@katttruewalker Humh, I guess we don't have "one" strategy.
It depends very much on the circumstances. In our experience, two players in the fort work at maximum efficiency. Two fighters working together and concentrated in the fort are fast and effective enough, every other player would scatter the skeletons, there would be a fragmentation of the front, wings and attacks in the back. Two well moving and well standing fighters can literally delegate the skeletons and fight where the terrain offers an advantage - at a doorway, for example. This is the basic approach: no more than two fighters go into battle.
Depending on the type of ship, this leaves one or two people for protection. So if there are still people left, we switch through. If a fighter has died in the fort, a guard goes into the fight, the fighter takes over the guard role. This has the advantage that everyone keeps an overview and does not lose himself in a role and dream away. Here are two examples: Even when fighting in the fort, remind me that a ship was approaching from the north and listen to the guard better, or ask, what happened to the ship? The guard knows where and how many barrels are still available and can order a return to the ship if necessary. An advantage, in our eyes.
If we go for a sloop, we go into battle with the full crew. All-in. The focus is on quick success, time works against us. A different ship can appear at any time. There is no inhibition threshold not to attack a single sloop at the fort. Between two waves of skeletons each player has to monitor a section of the horizon. In case of an encounter with another ship, the whole crew goes on board. The ship now has the highest priority.
With the Brigantine, an on-board guard remains on board, two people go into the fort. With approaching ships all go back on board.
With the galleon, one on-board guard remains on board, one guard draws the next watchtower, from which the dead corners of the galleons can be temporarily secured, or from which the troops in the fort can be supported. Two people go into the fort. With approaching ships all go back on board.
Is that how it works all the time? No. Most of the time not all of us stick to the agreement. Everybody has own ideas and the right of false decissions. So one remains in spite of approaching ship in the fort - still want a fast finish! Then: Oh dear, I was so near to succed- and is missing on board. Or someone tries to board the approaching ship quickly - thus weakening the superior position of a full manned ship parked between skeletons on watchtowers.
If a ship is already at the fort, there is free choice. How was our day, do we want to do something sporty and quickly? Are we risking a fight or going for an alliance? Is the crew sluggish at the fort, or is it keeping its ship in a defensive position? We have already sunk a galleon at the fort in the fast passage, which had just won the fort. They preferred to collect treasures instead of defending the ship. In such cases we just get in touch and react to the actions, or simply leave it at that and give our colleagues a friendly greeting.