Sailing skill points?
 

How do you receive sailing skill points? I've been sailing a lot and have not received any points... and how do you buy chain shots and other specials cannon balls?

You recieve sailing skill points two ways: 1)Use your broadside cannons and get hits with them(a lot harder than it sounds) and 2)Be at the helm of a ship that has a crew on it. You gain access to the special cannon shots by leveling up your skill on the cannon. The first special shot you get is the grape shot, I got mine at cannon level 5. I don't know where the others get rewarded, as I am not there yet. Hope this helped!

What is a broadside cannon?

Correct me if I'm wrong the the broadside cannons are the cannons on the sides of the ship. When sailing press the Escape key (Esc) and run to your cannon, and push control to use them. You should have already gotten this training before you even got your sword, when you use the cannon before you get the cutlass, that is the broadside cannon.

May the wind be with ye,

~Cpt.Sea

You said to correct you if you are wrong, which you are. When at the helm, right click, and move the mouse over the icon that corresponds with the side that you want to shoot on, and then release. That is your broadside cannons. Only bad part is that they take a REALLY long time to reload and their accuracy SUCKS.

I've tried.... Still no luck.

Wait, is the broadside cannons the ones UNDER the ship? If so, how do I get there?

You cannot get to the broadside cannons under the ship, you can only use them while at the helm. If your currently using a "Sloop" ship then you have no broadside cannons on your ship, if your purchase the "Light Frigate" or "Light Galleon" you will have broadside cannons. When your at the helm of your ship sailing, right click your mouse and select either left broadside or right broadside to shoot your cannons.

P.S. If you press ESC and leave the helm of your ship to use your cannons, then your actually receiving cannon skills. It gets a little confusing since your shooting a cannon both ways...If your at the helm your using your broadsides (Sailing Skills), if your at the cannons (Cannon Skills)...

That is correct. Broadsides usually don't miss if you are right next to the enemy ship..but then you expose your entire ship's length to a close range attack. Use this approach with caution. It is best if you are moving alongside in the opposite direction for a close broadside.

There is still a current bug, which I am sure is getting worked on, that makes some of the broadside shots go straight up into the air...and come down 3 minutes later. Unfortunately, the enemy ship has moved in those 3 minutes so the cannon balls just hit the water. It is rather funny to watch!

Trying to hit ships from a distance with broadsides takes practice...A LOT of practice. Since the ocean is not a flat stationary platform, it rocks your ship up and down...left and right. Trying to time a broadside when angled just perfect is pretty hard...but you can do it. Practice on the ghost war ships (the one with tattered sails) as they don't shoot back.

If you go to Port Royal and talk to the Cannoner shop keeper, you will see what other types of cannon ammo you can buy. Those are all they types of upgrades you will get when you rise in Sailing and Cannon skill. As you gain your skill points, you will also access some passive skills and other movement skills. Use those skill points wisely!

Note what the range of each type of cannon ammo. It is important. Normal ball shot is long range. Most others are short range. You can waste a lot of ammo using the wrong type at the wrong distance. Practice shooting from a long ways away from the enemy ship and just inside your close ammo range with the correct ammo. This way you can effectively use all of your cannon ammo types.

Also, currently there is a bug in some of the skill views. Some show that you only have 1 skill point to spend where, in fact, you MAY have more than 1 point to spend. Sometimes it is not incrementing when you gain additional available skill points. You may be sitting on a bounty of skill points unaware! ARG!

I realize I may be giving away tips to future PvP opponents that could result in my demise. Well, in a very unpiratically way, I love a fair and close fight. Better we both are skilled and we can respect each other's tactics...than just have a quick "what a waste of a good ship on that bilge rat" sinking!

Yo Ho and away we go!


Dolnor Numbwit
Eternal Newbie
aka Will/Billy Greasefish

A tactic for using the 'space ship killer broadside' to actually hit ships is to run at them aiming to pass just alongside and as your bow (the pointy end) loverlaps them fire. The rounds carry some of your momentum and a number will hit the target without going into orbit. Takes a while but you will sink the target eventually.

The orbit bit only appear to happen when there is actually something to hit alongside you!

It jsut so much easier to team up with at least 1 other player and let them do the killin while you hold the helm. Just remmeber to pass the points around :)

Oh yes dumb me lol, I messed up there lol. Yes you right click then move to the left or right cannons. The problem is, it takes forever to have them reload lol.

~Cpt.Sea