How to get access to certain guns

[Faith]

how do i get access to 32 pounder weapons? so far largest ive seen is 24pds, and i have 3 Ardent class third rates, is it just based on how far in the campaign you are, or is it random when the shop gives you thesse options to purchase, or is it tech based?

[Galis]

Are you playing the British or the American campaign? In American campaign's case there are techs that unlock you bigger guns, I believe it's up to 12 pounds in the basic techs, then 24 pounds in the advanced techs and 32 pounds in the last techs. 

In British campaign's case, it depends on the technology for specific guns, for example in the last tech pool you unlock French re-bored 32 and 42 pounders. 

And in both cases it very much depends on the luck but even if you don't have enough guns in the shop or in storage, they should still be visible in the menu, just grayed out. 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Galis

[Malkor]

In the US campaign you unlock the 18, 24 and 32 pdr cannons in the last part of the techtree by researching Industry 3. Which means you must rush through the techtree to unlock this tech ASAP. In the british campaign it depends more on what type of cannon you research. You will notice that right from the beginning you will have access to 32 and 42pdr Armstrong and Borgard's cannons. For the long guns, Congreves, Woolwich and French Re-bored cannons you need to research the right tech. The Congreves can be unlocked early because they're in the second part of the techtree but everything else is, just like in the US campaign, in the last part of the techtree. You have access to the small caliber Woolwich cannons right from the start, the tech for that can be unlocked immediately after the initial battle. To unlock the 18, 24, 32 and 42pdr Woolwich cannons you have to unlock the Brass Large Guns tech in the last part of the techtree. 

Edited April 18, 2020 by Malkor

[Faith]

so ur saying i should be able to see 32p Armstrongs as an option even tho i havent researched any Tech for them? are they to heavy for my Ardent class then maybe? cause i dont see them as an option in the ship menu

I can buy them but i cant mount them on my Ardents, so i guess there just to heavy

so in that case i guess my question becomes, how and when do i get access to bigger ships xD

Edited April 18, 2020 by Faith

[Malkor]

They are not too heavy but you can only put on them on the lowest gun deck. You have the top deck, the middle deck and the low deck which is right above the waterline. And the 32 and 42pdr can only be placed in the lowest deck.

[Faith]

are you sure? cause its not giving me the option to do that even tho i have the guns, its not giving me the option

also worth mentioning that not a single one of the frankly kind of Absurd ammounts of Ardent class 3rd rates ive faced from the Ai has had any guns larger than 24pds on them

Edited April 18, 2020 by Faith

[Malkor]

Yes, i am sure. Select the third gun deck, then scroll down the list of cannons until you see the 32pdr Armstrong and if there are enough of them in the shops stockpile you will be able to buy them and put them on your ship. Don't go for the 42pdr because they are very expensive.

[Faith]

Id send you a screenshot showing you that i dont have that option, that the biggest gun in the list when i scroll down is 24pd long guns, but i feel like me telling you this should be enough for you to believe me, is this just a bug... i have also not seen a single ship of that size except the Ardent class, no other 3rd rates, just like a solid 10 or so Ardent classes all with the same loudout of 24pds on there bottom deck