Frigate Vs. War Sloop

[Pirate Rose]

Originally Posted by Angel

I myself, love the war frigate, Easier when takin on larger enemies and if you need to start backin up, just throw it in reverse and stay out of cannon range. (with a crew of course!)

If the WF didn't have the sails problem at the top guns, I would sail it more

[Steely Jim]

I just recently acquired my war sloop, and I am delighted with it. I think that it depends on your sailing style, and, by extension, what ranks you put your sailing points into as you increase in the Sailing skill.

My progression to this point has been light frigate>galleon>war sloop, so I admittedly haven't even captained a frigate yet. The war sloop does take some getting used to, after the raw broadside power of the galleon; however, I was happy to get off that slow-sailing gun platform.

Certainly, there's more than one way use the war sloop, but I think it's at its best when you start with cannons to soften a target, then broadside it, then board it (so far I've only been solo boarding up to Navy Greyhounds).

The big thing with the war sloop though, is that you should be trying not to get hit at all. I have rank 3 tacking, and my ships "waggle" nicely for both offensive and defensive applications. Use the "battleship-shaped" hull outline to your advantage, and turn the ship enough to leave the shot short or sail harmlessly over the other side of the ship. One of my first fights with the war sloop had a Bloodhound trying to Firebrand me--I just waggled a little to port and the Firebrand just arced right over the bow of my ship without doing any damage.

It does take some getting used to and you're bound to make some accidental "wrong turns" along the way; however, the key is using the slim profile of your hull to both, create distance with speed and also avoid damage with the ship's superior agility.