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I 100% agree with OP. Presenting more context to the nay sayers; These types of mechanics would not make the game a simulation by any means. It would simply add more variety to ship combat and expand the experience possibilities. The current damage mechanic is very plain and simple, however, it becomes very over time. Adding these types of mechanics would contribute to the teamwork of crews and add a little more strategy to the game that isn't just spam cannons and planks. Also, it would add a little more danger to the game making you think out your course of action when approaching another ship or a fort. I really hope Rare considers these additions because it would be awesome to have a little more variety to ship combat. (:

This should also be added with a ship grazing a rock, or a hitting a dock, etc.. make an actual scrape. That water speed through. Still sticking with the idea of damage being 3D. Not just a decal

I think this is a great idea, the damage is very boring. Have 3D damage, not just a decal. And I agree with the point of a sail snapping off. Make holes that you can go through. If a cannonball hits the deck, have a hole in the floor that is actually 3D. What you have now ruins the immersion.

@jack6863 great ideas

I love these ideas but not for a solo, duo, or a four man crew. I think adding damage to sails is a perfect idea but using the biggest ship in the game right now, this wouldn't work. Just in beta yes, it would be nice if just getting a good volley and being able to capitalize more on the damaged ship trying to sail away should be implanted, but it was hard enough sometimes for one man steering, one man defending on cannons or on deck shooting at a stowaway, and two men repairing, after a good enemy volley. I just don't think your other ideas would work especially because of the fast reload time on cannons.

@darlain Fair point, though quartermastery is a skill to admire. Keep those barrels stocked!

@jack6863

While it all sounds very cool, many of those ideas would be difficult to implement and certainly impossible by release.

This isn't like adding different texture layers to damaged surfaces.

@knightx13 this is true and if all of them took wood that would make the crew have to decide which of the part is most needed to be repaired which would obviously promote more communication within the crew so you don't run out of wood repairing something that didn't need it.

I like this idea a lot.

Maybe they could add chained cannon balls used for doing more damage to the masts? With a cap of maybe 5 held at a time. Adding more of a situational use for it would be pretty cool.

@snoweffigy Lucky shot or not, this rewards player that does have skill, instead of beign one big fight of whoever runs out of planks/cannons wins.

It’s an interesting idea as long as it doesn’t add to much complexity. You could end up with 5 different materials, running all over the ship repairing different items.

It also leaves you a sitting duck after one lucky shot.

I wanted to make a post about this once I saw the game, but could never approach it at the right angle, but you did a great job. The damage system in the game should be a tad bit more dynamic. It sometimes seems like a back and forth with shooting cannons, repairing, bailing, and it repeats until one ship sinks. There should be the option of back and forth, but then one shot could re-arrange the entire battle. Say you shot the ship, and hit a gunpowder barrel. I feel that the barrel should blow up, and take a chunk of the ship with it, depending on it's placement. It would make players more careful and observant of not whats going on outside the ship, but what's happening inside the ship.

@jack6863 more point and more damage displayed like a broken handrail, sail damage and broken trees

i feel as if the only way to sink a ship of good players is to eventually board them, so i agree.

however, i dont want these new "points" on a ship to be so easy to hit that they are the first target as soon as a battle starts; such as large sails which would be much easier to hit than the actual boat, but if it were the mast base than that would be fair.

While I don't disagree with the suggestion, I do fear what additional layer of of game mechanic's to this game will also make it more complex and less casual as it is now.
With the addition of sub-targeting equipment/components, one will alter the mean of how this game was balanced as some have already pointed out.

Sails to close to naval combat simuation whereas this game crosses me as a sandboxy pirate adventure game. They won't add any of this I dare say, as these are tasks that draw attention away from what the game is about, which is fun. It's the same reason the cannons reload about 10 faster than in reality, you don't get diseases, or hungry, or heatsroke, or even need to drink water, or any of the other things that would make the game more simulative of reality. Plus, realisticly, a blow to the wheel would be the end for a boat in a real battle, without steering there's no way to bring about firepower to face the enemy. I like these ideas but as i've said before, SoT is smaller scale than would be nature and so big jobs are made small, and small jobs are removed. (Like cleaing barnacles off the ship).

@lenny2k3
I agree with a few tools for boarding. With side facing cannons only your have to let yourself call behind to try and stop them, your only option is knowing where they are running to and attempt to cut them off.
One option is a "mortar" style cannon on the nose to shoot forward, designed for long range, worthless up close, would be fun to get blasted ahead of the sink trying to land on your prey.

@shadowstrider-7
Indeed, simply running away is far too "strong" in the game. It's more or less impossible to pin down someone for a fight, unless your goal is to spend your entire weekend chasing one dude until they get so frustrated they just decide to go ham.

Edit: Apart from constantly shooting one dude (if you are a 3/4 man crew) from a cannon, in hopes you an get in their ship and lower the anchor. While fun, it's extremely timely and way too hit or miss.

Yes I agree the ship damage system needs a lot more work. Sails need to take damage cannons steering etc not just holes that can sink you.

@lenny2k3 Agreed. A proper boarding mechanic is missing.

All I wish to see are hooks you can fire to latch ships together, so engagements can be forced. These should of course be able to be cut by either of the crew if they so wish, but it would be an interesting mechanic to add.

All great suggestions but I think if over-implemented would take away the 'simple' feel to the game.

I do agree that sails should also take damage though. At the moment, it seems a bit weird that they don't. Also opens up avenues for different cannon munitions.

Holes in the sails idea is really cool. I could just picture all of the cannon ball holes and looking through them and seeing the sun.

I think if repair were any more involved than it currently is, solo would become untenable.