Empire: Total War naval ammunition, broadsides and boarding
Choose whether to sink, disable or capture an enemy ship.
Edition covered
The 2009 Empire: Total War Grand Campaign and Road to Independence. Pictures come from the Definitive Edition store listing, which bundles additional units and campaigns. Napoleon: Total War is a separate game.
Fight with the broadside
Most sailing warships concentrate guns on their sides. Position to bring a broadside to bear while considering wind and turning space; sailing directly at an enemy often wastes your guns.
| Type | Main target | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Round shot | Hull | Sink or damage a fighting ship |
| Chain shot | Masts and sails | Reduce enemy mobility |
| Grape shot | Crew | Prepare a weakened vessel for capture |
| Boarding action | Enemy crew and control | Attempt capture at close range |
Match ammunition to the objective
Round shot damages the hull, chain shot attacks rigging and grape shot attacks crew. These are different routes to victory, so switch deliberately as distance and the target condition change.
| Vessel type | Purpose | Campaign trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Trade ship | Works overseas trade nodes | Needs protection |
| Sloop or small warship | Scouting and light patrol | Cannot trade broadsides with heavy ships |
| Frigate | Flexible escort and cruiser | Less heavy firepower than a ship of the line |
| Ship of the line | Main battle fleet | High construction and upkeep cost |
| Bomb vessel | Specialized bombardment | Requires a protective fleet |
Board only after creating an advantage
Boarding commits ships to close combat and can expose them to nearby enemies. Disable or weaken the target first, then consider whether a capture is worth the casualties and lost maneuverability.
Keep campaign repair time in mind
A surviving fleet may need time and money in port before its next battle. Do not send badly damaged escorts straight into another blockade merely because the strategic icon still exists.
A surviving fleet may need time and money in port before its next battle. Do not send badly damaged escorts straight into another blockade merely because the strategic icon still exists.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Publisher game and edition listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Publisher manual | shared.fastly.steamstatic.com |
| Publisher-hosted trade reference | wiki.totalwar.com |