little ironclads they stood up to a ton of fire and held their own, i was surprised i thought theyd be goners for sure. You guys should try this method, it takes a long time and alot of money but the battle was awesome, you cant do this in the custom battles unfortunately cuz youll run out of money before you get a full stack and ironclads are locked at around 5 per fleet

Here a replay...

The last two of your topics I read where both an epic win. Why? Some poeple write which is good. Some add screenshots which is great. And some even add a replay, which is awsome!

*off to watch the replay*

Only France, England, and Spain can build First Rates. Portugal gets a small Second Rate. For everyone else it is 74s or 80s.

I was playing Prussia and i have 1 122gun first rate and the santissima trinidad i raided from Spain

To me, i think the speed from steamships are useful for my tactics but the most important factor is i need more guns and fewer boats rather than speed.
So a full close by broadside is all i need.

I did noticed that the ironclads can drift... 0_o...as like in a car
What the hell is that ?
not because of the wave but it seems my ironclads can drfit sideways towards the enemy's broadside

Originally Posted by GODzilla

The last two of your topics I read where both an epic win. Why? Some poeple write which is good. Some add screenshots which is great. And some even add a replay, which is awsome!

*off to watch the replay*

thanks man I find its easier to upload a replay then to post a screenshot plus i have so many replays ive never even watched most of them I have a habit of saving them... So i figured id give you guys the "whole story" as best i can

@ Grenadier

Actually the most important thing about ironclads is their hull strength IMO the steam abilities like traveling against the wind are just a bonus, but i do love how they look, like in the pick in the OP, sails down, steam trailing behind, and big metal smoke stack

Ive never noticed the drift you speak of and ive used them alot and i tend to keep some ships stationary and turn them to direct fire, never seen em drift tho...