@uvg-reign I agree with you Reign, though a middle ship design would be nice too. That wasn't really the OP main issue however. So it's probably a bone to pick in another topic.

Still, the idea of crews working together isn't a bad one, just means they'd have to agree over who gets what plunder. Would be awesome to see though, if not terrifying...

Rather than discussing Crew sizes, which is a valid point of discussion, though. I‘d like to bring ship convois to the table or groups of ships so to say, with 8 or 12 Players in order to aim for bigger Raid like activities or in PvP areas ...

@moody-true said in Crew sizes:

After getting to play the technical alpha, I have to agree that the current crew numbers are set almost to skeleton crew levels. The schooner could optimally be crewed by 3, the Galleon 6.

More ships, especially a medium one (say with 4 cannons, 2 masts) would be interesting to see.

I used to say that when watching gameplay before I got to play it in the alpha.

I like the skill gap thats created from forcing amount of crew to a particular ship where the members all have to use initiative, not glue themselves to one particular task. Its a good thing IMO. Or would you rather easier optimal ships? IDK im torn between them

After getting to play the technical alpha, I have to agree that the current crew numbers are set almost to skeleton crew levels. The schooner could optimally be crewed by 3, the Galleon 6.

More ships, especially a medium one (say with 4 cannons, 2 masts) would be interesting to see.

@sparkysnail6104 said in Crew sizes:

First off im tired of this 'Bow Cannon' concept, to have a swivvel gun at the bow thats fine but to have a full size cannon at the front is stupid because it would require no skill and no tactics.

Yeah. It sounds nice at first, but if you think about it, it would really make the game irritating/unbalanced. Right now you need to rely on sailing skill to catch up to someone in order to deliver a broadside - or you need to zig zag back and forth to get a clean shot off. Both of these methods can be beaten through sailing skill and simply outrunning the chasing ship which is perfect. It would be really irritating if every ship could simply force a fight with a bow cannon.

@dre0nix yea it’s possible but rare. Let’s throw some more obstacles in the way to prevent that.

@dre0nix said in Crew sizes:

I personally would like to see crew sizes go up to 6 per ship

I feel the same. The galleon is manageable for four or even three who are on the ball but, in boarding another ship or even trying to commandeer, you're sure to be short-handed. That may have been a conscious decision, but I think six would be the ideal number.

@alexx500
I agree the whoever has the most friends wins argument, however it is still like that now. If you play with friends, simply join at same time, get in same instance and sail together. How many people complained about people disappearing from their crew and showing up on enemy ships helping them crew them. Some people care more about fighting rather than getting rep, especially when the crew-mates they leave behind will still continue doing quests they get rewards for. Most people have a group of friends they would like to play with larger than 4. Galleons are huge ships and can easily have more people. As for multiple ships together again you can do that now, assuming you don't fight every ship you find. Make friends with other ships in server and sail together and same issue is there. If it is 2v1, You can always run away.

This would also bring fleet tactics into play, which is an entirely different animal.

@dre0nix that would take away from the skill factor and who ever has the most friends wins.

@excessivexevil no bow cannon.
But I agree with the 5, 3, 2 OR 1 crews.
2 ships sizes is scarce. Theres a large ship and a small ship. It would only makes sense to add a medium size ship with 3 man crews. The small ships are fine for 1 or 2 man crews, after all its a co-op game more than a solo game.
But this will fall on deaf ears.

I personally would like to see crew sizes go up to 6 per ship, but I would mostly like for offical Co-Op gameplay between crews where multiple ships can form a fleet for guild or clan type play.

I'd really love to be able to add new people into the crew seamlessly, but I'm also not sure about making bigger crews. A good team of 4 on a galleon works really well.

First off im tired of this 'Bow Cannon' concept, to have a swivvel gun at the bow thats fine but to have a full size cannon at the front is stupid because it would require no skill and no tactics.

Yea 4 is a nice size for matchmaking I felt in the alpha. But forming my own crew I’d enjoy choosing to just stay with friends and the opportunity to have more on the ship even if just to play more music and finish your grogg faster lol

I'm unsure if those crew sizes from the alpha will continue into the final game. I'd personally like to be able to dynamically change my ship size and crew size from within the game if that's possible.

I think matchmade crews should be non-changeable. e.g. if you matchmake into a group of 4 you're stuck with them.

At the same time, If I'm starting out my night while I'm waiting for my friends to come online, I should be able to just come into the game in a solo ship. Then lets say my wife comes online, she should be able to join me and just get on my ship, and so on with the rest of my friends ( up to party limit size ( hopefully 6-8 ? )). When I decide I've got enough people in my crew, I want to be able to switch to a bigger ship.

If this isn't the way they're planning to do it, and you have to exit back to the lobby, and re-form your crew of a specific size I guess that will be fine, but a bit annoying if you're in the middle of a voyage and your friends are waiting for you to finish up to join their crew.

I don't know yet myself. Having not been in the Alpha, I'd like to see how it plays as is before any changes.
But 2 ship sizes does seem a bit scarce. So different ship sizes requiring different crew compliments makes sense