With the wind at your back and the enemy in sight, you give the order and a dozen cannons roar. Whirling spheres of iron arc across the sky and collide with the foreign ship, sending splinters flying and men screaming in fear at the hell you’ve unleashed. Then you turn swiftly to starboard, target the escort craft, and do it again. But these two aren’t alone. Their allies come from behind, and if you turn to engage them you’ll be upwind where your sails go slack and your speed falls away. The cannons thunder. Victory is in doubt. It’s up to you: your captain’s tactics and your skill as a player. Can you keep your ship afloat or are you headed for a watery grave?
Ship combat in Pirates of the Burning Sea is fast and tactical. Your angle to the wind, your speed, and the relative motion of your target all are critical to success or failure. You aren’t just mashing buttons in some twitch contest. You’re scanning the battlefield, watching the wind, and trying to think ahead thirty, sixty, ninety seconds. It’s like playing chess with guns, reacting in the moment while planning your next move.
Through smart use of skills, items, and tactics you can turn the tables on your opponent. Each career – Naval Officer, Freetrader, and Privateer – has several dozen captaincy skills for you to choose from. As you rise in rank you’ll be able to command many different kinds of ships and make use of advanced equipment. While in port you can adjust your ship’s performance, tuning it the way you would a racing car. All of these tools are at your fingertips, and in the right combinations you can deliver devastation to your foes.
Ship combat is fast, tactical, and challenging. It’s never the same fight twice.