Roll up them ladders!

Interesting idea. I can see some pros, and some cons.

I would suggest that this only be able to be done once the ship is underway, with some sort of timed mechanic similar to the capstan or raising sails. When the ship stops, either from an anchor ball, collision, or just at an outpost, the ladders should automatically deploy, and have to be manually brought up again the next time you set sail.

It could also open up the possibility of a new cursed cannonball - the Ladderball! Drops the ladders and keeps them down for a certain time.

Ship hooks made me think of this. So, I just had to:

:P

I feel like if you fall off your ship with the ladders up that it should be kind of a game (or battle) ending mistake. You shouldn’t be able to instantly get a mermaid if your next to your boat with the ladders up. If your boat gets far away for a regular mermaid that would make sense.

The hook thing is cool, but would just make it easier to board imo. Players would be able to board from any part of the boat instead of only two places. And if you hear them climbing, you have to search the whole perimeter of the boat to find them.

You can already hear the sound when someone grabs your ladder, and you know they’re gonna be in one of two places.

@galactic-geek
With all due respect, I don't agree with you. Saying things like, "Simply outsail" them its the equivalent of saying just be better. That is something easier said then actually done. Your relying on having found the perfect amount and type of Cursed Cannonball, when finding them is completely random endeavor. Relying on the fact that every shot perfectly lands with perfect accuracy, with the limited amount you have. Players can adapt, they can fire back with their own Cursed shots simply negating your own. They can disengage rather then keep fighting. They can run to fight another day. They are counter boarding to your boarding.

Sinking players with cannonfire alone relies on all the dominoes falling perfectly in a row. The problem is players aren't dominoes, and they won't just let things perfectly fall. If you are facing someone of equal level those dominoes will rarely line up.

Ship Damage 2.0 will change things, but even with testing, we won't know the true effects til its live.

@nabberwar @galactic-geek

You both have good points. Another facet that is really going to come into play after the update are the new harpoons - those are going to change the dynamics of ship battles considerably.

@galactic-geek

All the more reason to ensure things go favorably. Stock up on (lots of) supplies 1st (an outpost, a fort, some floating barrels, and a shipwreck should get you plenty of CCBs), hit them with a surprise attack while they're stopped at an island and less able to escape quickly, kill their cannoneers if they open fire, etc.

To reiterate though, your relying on a system that is random. That isn't reliable and somewhat luck based. You could find 30 CC and not a single one is an anchorball, ballastball, Sleeper or Jigball. If we are talking about reliable methods to sink people, you in general don't rely on luck and randomness.

You also bring up surprise attacks, and with respect, if you are able to surprise a crew with cannonfire, they aren't a well coordinated crew. The sea is vast as is the visual range of the player. Player ships just don't appear out of nowhere. If we use uncordinated crews as the standard of all crews, then sure, ships can sink with cannonfire alone. However, by extension they can sink to pretty much any another mediocre strategy players can deploy. Game balance should never be balanced around the games lowest tier of play.

No crew is equal. Assuming that's even a thing is a logical fallacy.

Contextually speaking I'm not using equal in the way you describe. Players can have relative similar skill sets or be at a tier of play where certain strategies no longer work on them. Players can be at a level to understand exactly what you are going to attempt, and they will react as needed. Like one of the examples you said before, If I know you will attempt to sweep my cannoneers, I'm going to try and sweep yours first.

With knowledge comes power, and effectively using that power brings victory in short order. Victory (or at least a good, close fight) ensures fun is had for the crew. Don't sweat the things you can't control - if they get away or sink you, then learn from the experience:

what went wrong?

how can I fix it?

what did they do that worked?

I agree whole heartily of looking back to see where we went wrong as well as losing with dignity. A fight for us win or lose is still fun, but I disagree with your comment on bringing victories in short order. When you face crews of similar skill as you, short victories become rarer and rarer. If you know tricks to cause a fight to end quickly, its not a far off conclusion that they know them as well.

That little example example crew you said at the beginning, was never at your level to begin with.