Cannon weights; an answer to the penetration issue.

[Musuko42]

Just a quick suggestion to tackle the issue of hull penetration: how about having a weight limit for cannons on the ship, rather than cannon classes?

 

This way, a smaller ship could have the option of equipping fewer, heavier cannons (say, filling the lowest deck with heavier cannons, but leaving the upper decks empty, or equipped with lighter cannons), and would then be able to penetrate the hulls of larger ships...but would still be weaker, as they'll be carrying fewer cannons.

 

Perhaps, also, ships could equip more and heavier cannons than their ship would normally allow, increasing their firepower, but at the expense of stability and handling, increasing the lean angle...and perhaps even risking tipping over and sinking like the Vasa, if they've equipped too many heavy cannons on the upper decks.

 

(And, of course, the option that many have suggested before; being able to double-shot cannons, or load extra powder, at the expense of range, risking cannons exploding, etc).

[thomas aagaard]

Heavier guns heavier recoil... a small ship with thin sides could not handle that.

[Musuko42]

Heavier guns heavier recoil... a small ship with thin sides could not handle that.

 

Maybe if you're using guns that are too large for your ship, firing them causes some structural damage on your ship?

[Hethwill]

Warships were designed also taking into account the guns that it would carry and the mass that would be present at the broadsides. Volume, weight, etc, with margins of course.

 

Also remember ship design space in the gun decks also. An 18 pounder would recoil 3 meters when harnessed.