Cannon Damage Not in Options.

[Bobtail650]

I have noticed you need to use well over 1k Cannon Balls to destroy a ship. I have tried doing research on how to change it, and people post screenshots of their options to change it to base game cannon damage. But that's not the case for me, mine doesn't show the option. And I'm really stuck, I do not want to spend 5 hours sinking the smallest ship in the game. Did I install the mod incorrectly to not show the correct options that other people have? Thank you.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Looks like we considered that such a rarely changed value that we didn't add it to the ingame menu.
But you can do a lot more tweaking using Notepad on PROGRAM\InternalSettings.h:

#define CANNON_DAMAGE_SCALAR        0.5;       // 0.3 - 2.0 : The higher the value the more damage cannons do

Try setting that value to a higher number.
This should immediately work on your current game.

I have noticed you need to use well over 1k Cannon Balls to destroy a ship.

Thinking about it a bit more, I think that is intentional in the mod.
Historically speaking, it was VERY difficult to sink a ship; and most battles would end in capture or a ship hull burning out.
But not sinking from the holes made by cannonballs.

There's nothing much to be gained by sinking a ship anyway.
You get just as much experience through boarding; and then you get to keep ALL the cargo PLUS the ship; rather than just whatever cargo remains floating after she sinks.
And if you know you cannot win a boarding, then you just need to be able to run away.
So use plenty chainshot and destroy their masts; then live to fight another day.

 

[Bobtail650]

Thank you! I'll definitely be changing that. Even boarding smaller ships is tough, they cut through the block doing well over 100 dmg. I'm going to have to figure the boarding out, and check the skills.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Even boarding smaller ships is tough, they cut through the block doing well over 100 dmg. I'm going to have to figure the boarding out, and check the skills.

@Grey Roger might have some recommendations on that one.

For starters, make sure to put good stuff in your Weapons Locker.
And Armour helps; which you can also give to your officers and crew.

 

[Bobtail650]

I haven't figured out where to buy ammo and stuff, and I can only hold 6 gunpowder and ammo on my person at a time. Is there a way to buy in bulk, like weapons, ammo, ect? It never seemed to tell me where or how to get the stuff. And for islands I have to sneak on, instead of letting me fast travel to a part of an island I selected, it will teleport me directly to the fort. So that is very confusing, even if I do change into a false flag islands away. Not sure if this is a bug, but I have installed the newest patch and hopefully that fixed it!

 

[Grey Roger]

If you're buying weapons then you're probably not much good at fighting, which is why you don't survive boarding. You should be able to buy ammo pretty well anywhere; better yet, get a gunner, he gives you and your officers a full load of ammo for free.

Try boarding merchant ships, not warships or pirates. Merchant crews aren't as tough. For preference, soften them up with a few broadsides of grapeshot first. If you're lucky, they'll surrender - and again, merchants, being less tough, are more likely to surrender. The captain may still want to duel with you, unless the ship is significantly smaller than yours.

 

[Bobtail650]

I die when I block, but that's because I haven't seen about the armor the shops can have. I have bought a strong piece of armor, and that helps with blocking ect. Because of that armor, I can survive 8 weak people easily, or 2 high level enemies. Now I did find a blacksmith, and very strong weapons I did find or buy, I upgraded to excellent. Idk if that helps with crew being better during boarding. Now with the ammo, I know that's easy to find, but I can only carry 6. I was asking about bulk so I can put the ammo in the Weapon chest in captains quarters. Or does a gunner do that for me? Now about my crew, some ships I do board I have 10 crew with me, and some boardings I have 3 with me and there is like 14 people I have to cut down, even if I do use grapeshot a few times. Unless the rest of my crew that is supposed to spawn is on the other ship fighting. I will try to use more grapeshot before boarding and see if that changes anything. Now with the Merchant ships, before encountering would it say "It looks like a merchant ship, do you wish you fight" I know it says for like battleships, ect. I haven't encountered a merchant ship, except for sinking the merchant ship that had to transfer ammo for the French.

 

[Grey Roger]

Raid dungeons! Enemies in dungeons are relatively easy to kill and you can save game regularly in case you get killed. There's also generally a good sword to be found somewhere, plus the swords you get from dead enemies. The one in Port Royale is particularly recommended as you'll find a back-bladed sword there.

Apart from numbers, your crew strength depends on their morale. So does the enemy's crew strength. This is why hitting them with grapeshot helps - it reduces their morale, which reduces their HP. Get a good spyglass, then you can see the enemy's morale and when it's down to "Treacherous", that may be the time to attack. (Or wait and hope the ship surrenders.)

You don't need to put ammo in the weapons chest, regardless of whether you have a gunner. If you have put guns in there, the crew will use them and fire them without needing ammo. The only reason you might find ammo on the bodies of your dead crew is that the game puts it there for you to take.

Normally you can only carry 6 each of powder and bullets. You may be able to find a powder flask and ammo pouch which allow you to carry 12 powder and 12 bullets respectively, and at higher level you'll find powder barrel and ammunition bag which allow you to carry 24. (You can also give these to your officers so they can carry more ammo too.)

There are all sorts of ship groups on the worldmap. If it just says "Merchants", they're easy prey because they have no escort, though they probably won't have valuable cargo for the same reason. "Merchants with light escort" means there will be one warship, "Escorted merchants" means two or three escorts, "Single merchant with heavy escort" means exactly that. If it says "Warships", "Small patrol", "Light patrol" or "Fleet", run away! And try to avoid fighting pirates too - they're tough yet not worth much because they have relatively small ships and no worthwhile cargo.

