As the title suggests, have you had any battles using merchant ships that you did far better than you expected to do?
For me, one happened just today. Playing on normal difficulty I (the UP) was attacked by the Mughals using a second rate and a fifth rate with 2 sloops coming in as their reinforcements. I had a galleon and a fluyt. I played out the battle rather than auto-resolve hoping to at least sink one ship.
They came on with the wind and I stayed perpendicular to their line of approach figuring I might as well try to get as many broadsides in on them as possible while they were bow-on to me. I decided to use chain since I figured maybe I could slow one or both down and live a little longer.
The 5th rate ran ahead of the 2nd rate so I had to deal with him first. I got enough shots in to destroy all but one of his masts. So he was almost a mission kill though he could still make headway. Next it was the 2nd rate with the 2 sloops coming in fast.
I managed to stay ahead of the 2nd rate and dismasted the sloops though not completely so. But I killed their admiral so they lost the will to fight pretty fast. I then proceeded to zig-zag and circle in front of the 2nd rate firing chain all the while. He got in a couple broadsides but they were at a far range and pretty much ineffective.
Eventually I managed to knock down all his masts til he was DIW (dead in the water for those not familar with the term). A mission kill though I still had to stay out of his side arcs since he wasn't striking his colours.
On comes the tenacious 5th rate and I knock his masts completely down. VICTORY!
I lost minimal guns and crew (maybe 15 guns and 30 or 40 crew?) and destroyed a far superior fleet.
Any other tales of merchant marine bravery?
Life was much easier before I developed a sense of ethics.
For me, one happened just today. Playing on normal difficulty I (the UP) was attacked by the Mughals using a second rate and a fifth rate with 2 sloops coming in as their reinforcements. I had a galleon and a fluyt. I played out the battle rather than auto-resolve hoping to at least sink one ship.
They came on with the wind and I stayed perpendicular to their line of approach figuring I might as well try to get as many broadsides in on them as possible while they were bow-on to me. I decided to use chain since I figured maybe I could slow one or both down and live a little longer.
The 5th rate ran ahead of the 2nd rate so I had to deal with him first. I got enough shots in to destroy all but one of his masts. So he was almost a mission kill though he could still make headway. Next it was the 2nd rate with the 2 sloops coming in fast.
I managed to stay ahead of the 2nd rate and dismasted the sloops though not completely so. But I killed their admiral so they lost the will to fight pretty fast. I then proceeded to zig-zag and circle in front of the 2nd rate firing chain all the while. He got in a couple broadsides but they were at a far range and pretty much ineffective.
Eventually I managed to knock down all his masts til he was DIW (dead in the water for those not familar with the term). A mission kill though I still had to stay out of his side arcs since he wasn't striking his colours.
On comes the tenacious 5th rate and I knock his masts completely down. VICTORY!
I lost minimal guns and crew (maybe 15 guns and 30 or 40 crew?) and destroyed a far superior fleet.
Any other tales of merchant marine bravery?
Life was much easier before I developed a sense of ethics.
[This message has been edited by Warguppy (edited 09-04-2009 @ 08:53 AM).]