We have to remember that the stock range for the 42Ibs cannon was 800 yards and the true range at which culverines could be fired would be a nightmare if implemented into GOF because some 1700 yards for a 18Ibs culverine with a maximum range of 6500 yards
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A hundred years later culverins were the main gun used in war at sea, as long range chase weapons or ship-smashers that could cripple a ship if fired broadside at close range.
That paragraph specially this sentence from that book is mixing different terms with little knowledge. Culverins weren't the main gun, they were special long range guns mounted in the bow or stern if there was space enough to place them and operate them. Just the opposite, smashers is how they called the short range, heavy shot weight guns made by the Carron Company (carronades) in the XVIII century. Yes, those were devastating if fired at close range (and useless at longer range), but they weren't culverins at all, and culverins weren't fired in broadsides.
Yes, there were several types of culverins, from smaller 3 to 6 pounder to the 32 pounder culverin royal but the later were for land sieges. The heavier ones never were mounted on ships. The way it's written it produces the impression that all those were naval guns. I think the biggest mounted culverin in the 17 century ships was the 9 pounder culverin. And later in the age of battleships the biggest mounted culverin was the 18 pounder and only in the bigger ships like 2 and 3 deckers. Simply because there wasn't space enough to operate them in other ships. And why they were mounted only as chasers? I see it this way, you have a sniper rifle for long range shots. It's a precision gun, expensive, heavy, slow to reload, difficult to handle. Next you have an assault rifle, high rate of fire, medium range, normal handling, medium cost. And last you have a shotgun, devastating at point blank and useless at long range, cheap, easy handling. Now imagine you replace the assault rifle and the shotgun with sniper rifles. It doesn't make sense to have 3 sniper rifles. Every gun has its proper situation and its advantages. They mounted culverins for long range sniping. They mounted demicannons for gun fights. And they mounted cheaper guns for boarding battles.
I think the stock game had 42 lbs 800 yards range mainly for forts. I can't remember if any ship could use them. Anyway its logic to give forts some long range power, if not they would be useless. But back to the point, let's see what happens when gun ranges go up to 700-900 yds in the game. If the AI goes for you, it moves into range and start shooting broadsides from long range and stay there as long as it can. If you are a pirate and encounter a convoy, suddenly tenths of guns are firing at your ship from every single merchant, not talking about escorts. In a few minutes your sails are a collection of holes. There is no room for maneuvering or tactics. The only possible action is to shoot from long range and destroy their sails faster than them, which means dozens of broadsides from 900 yards. Never heard of a naval battle like that. Where are all those naval battles when a clever captain maneuvers to get the advantage, waits to shoot in the right moment and close in for the prize from the proper angle? I have played with shorter ranges and i liked, if some AI ship wants to shoot my sails it has to get in the dangerous distance and i can go in and out of shooting range with a fast ship. Also i like to use longer reloading times to make every broadside a decisive election. If you can fire every few seconds there is no challenge.
