The Ironrat Cup

[Maximvs]

Ok I'm in - sign me up! I'll trade in the LS for a S if need be (whats 500 gold amongs friends )

[mlratto]

I pick up a fair amount of cargo from taking single pot shots at passing navy and eitc boats

aye, a smart strategy if you have smaller ship.

I'd love to have help officiating and i like the idea of ship hoping. "oh oh, race official coming" LOL

Maximvs - your light sloop is more than welcome! first race is open ship class just o see how it goes. if we get enough interest (i.e. you guys rave about the event on POF...heh heh heh) we can start to do it by class and maybe even try to figure out some prize as incentive.

i'm dying to see a war galleon race. with no full sail or ramming speed thise big sloths might not even finish!

[Maximvs]

AS part of the signup sheet - players should indicate what ship they will be using now that its open (in this case I'll use the Light SLoop Then) so if there only one of that class then maybe another player can switch so theres at least two racers for that class

So for me it would be:

Maximvs Decimvs - Light Sloop (backup: War Frigate)

[Dr. Zeppers]

I did me a dry run in my war galleon, just for entertainment value.

Times: MM:SS

Tormenta at 4:30 (2/16 cargo)
Devils Anvil 12:00 (12/16 cargo)
Tortuga (leaving) 16:30 (13/16 cargo) (Still have over 3/4 hull, and no sail damage)
Cutthroat (arriving) 20:30 (14/16 cargo) (Still have over 3/4 hull, and no sail damage)
Kingshead (arriving) 22:36 (14/16 cargo) (Just under 1/2 hull, cerberus caught me with explosives a few time as a drove by)
Padres (at fountain) 27:33 (16/16 cargo, sunk a phantom on the last leg to fill up)

400+ gold

Im sure there was a faster line, I veered off course at 90 degrees one time to finish off a ship before going back on course. May be a quicker way to skirt around islands than how I sailed.

I had 1 pt in windcatcher and 1 in taskmaster on the pirate I did the run on (with sailing mastered).

[swashbuckler II]

do you think the ammount of people should be cut to 10 or 11 to fit everyone in a crew.

[Edward Edgemenace]

Originally Posted by OFxZeppers

I did me a dry run in my war galleon, just for entertainment value.

Times: MM:SS

Tormenta at 4:30 (2/16 cargo)
Devils Anvil 12:00 (12/16 cargo)
Tortuga (leaving) 16:30 (13/16 cargo) (Still have over 3/4 hull, and no sail damage)
Cutthroat (arriving) 20:30 (14/16 cargo) (Still have over 3/4 hull, and no sail damage)
Kingshead (arriving) 22:36 (14/16 cargo) (Just under 1/2 hull, cerberus caught me with explosives a few time as a drove by)
Padres (at fountain) 27:33 (16/16 cargo, sunk a phantom on the last leg to fill up)

400+ gold

Im sure there was a faster line, I veered off course at 90 degrees one time to finish off a ship before going back on course. May be a quicker way to skirt around islands than how I sailed.

I had 1 pt in windcatcher and 1 in taskmaster on the pirate I did the run on (with sailing mastered).

My test runs in a light sloop and in a light galleon were 22:11 and 23:11. I know the last time I measured them for speed, light galleon was slower than either a galleon or a war galleon. So I don't understand why you were so slow. Stopping to smell the roses? :-)

The crew thing is probably going to be important. I had a friend come to me during the second run and shoot the colossus flag - and grapple - and board it! Had to just start that time-test over. One or two officials for every 6 to 10 racers...if we have a lot more participants than that, we can have separate heats.

I wonder if you should add the rule that you are not allowed to shoot at flag ships at all, during this race? Boarding a flagship is a least a minute off your time. NOT boarding it would put you in the invisible sailing glitch. Actually, I'm not sure what we can say about this. You can't use full sail or ramming speed to get clear of a Spanish blood scourge...maybe the best option IS to board it? ---ponders the quandary---

If one ship is DQ/incapacitated by the sentinel flagship, one ship for the colossus flag, one for the kingsfisher flag, one for the French blood scourge, one for the Spanish shadow crow, Spanish blood scourge, Spanish cerberus, corvette, man-o-war then only 9 ships will be out of the race. (Only 6 boats racing?)

