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This ere be a great modding idea, I've said afore some where here abouts, that ships at the time, specially Naval Ships had a Ship's Carpenter tew be mendin things at sea....He was a "petty Officer" and had a small crew, or Mates tew assist him at his repairs. They could jury-rig a rudder in emergencies, and repair masts and other stuff, even plug holes below the water line, course they had to keep the "pumps" runnin til dockyard tew do a proper job.
The same be for Sails and such, thar be a "Sailmaker" and his mates, they be in constant demand because ripped sails be happenin more than people think. They also ended up using extra canvas at the time fer burying dead crew at sea, sewin them up in that or old "Hammocks". Also the sails were different , they used tew have heavier sails for the Atlantic or the Bay Of Biscay, and lighter sails for the Carribean and maybe the Mediterean as well. This be an idea, light sails tew be catchin better breezes, and go a little faster, or heavy canvas ones that cause ya to be goin slower, but better able tew stand battles....?
Most sailors at the time, learned the ability to splice ropes and rigging, but you needed Splicin Hooks or needles basically tew do this.
So Hammers for a New Ships Carpenter, Needles for sails stitchin and Rigging Hooks for New Sail Maker, and course Rigging hooks for normal seamen to be doin the job of splic'in ropes an such should be new equipment gathers or "procurements" for new captains and ships from a new game start ashore. Also Saws and instruments should be new items for Doctors, and they should be included as well, as Saws for the New Carpenters, as mentioned by Capt. Yuke.
Also somewhere in these "hallowed halls" there was discussions on Gunpowder, Weapons, and such (probably with new weapons mod, and sword damage)....the job of the Powder, and cannons was under a Master Gunner, usually an older seaman, and he was another Petty Officer called the "Gunner", he usually stayed in the Magazine during battle and kept the "ships boys" or "Powder Monkeys" supplied with the powder and shot, which they kept runnin tew the gun crews above. Each cannon had a Gun Captain, but this maybe be goin a little too far.
The Boatswain or Bosun and his mates, of course was responsible for discipline, rigging tackles and nettings to protect the guns and crews during battles, and was constantly runnin around during battles kept busy in charge of repairs, and cutting away masts, and spars, and rigging that was damaged or in the way of the guns crews. He also was responsible for the ships Boats, hoistin them thar little beauties in and outta the Ship when needed, even though a Captain's Coxswain was usually in charge of the actual crew and boat when in harbor. I would so love some modder to create little boats like cutters, longboats, gigs, and jollyboats to make the harbors seem more alive and at work in this game. They be just movin back an forth in harbor scenes goin around the different ships.....but this may be too much of a dream....
But diffently there is meat in these modding suggestions for new "crew members" and characters, and only if you have a Ships Carpenter, and proper tools could you be doin any minor repairs at sea, same as the Sailmakers, etc.....well done Captain Yuke for starting this ere thread, I have believed in this for sometime, especially when they started including Doctors, Blacksmiths and "Fighters" an such, back awhile ago.