2 questions

Ok, I got
NTW for present and installed it. Now I have 2 questions.

1. The game comes on 2 discs, there is nothing on the 2nd disc except a bunch of files that I can not open. The game installed completely from the 1st disc, so what is the 2nd disc for?

2. Any advice on fleet battles? The moment I have to command more than 5 ships I am overwhelmed by clicking from one to the next, reloading broadsides, firing the broadsides, changing shot type etc...., is there any trick to have easier time? Is fire at will good enough or ship vs ship or should I personally fire the broadside as I am now.

I mean if I have 3-4 or 5 ships in a fleet at most, I can defeat 8 - 10 ship force provided that they are about the same quality as mine, but if I have 10 or 20 ship force I am screwed even by smaller enemy fleet. I can not control it as it is too much.

It's impossible for the game to install completely on the first disc. You have to install using both discs.

And on naval battles, like other battles, what I do is, I pause the game, give my units orders, and unpause. This allows for greater micro-managing abilities.

Originally Posted by Vladimir Fred-nin

It's impossible for the game to install completely on the first disc. You have to install using both discs.

And on naval battles, like other battles, what I do is, I pause the game, give my units orders, and unpause. This allows for greater micro-managing abilities.

Agree on the installation - but on naval aspects group ships and use proper line ahead tactics.

Originally Posted by Prince of Essling

Agree on the installation - but on naval aspects group ships and use proper line ahead tactics.

Yes, that's good advice .... if your objective is to get your butt handed to you on a plate. To be successful in a naval battle against an equal or superior enemy, you absolutely MUST micro-manage your vessels.

Hmmmm, it was late and it is possible that I have indeed used both discs.

About naval battles..........maybe I get carried away zooming down to watch the broadside impact. But again, if I have more than 5 ships under my command I will loose.

For now all my fleets are 4-5 ships and I use them to attack small fleets. And even when I am attacked by a larger fleet I manage to inflict higher casualties than I suffer even if I loose all 5 ships in the end.

Originally Posted by Oklop

2. Any advice on fleet battles? The moment I have to command more than 5 ships I am overwhelmed by clicking from one to the next, reloading broadsides, firing the broadsides, changing shot type etc...., is there any trick to have easier time? Is fire at will good enough or ship vs ship or should I personally fire the broadside as I am now.

My personal approach is to divide my ships into two groups during the deployment phase and organise each group into line astern (or line ahead) formation.

Then I carefully arrange the two lines so that the ships in one line are parrallel with the ships in the other, but able to fire through the intervals between them.

Once I am happy with this formation I select all the ships and group them into a single group consisting of a double line astern and i then manoeuvre my entire fleet in this formation.

The advantage is that it halves the interval between ships in the line, without resulting in collisions, so you can still manoeuvre your fleet freely but can more or less guarantee a two to one superiority of firepower in any gunnery duel due to the more compact formation.

Main tactical options are:

'Crossing the T' - Directing your fleet so that it passes across the path of the enemy fleet and is able to fire its initial broadsides into the lead vessels without recieving any return fire. Much easier if one start to windward of the enemy.

'Holding the Wind gauge' - Manoeuvring ones fleet so that it keeps the enemy downwind of its position and forces them to claw their way upwind to reach you. Best for fleets with poor gunnery that wish to close with the enemy in the final stages of the battle and board as it gives much more freedom to close with the enemy whilst making it difficult to maintain your range or withdraw.

'Surrendering the Wind Gauge' - The opposite of the above. Deliberately allowing the enemy to hold the wind guage and thus gaining the freedom to manoeuvre freely downwind to avoid close contact with the enemy fleet and make maximum use of your superior gunnery.

Whenever possible avoid turning your line of battle through the wind. It takes time for each ship to tack across the wind and delays the entire fleet. Try to wear ship instead turning away from the wind and thus avoiding the delay.

delete, mistake

delete, mistake

delete, mistake

Originally Posted by Didz

My personal approach is to divide my ships into two groups during the deployment phase and organise each group into line astern (or line ahead) formation.

Then I carefully arrange the two lines so that the ships in one line are parrallel with the ships in the other, but able to fire through the intervals between them.

Once I am happy with this formation I select all the ships and group them into a single group consisting of a double line astern and i then manoeuvre my entire fleet in this formation.

The advantage is that it halves the interval between ships in the line, without resulting in collisions, so you can still manoeuvre your fleet freely but can more or less guarantee a two to one superiority of firepower in any gunnery duel due to the more compact formation.

