Recently there has been some arguing in this forum about 1st rates being used a way too much. Thier sheer number has been deemed unrealistic.   I agree to that and thus suggest to implement a mechanic that regulates the numbers of 1st rates in NA:   1.       Point of reference – how was the relation of 1st rates to other ships that participated in battles in the age of sail? Taking the Battle of Trafalgar as an example wikipedia states the following numbers: