Ogrebait2 wrote:
Giving the French the weather gauge negates any speed or maneuver advantage for the U.S. fleet. I suspect by the time the frigates can approach carronade range, they won't have many left.
Ogre
Notice that the 4 bigger frigates, with 4 guns/crack, fire at the same tables of 10 guns/average (with the exception of initial bonuses and rakes) and when close with carronades they are even *stronger* than 10 guns.
Also, if at long distance French lose 2 guns, they become 9g/0c, which fires less than US Frigates 4g/2c who have lost 2 carronades.
If the weather gauge was reversed, I guess the French would be definitely in trouble firepower-wise, as the US Frigates would be able to close as they wish and bring to bear the smaller frigates too.. not sure if French larger hull/crew would be enough 
Also, US Frigates have 3 turns, so they can reverse direction quite quickly..and this can be useful downwind too I think, although in Basic rules they can't use it (3 turns require at least 2 straights, so 5 speed).
Anyway, this is just theory....let's play and see it!  |
