[JLS]

Originally posted by Goatfoam:

JLS- I'm a little confused about the sails. Would a ship require one of each type of sail?

If you use a system that each sail gives a standard movement value you may apply that value to the most used sails and to add (se Bridge) for example to Mainsail all ships would have to have a mainsail. Perhaps (se4Life support) on the Jib and now you have the two required sails for all boats at that time a MUST INSTALL component. Other Components as for example (Captains Ability) etc could be the se4 Combat and ECM. The use of Organics to represent the Lifesupport can be added in many other ways to represent the ships crew complement.

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IFAIR.
A Man of War as I understand it - is a fighting Ship ranges from: Sloop, Frigate to the large double and Triple Deck (Ship of the Line)

The other sails I mentioned earlier apply to different Sail Configurations. for example:

A Sloop will have a Jib and Mainsail; However it could have a staysail flying along with the Jib if weather is calm, but a sloop will only have a few Topsails if any at all and never have a mizzen or spanker unless a make shift mizzen is used to stabilize the bow at anchorage or mooring.

A frigate could be is Ketch for example, and will have a third mast (mizzen mast) this will have all the sails mentioned and the Mizzen is key to a steady balance and less leeage at sea; However, even with a Frigate, the spars are such that Top Gallants are used only in chase.
(2 se4 Bridge) would require this Frigate to have two mainsals and this would indacate the Main Topgallants along with the one (LS) Jib

Ship of the lines - with healthy Spars can Fly all sails in less then a moderate breeze; However the maneuverability will always be lacking. Hence their name (Line them up and Fire as she bears)
Example: (2 Bridge and 2 LS) would require Both Mainsails and the Jib along with the Foresails.
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Basically, after you decide on the most applicable Sail (other then the Main and Jib) assign your movement value to this. And in the Hulls themselves add the Modifiers any Modifiers , add other size related movements, Engine numbers etc. A slower Combat speed perhaps with an increase to Combat Turns in the Setting file, to have a slower battle with manuver and develope.

Also, it was rare for Large Ship to catch a Sleek ship - in the day.

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I suggest you research Man of War and their key support ships. To include Tactics, Ship Of The Line Fleeting of the day, and the Typical Baording Tactics of graple along side and then rush the target. Long boats rarly was worthy to make good time - even in the average sea and the Snipers on target would have a turkey shoot with such tactics. Longboats where good to row the ship out or into a harbor and to land a (SMALL Expeditions). British and American - I believe with the French and Dutch as well. Marines of the day had Surf Boats that would accompany the unit when attached (and this was for a land assault).
Some Ship-Of-the-Lines a Barge (SAIL LESS and a Cannon could be mounted) or a Cutter for Fleet inter ship activities (Post, Surgeon, Captain etc) and that could used for their onboard Marine detachment, but in Ship to Ship Combat, the main duty was repel and snipe.

If you research Ship on-hand for the day (around 1800 Napoleonic’s), you may find that the British had about 150 Man of War and French close (but less) to those numbers. The Spanish believed Bigger is better and had far less. The Dutch numbers were about the same, but most was of the Frigate and Sloop class - if I recall.

[ July 07, 2004, 07:31: Message edited by: JLS ]