 

[Bobtail650]

Ahhh!! That's what those powder flasks and ammo pouches are for at the vendors I never knew!

Now with the dungeons, I completely forgot dungeons was in the game! When I was younger, I would always go to the dungeon you had to swim to on the first island you spawn on. Now for other islands, I don't think I remember where the dungeon was located at, especially Port Royale. If I can remember, I believe it's somewhere in the city.

I did find a sword that was 20/30 and made it excellent. It's a great sword, and I love it.

And morale determines the outcome of boarding, that make sense. That's probably why I'm always stocked with 60 days of rum, and 120 days of food. You have any other tips on making morale better?

Also with the Small patrols, ect. When I'm higher level, could I stand a chance?

 

[Grey Roger]

The one in Port Royale is easy to find. Head for the governor's house. Turn right and go through the gate to the area with the church. The dungeon is just the other side of that gate. (Or start near the church, head for the gate leading to the governor's house but don't go through, and you'll be very near the dungeon.)

To keep your crew's morale up, pay them! As well as routine salaries, you can donate money to the crew. Overstocking food and rum doesn't do anything for morale except to make extra sure that you don't run out. You can set rum rations to double, which will usually raise the morale but sometimes lead to drunken brawls which send it back down again.

When you and your officers have decent melee skill, weapons and armour, you should be able to take small patrols, though they aren't all that profitable. They can, however, be a way to help yourself to a better ship for yourself. In due time you should be able to take on larger warships, preferably while they're escorting a single merchant because that ship is more likely to have a valuable cargo. (If you play the "Tales of a Sea Hawk" storyline, you are going to have to get good at boarding because you'll need a big warship to take on a fort, and ultimately you have to engage one of the biggest warships in the game...)

 

[Pieter Boelen]

for islands I have to sneak on, instead of letting me fast travel to a part of an island I selected, it will teleport me directly to the fort.

You mean the "Sail-To" menu only shows you the fort?
I assume you're playing on Realistic Game Mode then.
If you buy a map of the island (which shows you all the shores), you will be able to "Sail-To" there as well.
Alternatively, you can manually sail around the island until you find a shore; once you've done so, it'll be unlocked for "Sail-To".

Alternatively, in Arcade Game Mode, "Sail-To" is always unlocked for shores too.

I was asking about bulk so I can put the ammo in the Weapon chest in captains quarters.

There is an ammunition locker on your ship deck somewhere.
You can get it all in bulk from there; for "free".

Now with the Merchant ships, before encountering would it say "It looks like a merchant ship, do you wish you fight" I know it says for like battleships, ect. I haven't encountered a merchant ship, except for sinking the merchant ship that had to transfer ammo for the French.

You can recognize the difference between merchant and navy ships from their flags.
This helps you select the "guarded" merchant ship in a convoy, while avoiding the navy ships.

That's probably why I'm always stocked with 60 days of rum, and 120 days of food. You have any other tips on making morale better?

Switching to "Divide the Plunder" mode CAN increase morale; as long as you are being successful in your pirate raids.
And as long as you share the spoils with your crew every 90-ish days or so.

You can also switch to "Double Rum Rations", which will make the crew extra-happy.
Does come with the risk of the occasional drunken brawl on board, which temporarily drops morale again.

It's all pros and cons.
And it's up to you, as captain, to weigh them against each other; and make the strategic choices.

Also with the Small patrols, ect. When I'm higher level, could I stand a chance?

Of course.
Especially once you start getting the bigger ships too.
Eventually, you can destroy forts and conquer towns.

As well as routine salaries, you can donate money to the crew.

I don't recall that improving morale? That just converts your personal wealth (which you can't really use) to money that is available for regular purchases.

But you mean the literal "Raise Morale" button in the interface, I think.

 

[Bobtail650]

Thank you! I have also figured out why it was teleporting me only to the forts, I didnt have the mod installed correctly. So it wouldn't fully select arcade mode. Everything working fine there.

 

[Bobtail650]

The one in Port Royale is easy to find. Head for the governor's house. Turn right and go through the gate to the area with the church. The dungeon is just the other side of that gate. (Or start near the church, head for the gate leading to the governor's house but don't go through, and you'll be very near the dungeon.)

To keep your crew's morale up, pay them! As well as routine salaries, you can donate money to the crew. Overstocking food and rum doesn't do anything for morale except to make extra sure that you don't run out. You can set rum rations to double, which will usually raise the morale but sometimes lead to drunken brawls which send it back down again.

When you and your officers have decent melee skill, weapons and armour, you should be able to take small patrols, though they aren't all that profitable. They can, however, be a way to help yourself to a better ship for yourself. In due time you should be able to take on larger warships, preferably while they're escorting a single merchant because that ship is more likely to have a valuable cargo. (If you play the "Tales of a Sea Hawk" storyline, you are going to have to get good at boarding because you'll need a big warship to take on a fort, and ultimately you have to engage one of the biggest warships in the game...)

Thank you for the help!!

 

[Bobtail650]

And I should have made a video, when I had the Sail-To, it would show me the Shores and stuff/ect. I would press on the shore half way across the island away from the fort, and it will still teleport me right in front of the fort. I believe it is a bug issue when you go to that island and there are pirates attacking ships/forts there.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

And I should have made a video, when I had the Sail-To, it would show me the Shores and stuff/ect. I would press on the shore half way across the island away from the fort, and it will still teleport me right in front of the fort. I believe it is a bug issue when you go to that island and there are pirates attacking ships/forts there.

@Grey Roger, is that ringing any bells for you?
It sounds very surprising to me...

 

[Grey Roger]

No, I've never seen that, and I use "Sail To" a lot.