Player controls and information

• Time acceleration can be increased by pressing the period key ( . ) and decreased by pressing the comma key ( , ) . This is an additional option for players without a keypad. The keys + and – still work for players with a keypad.
  

• The player's view is fixed when activating the selection mode in first person view, instead of following the ship's oscillation. This makes it easier to click on another ship when using the the spy glass (some players indicated it was too difficult to click on far ships due to the player ship's oscillation)
  

• Depth sounding now provides fraction of a fathom. Depth feedback now uses the historical language: "a quarter less five" (4.75) or "and a half three" ( 3.5). The officer will also warn when there are few inches of water between the keel and the sea bottom

• More feedback from the officers according to the players actions (e.g. „Steady as she goes“ when activating the helmsman)

• When following a route at the highest speed now the ship will properly reach the waypoints. Until now sometimes the ship could „overshoot“ a waypoint and try to turn back to go to the waypoint
  

• Number of cannons is shown properly after repairs
  

• Bow chaser battery will now shoot the same projectile type as the other batteries (only starboard/larboard batteries were changing ammo type when requested, bow chaser was shooting only cannon balls)

• Clicking on a ship when the pointer is highlighted will now always open a panel even if type is not known (shown as “Unknown vessel”) or no interactions are possible. Previously, no panel would open, making it feel like a bug (several player reports in this direction)

NPC improvements

• NPCs will consider the ship speed to decide if tacking is possible or wearing is the better option
  

• NPCs will finish tacking manoeuvres before trying to change tack again (NPCs would often interrupt the tacking manoeuvre to change direction and stay trapped in irons)
  

• Improved use of the sails for some ships to support the tacking manouver
  

• NPCs will manoeuvre to avoid collision when following routes
  

• NPCs can look for protection of nearby coastal defences
  

• Update of physical data of other ships than the 9 pdr frigate for better ship handling (e.g. weight increased, burden was giving too low weight, making the tacking more difficult)
  

• More decisive and efficient algorithm when NPC turn the ship to point at a target
  

• NPCs will intercept their target by extrapolating the target's speed instead of sailing to the target's current position

• NPC will avoid running aground better when fleeing from an enemy (change of direction still too aggressive when close to the coast, but this will be improved)

• NPCs will send their marines to the tops in battle too

Physics and mechanics

• When the ship hits rocks at high speed a leak is generated
  

• Carronades have now a lower muzzle speed than cannons and therefore a lower range, to match the historical performance of carronades
  

• Cannon balls/bar shot/grapeshot now have realistic deceleration under water (higher than before). This reduces the likelihood of hits below the waterline and reduces the probability of ships sinking.
  

• Improved coordination of crew setting and furling sails. Previously, several sails could be crewed by a single seaman, waiting for another to be available to complete the job. With small crews (e.g. after a ship was captured) this could lead to a deadlock, where sails could not be set (all seamen waiting for somebody else)
  

• Probability of killing crew by smaller projectiles and splinters is reduced to achieve more realistic injured/killed ratio (matching historical action reports)
  

• Deploying boats now reduce the mass of the ship (first step towards mechanic to make your ship lighter to get free in case of running aground)

Worldbuilding

• New ship type as NPC sailing in the world (make a cruise and find out ;-) … hope to see soon the first picture posted)
  

• Anchorages St Helens and Torbay added
  

• Lighthouses are visible now from farther distances (specially the lighthouse at Ushant was disappearing too soon)
  

• New land batteries located at the historical positions of „Corps the Garde“ (guardhouses) along the french coast for increased coverage of the coast defences

Miscellaneous

• Eliminated the „blinking“ of the cannons (as one player described it)
  

• CPU load caused by rendering sailors reduced by 40%

• Pinnace boat added to the 9pdr frigate (such a ship could have 4-5 boats, not only 2 as was the case until now)

• Time of day dropdown sets time properly again (bugfix)