Well, OK, let's not get silly. Hitting a flagship with a volley isn't so bad - if you keep running. Crippling it is a problem. But there will be enough witnesses screaming bloody murder, if someone tries to glitch off a flagship (obvious disqualification) so anyone unlucky enough to cripple a flagship will have to go back and board it. Maybe give a one minute bonus if you board a flagship? (maximum bonus = 1 minute.) You'd have to call for an official, to board with you, of course. Or maybe just credit the time from when they call out "Flagship boarding - HELP!" to the time when the official is back on their boat after a successful boarding and hears the sails unfurl. (A corvette takes ten seconds - a colossus can take several minutes. And they may need to turn their boat back around or come back from jail.)

[mlratto]

First of all thanks to those who have taken an interest in this race and done a few test run. Wise pirate ye be.

My son and I did a test run in light frigates last night. Upside - less cargo to fill up. Downside - getting pummeled by big enemy ships.

I did me a dry run in my war galleon

you are a brave pirate! I'm thinking that's going to be the toughest ship class to race given the speed, huge target and huge cargo capacity.

One or two officials for every 6 to 10 racers

I agree. at least 1 per 6-10. that way you could start the race then boat hop or island hop to keep tabs on things then tp to padres for the finish. So we'll see how many we get saturday and i'll ask for volunteers if it looks like we'll need them.

maybe the best option IS to board it?

In my opinion boarding a flagship is very risky. takes time and you could get whacked, especially on the collosus. If we get to the point where there are bonuses for amount of cargo this may change but for the initial race i think boarding a ship makes little sense....unless you have a huge lead.

It would be great if we could make this a monthly event. switch up the course periodically and get to the point where we could schedule races by ship class.

but for now i'm pleased as punch this idea has actually gotten some interest!

If you have signed up please let me know what type of ship you will be using.

[swashbuckler II]

ok im coming for sure
War sloop for me.
It would be cool to meet some on the forums
Everyone month?
I would do this every week lol

[Andrew]

Good idea, sounds like fun, sign me up!, my pirates name is Andrew, lvl 40. Ill be there, what server?, ill be using a war sloop

[mlratto]

what server?

It's on the original post, time server and participants. glad to have you aboard matey!

If we get more i may be breaking it up into two races.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

My test runs in a light sloop and in a light galleon were 22:11 and 23:11. I know the last time I measured them for speed, light galleon was slower than either a galleon or a war galleon. So I don't understand why you were so slow. Stopping to smell the roses? :-)

One major reason.
16 cargo vs 3 cargo One lucky shot with a light sloop and you dont have to worry about cargo ever, and you have the faster ship.

I had to go off course occasionally, although not far to finish off a ship I did battle with. The War Galleon is also a bit slower.

Personally, I think that if you took a light sloop (fastest ship and holds least), and only beat me (slowest ship holding most cargo) by 5 minutes, you must have stopped for some rum along the way!!!!

I may have been able to skirt islands faster, im not sure how much 'hitting' the shore slows you down. I know it does using ramming speed, and full sail, but I wasnt using those obviously.

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

The crew thing is probably going to be important. I had a friend come to me during the second run and shoot the colossus flag - and grapple - and board it! Had to just start that time-test over. One or two officials for every 6 to 10 racers...if we have a lot more participants than that, we can have separate heats.

Crews are allowed, but not allowed to man a cannon, therefore I dont see any purpose for a crew. Friends TP'ing to you while your sailing could be a problem, part of testing the "captains" abilities, so we'll just have to deal with it I think.

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

I wonder if you should add the rule that you are not allowed to shoot at flag ships at all, during this race? Boarding a flagship is a least a minute off your time. NOT boarding it would put you in the invisible sailing glitch. Actually, I'm not sure what we can say about this. You can't use full sail or ramming speed to get clear of a Spanish blood scourge...maybe the best option IS to board it? ---ponders the quandary---

If one ship is DQ/incapacitated by the sentinel flagship, one ship for the colossus flag, one for the kingsfisher flag, one for the French blood scourge, one for the Spanish shadow crow, Spanish blood scourge, Spanish cerberus, corvette, man-o-war then only 9 ships will be out of the race. (Only 6 boats racing?)

Well, OK, let's not get silly. Hitting a flagship with a volley isn't so bad - if you keep running. Crippling it is a problem. But there will be enough witnesses screaming bloody murder, if someone tries to glitch off a flagship (obvious disqualification) so anyone unlucky enough to cripple a flagship will have to go back and board it. Maybe give a one minute bonus if you board a flagship? (maximum bonus = 1 minute.) You'd have to call for an official, to board with you, of course. Or maybe just credit the time from when they call out "Flagship boarding - HELP!" to the time when the official is back on their boat after a successful boarding and hears the sails unfurl. (A corvette takes ten seconds - a colossus can take several minutes. And they may need to turn their boat back around or come back from jail.)

How you deal with this is really up to the individual captain as I see it. Personally I would consider it a detriment my race to encounter any flagships that require any of my time, and glitching would just make that even more an issue.

Last night me and my guildies boarded a barracuda, one of the mercs on board ran off half way to Port Royal (from Perdida). We couldnt get him back on board to finish the ship, I even glitched off the ship, but couldnt attack him as I was in the water. I was stuck there until I logged out.... I think I would avoid flagships period.

Regarding Glitching a flagship.
If I compete against you, please by all means take the time to glitch.
By doing so you are:

A. Taking the time to attack/defeat a ship that you will get NO cargo from
B. You will have to now chase every ship you want to sink.

The more opportunities I have to catch, pass, and/or pull away from my opponents. the better.

Originally Posted by mlratto

First of all thanks to those who have taken an interest in this race and done a few test run. Wise pirate ye be.

I did me a dry run in my war galleon

you are a brave pirate! I'm thinking that's going to be the toughest ship class to race given the speed, huge target and huge cargo capacity.

Was fun to try out, but I dont think I will hava a chance to compete.

[Tuefenhandel]

I have to say that a flagship in the right place might be a tasty target. My experience is that they give more cargo (items) and most of the time my ugly walking stick (oh, okay - staff) can wipe out a deck full of badies in a jiffy.

This is a "game time decision" that would be helpful in particular if one is trying to fill the hold of a war galleon.

The latitude to make such a call on the fly is what makes these events so interesting.

[Edward Edgemenace]

Originally Posted by OFxZeppers

One major reason.
16 cargo vs 3 cargo One lucky shot with a light sloop and you dont have to worry about cargo ever, and you have the faster ship.

I had to go off course occasionally, although not far to finish off a ship I did battle with. The War Galleon is also a bit slower.

Personally, I think that if you took a light sloop (fastest ship and holds least), and only beat me (slowest ship holding most cargo) by 5 minutes, you must have stopped for some rum along the way!!!!

<hiccup> wat sher mean thar, matey! 'Jes helpin' me mate Gunner...

I may have been able to skirt islands faster, im not sure how much 'hitting' the shore slows you down. I know it does using ramming speed, and full sail, but I wasnt using those obviously.

While I learned to let others finish off Navy for me, in my light sloop, I all but forgot about it, once I had a war galleon. The astonishing number of guns on a war galleon ensure that only really big tough targets can ever survive more than one of my broadsides. YMMV. With all the juicy targets near PDF, I wouldn't go out of my way.

Crews are allowed, but not allowed to man a cannon, therefore I dont see any purpose for a crew. Friends TP'ing to you while your sailing could be a problem, part of testing the "captains" abilities, so we'll just have to deal with it I think.

I meant, being in a crew (so that friends have a harder time TPing to you) is an important factor. <shrug> Using the crew system to prevent that kind of nonsense is a great idea - bravo Ironrat. But that does mean that anyone in the race has to be in the racing crew (therefore can't have their own.) Everyone gets to see the launch messages and they are able to communicate with the other players and offical(s).

How you deal with this is really up to the individual captain as I see it. Personally I would consider it a detriment my race to encounter any flagships that require any of my time, and glitching would just make that even more an issue.

Last night me and my guildies boarded a barracuda, one of the mercs on board ran off half way to Port Royal (from Perdida). We couldnt get him back on board to finish the ship, I even glitched off the ship, but couldnt attack him as I was in the water. I was stuck there until I logged out.... I think I would avoid flagships period.

Regarding Glitching a flagship.
If I compete against you, please by all means take the time to glitch.
By doing so you are:

A. Taking the time to attack/defeat a ship that you will get NO cargo from
B. You will have to now chase every ship you want to sink.

The more opportunities I have to catch, pass, and/or pull away from my opponents. the better.

Sigh. Excellent points. So instead of calling foul, we just sit back and laugh at them? Sounds like a plan!

Was fun to try out, but I dont think I will hava a chance to compete.

:-(

One last question then: is it OK to glitch through Cuba and/or Port Royal? If someone is inside an island, it is really hard to see if they hit full sail.

[davy redflint]

i'll try to be ther if u need help, i can referee with u or race. either way sound like fun, with rum

[Edward Edgemenace]

Whoa, less than three hours from now...and Hassaba server is already "Ideal"...

If anyone needs gold to buy a certain ship type for the race, let me know. I can play poker with you now, before the race, to get you to max gold.