Captains: Major new update is coming in April. Estimated time is 5th - 10th of May.
Contents of the update
Combat overhaul.
Previous combat model balance
- Early on and until now we balanced the game to give lighter ships a lot of chances against heavier vessels (many still remember Snows sinking a first rate).
- In the last combat improvements patch last year, we tried reducing the HP difference between lineships and light ships even more, thinking it would make easier for new players to participate in pvp. We then had also reduced ability to tank damage with thickness thinking that it would allow new players to get damage output easier.
- Since release we also balanced planking hitpoints of ships for 4 broadsides to destroy planking (with base wood) when fighting the same ship. Which was wrong, as balance should have been done for the main role of the vessel. 4 broadsides to destroy planking did line battles (especially with thickness removal). In addition to that 4 broadsides made other areas and types of ammo somewhat less used – why wait for a skillshot into stern or why try to disable other areas. This balance also did not consider the skill level and complexity of achieving perfect rakes etc. It did not give ability to tank against the semi-competent ganksquads (which was especially reduced by removing thickness influence)
- In reality balance was not achieved. With narrower difference and lack of thickness It became even easier for veterans and harder for new players. Not having the ability to tank with something made all ships squishy as well.
Combat overhaul should have been done differently. Many players tried to point that out early.
Main themes of the combat rebalance
Ships of the line
- Ships of the line should be balanced for line combat and multiple enemies. Light frigates and lower level vessels should be balanced for solo or small group action.
- Ships of the line will tank significant amount of damage by their broadside, and should not worry about focus fire from large number of enemy ships at least for some time.
- Ships of the line should not expect fast 1v1 battles when fighting other ships of the same class unless they use skillshots or other critical damage, disabling the enemy by other means.
- Ships of the line should not worry about multiple ships 2 levels below them and consider them a minor threat.
To achieve that the number of shots to destroy planking of the same ship (on average for base wood) is being increased depending on class. Line ships planking HP will be significantly increased allowing them to tank damage from the enemy line for some time.
Other classes
- Superfrigates and heavy frigates will also have their side planking boosted.
- Light frigates will be able to tank with the broadside for a short time.
- 6th rates and below balance will remain the same (fast resolution of 1v1 or group battles)
Skill shots
- Effects of skill shots (for example perfect rakes).
- Critical damage to structure through bow and stern will increase.
- It is not easy to achieve a perfect rake but now it will be worth it now wait for the stern or for the bow rake even for 2-3 reload cycles.
- Reload penalties from switching the ammunition type will decrease significantly (from 30% to 5%)
- Damage to masts using chain-shot on full sails will increase
Ships will of course have some protection from skillshots by their bow and stern armor. The amount protection will depend on the ship and will increase with ship class. First rates can tank several full broadsides by stern and bow armor. Light ships will be able to hold only one. After that raking fire will crit.
Skillshots against much higher class enemies will be hard. Ships 3 classes lower than you wont be able to crit at all unless they have precise group fire control
Structure vs Planking.
- Previously - once you lost planking - your structure also took similar time to destroy.
- In the new model - you tank a lot of damage by planking, but once you lost planking to 30% it will no longer mitigate structure damage and structure will go down faster than before. This will still allow precision focus fire by a fleet when taking on the enemy ship of the line. But of course if you focus on critical hits you will destroy enemy faster.
Tactical changes
- The changes to planking and structure vs planking balance will increase the importance of tactics and the commander role, especially for heavy ships of the line (even commandeered by the new players).
- Lineships showing the side cannot be focused out easily by enemy line and can focus on fulfilling orders of the fleet commander, who will be maneuvering the fleet to cross the line and achieve rakes.
- Of course it will still be possible to sink enemy line ships through broadside, but the fleet trying to maneuver into rake shots will have a big advantage.
- Demasting will also change to allow higher damage to masts by chain of enemy ships sailing at full sails
Damage output and DPS
Gun damage: will be changed based on weight of the cannoball.
Example: Damage table of standard medium guns on the test server.
4lb – 4 damage
6lb – 6 damage
9lb – 9 damage
12lb – 12 damage
18lb – 18 damage
24lb – 24 damage
32lb – 32 damage
36lb – 36 damage
42lb – 42 damage
Importance of heavy guns will drastically increase. Light ships will no longer tank any damage from ships of the line. Role of shooting well from heavier guns will be extremely important - for example HMS Victory total broadside weight is 50% 42lb gun deck.
Overall
- Gameplay on the lineships will change - to resolve the battle captain will have to maneuver into rakes or wait for enemy mistakes (demasting him with chain at full sails, or raking with cannoballs when enemy shows the bow or a stern). Initial mistakes wont be deadly because you have a good reserve of planking on the stern and the bow.
- Gameplay in frigates - frigates will be able to tank some good damage with the broadside but still will be somewhat vulnerable to large group focus fire, but they will be able to resolve the combat very fast if they are good in positioning into rakes or exploiting enemy mistakes.
- Gameplay on the light vessels will not change - captain will only have to watch the broadside health more carefully and never tank with the stern or bow.
- All captains in all ships will sometimes be using broadside shots to prepare enemy for bow or stern rakes by trying to destroy bow and stern armor through the side.
Boarding
- Due to increase of the role of skillshots in combat boarding resistance will be introduced.
- Boarding resistance will significantly reduce ALL incoming damage for ships on boarding.
- In addition - bracket fire [] will be removed completely, so the combat is resolved by boarding not outside influence.
Other KEY changes.
New ships
Two new ships will be added (DLC + available through events).
- Spanish 1st rate ship of the line
- Heavy armed trader
National ship auctions
- Ships listed in one nation will be visible and available for purchase in ALL cities of that nation. Giving crafters and sellers a much bigger market.
- Ships listed in neutral cities or freetowns will be visible in ALL freetowns and neutral cities.
- Price of the ship will depend on distance from the listing port.
Ship Race
- Solo competitive ship race will be introduced where captains will be able to test their ability to sail and maneuver against other captains.
- Entry to the race will cost in game currency (for example doubloons). Prize pool will grow with the number of participants.
Perk and upgrade overhaul
- Upgrades will receive a color scheme for rarity and will be rebalanced
- Perk system will be overhauled as well.
Safety Zones
Safe zones are under testing - we hope we will be able to add this by the time of the patch.
Safe PVE Zones
Safe zones where it will be impossible to attack enemy players will be introduced around coastlines of almost all regions. You will still be able to capture ports in those areas.
PVP Zones: Deep see away from coastline and all areas around Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas will allow attack on enemy players. Better sell prices and better loot will be present in NPCs in those locations.
The list is not final and will be updated more within this week.
Please let us know if something is confusing or ask for clarifications in comments. Post will be updated based on this feedback.
Update on dates - April 24th
Captains,
We need a bit more time to release the patch.
Also one of the DLCs have not been approved by Valve yet.
Apologies for the delay.
Update on dates - May 3rd
Captains,
We need more time to finish the update. The current estimated time is 5th - 10th of May.
Apologies for the inconvenience in delay