You know, honestly, i never lose a boarding battle, or any melee battle for that matter, these days. Not even officers - I have three regulars who accompany me and have for the last 15 levels. I am surprised if any melee battle brings myself or any of my officers to 60% health. I could take on ten times our number and win. Literally. Given this, it really doesnt matter to me whether i save or not.
Then I have no idea how you do that. Even with 6+ melee skill, english officer sabres(?), braces of large pistols and golden armors, me and my officers still die when boarding much bigger vessels. The enemy may not use armor, but they have twice the hitpoints, and are armed almost as good as we are.
Im at level 15-20 (dont remember) and 6 melee is not enough. All mine have 10 and all the fighting perks. I also make sure they are at least mid-high level (20-30); theres no point trying to level up a low level officer and level makes a big difference. I also keep the same 3 around, so that probably helps them level. I give these 3 officers gold armor, shotguns or braces of large pistols and health potions or bandages if were in a tough fight (though i havent done that in ages) and equip them with Bosun's choice (very high average damage and good pierce) or dueling sabre (high average damage and good pierce and block). For myself i use a dueling sabre because of its high block - in combat I block continually until an opening. My crew also gets very good equipment - in the weapons locker i place some gold, silver and cheap armor, guns and braces of various sorts, health potions and the swords i consider the best - swept hilt, black blade etc. The weapons are all in fine or excellent condition. In combat against overwhelming odds i select a ground where my officers and i will surround the enemy as they file in 1 at a time - the top of the forecastle around the stairs for example. Between each 'deck' i also make sure we are fully healed and guns are reloaded, by waiting or giving officers bandages. Even with the worst odds youll face no more than about 10 high health enemies with your officers. Its just a matter of time when you surround them though, and if you heal between decks its much easier.
I know from some of those treasure caves and waterfall caves (where officers or yourself can get stuck behind scenery so that its 1 vs all the enemies) that myself and each of my officers can win, alone, against 15 or so regular enemies, without healing. Even if, in a boarding, those 10-15 enemies have 4 times as much health, the fight is just about equal. And if i give my officers bandages or health potions (which i stock to excess but never seem to actually use) then its far from even.
It has been a long time since ive used a barque though, so i might try boarding a warship just to see
Attacking with small, fast vessel worked fine for pirates and corsairs.
Taking 400 people with 50 men? I see no problem in that. 50 armed murderers vs sailors. Even boarding taller ships - there are ways to do that. Hell, Surcouf seen advantage in that - enemy didnt expect much of him and when approached his ship was safe from fire (being under cannons).
But that is for merchants. Main problem here is that crew is just 'sailors'. No soldiers, no sharpshooters, it doesnt matter which ship you board. If naval vessels had soldiers on board player would have to think twice before approaching them with his bunch of common scoundrels, even with heroic morale.
Games as usual simplify things (have you seen game that would distinguish morale and discipline?)
Even with what youve said, those merchant vessels did NOT have 400 crew being nearer to minimum than maximum, so it was never '50 vs 400' to begin with but more like 50 vs 50-100 at worst. Id be hard pressed to think of an example where 50 men boarded a vessel of 400 (merchant or otherwise) and won.
As for ingame - arguably all 'crew' are 'soldiers' to begin with, since they are all generally far more capable with guns and swords than they would have been in reality. You are right though, that if some distinction in men or tactics did exist, the player would have been dissuaded. Even as is though, you just shouldnt win with 50 vs 400 'crew'. The only reason you DO, is because the maximum number that gets represented in the actual boarding is you, 3 officers and 1 or 2 crew for your side, and 10 or so for the enemy (odds of 2 to 1) per deck. In effect, a boarding of 8 vs 1 is reduced to 2 vs 1 by virtue of your officers always being there and enemy numbers having a maximum. Even if the correct odds were used (just you surrounded by 8 of the enemy at each deck). A battle of 10 men is very different to one of 400 cramming all over the deck with chaotic firing - the potential for the player to make a difference with their prowess is much greater in a 10 man battle than a 400 man one. All in all, the boarding is all skewed in the player's favor.
You mention morale, which is another issue. Doing nothing more than 'normal' food rations and 'normal' rum rations, your crew quickly reaches excellent morale whereas the ships you meet just seem to have very poor morale. By virtue of this alone you are at an advantage. And as for equipment - the game hardly if ever equips enemy crews with the necessities - it might give them a good sword and occasionally a gun, but rarely armor or health potions. Its no surprise they fall to a player, 3 officers and a crew that all have fine to excellent weapons of the best kind, the best guns and armor and as many health potions as they desire
The game is too progressive. Early on boarding is suicidal. At level 4 with no armor, a sword that is basically a shiny club, and a little pop gun I die every time. By level 20 it is boringly easy and I have taken class 1 man o wars with cargo ships. Methinks that is the nub of the debate here.
Yes, that is the nub here. But i would argue that its not THAT simple. The way the boarding works, as i mentioned above, tends to work in your favor at every stage, as does the sea battle maneuvering and initial boarding as well (you can approach from an angle with a fast ship such that the enemy never fires a broadside, even as you come alongside).
Large ship's crews being equipped with good armor, guns, swords and health potions, with much larger number on deck (or at least the correct proportions, ie 8 vs 1 (just you) or 32 vs 4 (you and 3 officers), on EVERY deck, with NO pause (ie no time to loot, heal and reload - maybe autoloot gives you all the loot on the deck and youre immediately taken to the next one) if you board a ship of 400 crew with 50), good morale and the ability to actually get a broadside off as you board would probably change these boardings dramatically
I do choose other targets.
What do you think about those? What are your ideas?
:boom