After hitting Rank 7 (Captain, USA) Today. One thing has been very obvious to me.. the rank structure feels "correct" in the low to mid ranks.. but once you hit rank 7, it just gets weird.
Rank 7 can field a maximum crew of 350. That is 70 more then the Belle Poule/Frigate (Wasted crew much?) and 77% of a Constitution.... then once you hit rank 8, you can field 650.. up to a 3rd rate, effectively skipping 4th rate SOL completely... Why would you sail a constitution when you can effectively sail a 3rd rate 74? ..
My suggestion is.. please increase Rank 7 crew to 450, this would allow us to properly crew a 4th rate, which we should be doing at this rank. the top 3 ranks feel fine, you progress from 3rd rate to 2nd rate to 1st rate in that order, which is correct. It just feels very weird going 5th rate to 3rd/2nd/1st.
Thanks for hearing me out and other then this the game has been a total blast to me..
Slay