Thanks for the explanation, now as English is not my first language, just to make sure, double line astern is something like:
^ = ship
facing
^
.......^
^
.......^ > broadside direction
^
.......^

Am I right? So that ships on one side can fire trough the gaps. Please write if this is correct, as it is very interesting idea.
Also if I understood you, I have to keep my ships in grouped unit (as in clicking and assigning a group) in order for them to keep formation?

Originally Posted by Didz

Main tactical options are:

'Crossing the T' - Directing your fleet so that it passes across the path of the enemy fleet and is able to fire its initial broadsides into the lead vessels without recieving any return fire. Much easier if one start to windward of the enemy.

'Holding the Wind gauge' - Manoeuvring ones fleet so that it keeps the enemy downwind of its position and forces them to claw their way upwind to reach you. Best for fleets with poor gunnery that wish to close with the enemy in the final stages of the battle and board as it gives much more freedom to close with the enemy whilst making it difficult to maintain your range or withdraw.

'Surrendering the Wind Gauge' - The opposite of the above. Deliberately allowing the enemy to hold the wind guage and thus gaining the freedom to manoeuvre freely downwind to avoid close contact with the enemy fleet and make maximum use of your superior gunnery.

Whenever possible avoid turning your line of battle through the wind. It takes time for each ship to tack across the wind and delays the entire fleet. Try to wear ship instead turning away from the wind and thus avoiding the delay.

Thank you very much for the detailed description, +1 for you. Also boarding is something I never tried thanks for the advice.
Cheers.

Originally Posted by Oklop

Thanks for the explanation, now as English is not my first language, just to make sure, double line astern is something like:
^ = ship
facing
^
.......^
^
.......^ > broadside direction
^
.......^

Am I right? So that ships on one side can fire trough the gaps. Please write if this is correct, as it is very interesting idea.

Yes, thats exactly right. It basically doubles the number of guns that can fire without halving the gap between ships.

This screenshot pretty much sums it up, as you can see the ships are keeping in formation despite the recent change of course and actually adjust their speed to stay in position as far as possible. Also you can see clearly how much more compact my fleet is compared to the enemy who are in standard line astern formation.

Originally Posted by Oklop

Also if I understood you, I have to keep my ships in grouped unit (as in clicking and assigning a group) in order for them to keep formation?

Yes, all the ships (and the same applies to army units too) that are placed in the same group will remember exactly where they were when the group was created and try to remain in that position relative to the other members of the group.

So, in theory you can place ships or regiments in any formation your want, and then group them, and as long as you have the group selected when you click on a new location the entire group will move there whilst keeping in the formation you put them in. Its not quite that perfect, and sometimes circumstances will force a ship to leave the formation (e.g. an enemy ship blocks its path), but usually it will do its best to get back in formation as soon as possible.

Originally Posted by Oklop

Also boarding is something I never tried

Boarding can be a useful tactic, but has to be used appropriately.

First of all, compare crew strengths and make sure that your ship has a significantly larger crew that the enemy ship.

Secondly, as you come alongside remember to switch your guns to fire grapeshot to cause maximum casualties on the enemies upper decks as possible and to dishearten the enemy crew.

Finally, don't try it if the enemy ship is on fire (pretty obvious really), or if the enemy has a spare ship nearby. In the later case you will find that the spare ship will usually cross your stern and rake you with grape if you try and board. Of course, if you have a spare ship you should do exactly the same thing to them.

The big advantage of boarding is that if you suceed you nearly always capture the enemy ship as a prize. So, its a good way of acquiring new merchant ships, its also good for dealing with ships like galley's that tend to have powerful guns but relatively small crews. In fact, my normal tactic for dealing with galleys is to charge them head on with a sloop or brig loaded with grapeshot, give them one close range broadside and then board them.

Originally Posted by Didz

Yes, thats exactly right. It basically doubles the number of guns that can fire without halving the gap between ships.

This screenshot pretty much sums it up, as you can see the ships are keeping in formation despite the recent change of course and actually adjust their speed to stay in position as far as possible. Also you can see clearly how much more compact my fleet is compared to the enemy who are in standard line astern formation.

OK, I think I am getting better slowly but surely.

One or two more questions, when moving in double line astern, do you let the ships fire at will or do you select the broadsides one by one?

Originally Posted by Oklop

One or two more questions, when moving in double line astern, do you let the ships fire at will or do you select the broadsides one by one?

Personally, I figure as the Admiral i have better things to do that keep shouting 'Shoot' (they never shouted 'fire' for obvious reasons) every few minutes. So, I let the gunnery officers decide when best to fire and at what.

The only time I interfere is when I am planning to rake the enemies stern, but even then I prefer to switch 'Fire at will' off and let then back on once the ship is in position and let the guns fire automatically.