Ships need a Health System, to promote better Naval Combat.

At first I wasn't on board because it gave a feeling of inevitably losing your ship even if you were doing really well over a long period, but I think having a crew member action to repair the hull converts this to a good idea.

I agree that something feels off about 1-2 people on plank duty being able to keep a ship going almost indefinitely until they run out of supplies. It turns most long battles into grindy attrition fests that get swung by a decisive barrel and boarding attempt where cannons are more suppressing fire than actual contributions.

As a sloop yesterday I nailed a galleon below the water line something like 9 times back to back after they slammed into a rock, but it was depressing because I knew I was probably hitting the same two holes multiple times and not actually doing much. With one guy planking and another guy bailing they could easily survive - and they did.

An alternative idea I have would be - each time the same hole is torn open it takes longer to plank (or more planks), so the attrition war starts to scale in your opponent's favor as you take more hits.

edit - I explore this idea a bit further here: https://www.seaofthieves.com/forum/topic/51198/penalty-for-planking-same-hole-multiple-times

@sanssariph That is exactly my problem. You can be the absolute BEST cannoneer at this game, but it means nothing right now. I wanna know that my good shots actually damages their hull, and soon they will have to stop their ship to start repairs, or they are going down. Same goes for me, if my hull is down to 10%, its time to find a safe spot and do some quick repairs before i go at them again.

Im just so sick of the constant long fights without actually boarding them and guarding their holes. Atleast give me the ability to rip their damn planks off then? I have a g******n shotgun, let me blast them planks off if i cant sink a ship with another ship.

@byf8ththrugrace said in Ships need a Health System, to promote better Naval Combat.:

@sanssariph said in Ships need a Health System, to promote better Naval Combat.:

At first I wasn't on board, but I think having a crew member action to repair the hull converts this to a good idea.

I agree that something feels off about 1-2 people on plank duty being able to keep a ship going almost indefinitely until they run out of supplies. It turns most long battles into grindy attrition fests that get swung by a decisive barrel and boarding attempt where cannons are more suppressing fire than actual contributions.

As a sloop yesterday I nailed a galleon below the water line something like 9 times back to back after they slammed into a rock, but it was depressing because I knew I was probably hitting the same two holes multiple times and not actually doing much. With one guy planking and another guy bailing they could easily survive - and they did.

An alternative idea I have would be - each time the same hole is torn open it takes longer to plank (or more planks), so the attrition war starts to scale in your opponent's favor as you take more hits.

I was of the same opinions as you, I didn't like this idea, then i read it and realized it has some merit. you guys might have something here.

I like your idea about how the same hole takes longer and longer to repair. maybe combining this with the OP idea that you can fully repair your ship (perhaps at an outpost) i think would make naval combat something more dynamic and fun, - rather than as you guys say, an attrition of supplies and spawn killing.

yeah i like that idea of planking taking longer and longer in the same spot, atleast hitting with cannonballs actually means something. Hitting at the same spot over and over takes alittle practice, rewards us for it....i feel like im wasting supplies in battles now, as i know theres one little b****r in there planking like crazy and i cant stop him unless i board and kill them all.

I started a separate thread on the multiple/longer planking idea because I think your suggestion of a full blown hull health system has its own merits and I don't want to derail it too much. Would love to see either of these ideas explored by Rare.

@sanssariph said in Ships need a Health System, to promote better Naval Combat.:

I started a separate thread on the multiple/longer planking idea because I think your suggestion of a full blown hull health system has its own merits and I don't want to derail it too much. Would love to see either of these ideas explored by Rare.

YEah i saw, thanks alot! I really belive the ships need some for, of "Hull Integrity", and your ideas for the Tier based holes for plank repairs. Shooting a ship as it stands now, is almost pointlessif they ahve 1 guy on plank duty. You cant sink them.