Ship of the line news & patch notes

It has been a while, Captains.

In the previous campaign preview, I introduced an early look at several strategic systems currently in development, including fleet movement, research, officer assignment, and port management.

I also showed you our cute little supply boat.

But when those small supply vessels disappear and a blockading fleet is cut off from its supply line, even the most powerful ships of the line will not endure for long. A navy in the campaign cannot operate simply by possessing more warships than its enemy.

This time, I would like to take a closer look at how a warship is prepared, how people are assigned to her, how experience is accumulated, and how each vessel gradually creates a history of her own.

A Warship Is a World of Its Own

A ship of the line is not merely a combat unit defined by the number of guns she carries and the strength of her hull.

Within her serve a captain and officers, gunners and carpenters, marines, and hundreds of sailors. There is a port where she was built, a dockyard that keeps her seaworthy, and years of training and experience behind every order she carries out.

In the campaign, ships are constructed, officers and crews are assigned, and each vessel gradually develops her own history through voyages and battles.

Officer Assignment and the Ship’s Company

Every warship has several key appointments responsible for keeping her operational.

• Captain — Commands the ship in navigation and battle.

• Lieutenant — Assists the captain and maintains the chain of command.

• Boatswain — Supervises sails, rigging, anchors, and work on deck.

• Gunner — Oversees the ship’s artillery and ammunition.

• Carpenter — Handles hull damage, flooding, and emergency repairs.

• Marines — Conduct boarding actions, capture operations, and internal security duties.

These are not merely passive bonus slots.

An experienced gunner improves the efficiency of the ship’s batteries. A skilled carpenter may prevent serious flooding from becoming fatal. The boatswain’s ability affects sail handling in difficult weather, while the marine officer may decide the outcome once men cross onto an enemy deck.

An unfilled position will also have consequences for the operation of the ship.

People Are More Than Numbers

Every officer and specialist has an individual set of abilities and a personal career.

Their major attributes include:

Leadership · Attack · Gunnery · Seamanship · Fame

Even officers of the same rank may be suited to completely different duties.

One officer may excel in gunnery but perform poorly in heavy weather. Another may possess only modest tactical ability, yet remain capable of holding hundreds of sailors together despite casualties and confusion.

Some officers may rise quickly through fame, family connections, or political interest despite lacking real combat ability. Others may serve with distinction for years without receiving the recognition they deserve.

Assigning the most talented officer to the largest ship will therefore not always be the correct decision.

Should an experienced gunner serve aboard your flagship, or be sent to compensate for the weaknesses of an inexperienced captain?

In the campaign, personnel management is fleet management.

Officer Biographies and Ship Chronicles

Selecting an officer allows the player to inspect not only their attributes and background, but also the events that shaped their career during the campaign.

Their biography may record:

• The ships to which they were appointed

• The battles in which they served

• Promotions and demotions

• Court-martial verdicts and disciplinary actions

• Captures, dismissals, and deaths

• The vessel aboard which they made their final stand

Ships also possess chronicles of their own.

Construction, commissioning, officer appointments, battles, damage, repairs, capture, and sinking are all recorded as part of the vessel’s history.

An obscure small vessel may survive decades of convoy duty, serve under several captains, and eventually become one of the most celebrated ships in the navy.

A newly completed first-rate, built at enormous expense, may instead run aground during her first voyage in a storm.

These stories are not pre-written scenarios.

The player’s decisions and the events of the campaign become the historical record.

Ports Are the True Heart of the Fleet

Victory at sea begins with secure foundations on land.

Ports are not simple strategic points distinguished only by population and defensive strength. Each port has its own repair capacity, supply reserves, recruitment potential, construction docks, and available facilities.

Current work-in-progress port facilities include:

• Wooden wharves and repair docks

• Harbor dredging works

• Coastal batteries and fortifications

• Harbor authorities and Admiralty branches

• Markets and supply depots

• Shipyards and construction docks

• Naval educational and administrative facilities

A small harbor may support sloops and frigates, but constructing and fully repairing a ship of the line requires sufficiently large docks and an extensive industrial base.

Losing a port therefore means far more than losing a piece of territory on the map.

Ships undergoing repairs, hulls still under construction, sailors being recruited, and the supply network supporting the surrounding sea region may all be endangered with it.

Construction and Shipbuilding

Every port has a limited number of construction slots and building docks.

The player must decide whether to expand shipbuilding facilities, increase supply capacity, or reinforce coastal defenses. A major naval base can support an entire fleet, but creating one requires considerable time and resources.

Building a warship also requires more than money and timber.

It demands a suitable dock, labor, materials, naval stores, and time.

A small sloop may be completed relatively quickly. A large ship of the line may occupy a construction dock and consume national resources for several years.

Do you require a 98-gun ship of the line for the coming fleet engagement, or several frigates to patrol and protect an entire network of trade routes?

A larger warship is not always the better strategic choice.

Ships of the line dominate major fleet battles, but require enormous crews and maintenance expenditure. Smaller vessels are vulnerable in the battle line, yet remain essential for reconnaissance, convoy escort, commerce raiding, dispatch duties, and coastal operations.

A shipbuilding decision made today may determine the outcome of a war several years later.

Repairs and Supply

Surviving a battle does not mean that a ship is immediately ready to fight again.

Damaged vessels must return to port to repair their hulls and rigging, replace damaged guns, replenish ammunition, and recruit sailors to replace the dead and wounded.

Repair time depends on the severity of the damage, the facilities available, and the supply situation of the harbor.

The player may wait until a valuable vessel has been fully restored, or conduct only temporary repairs and order her back to sea before she is truly ready.

The Crown may demand that the fleet sail immediately.

But should an unprepared fleet be sent back to sea and suffer defeat, the responsibility will ultimately belong to its commander.

Research and Crew Training

Campaign research is not designed only around adding percentage bonuses to attack and defense.

Current research is divided into several broad fields:

• Ports & Buildings

• Crew

• Ships & Shipbuilding

Crew research reflects the actual duties required aboard a sailing warship.

Sail handling, gun drill, rigging work, boarding actions, emergency carpentry, hull maintenance, signal flags, storm sailing, marine training, and medical organization can all be developed.

Basic research improves individual duties, while advanced developments combine multiple disciplines and improve the operational capability of the navy as a whole.

A powerful fleet cannot be built from skilled gunners alone.

Officer command, deck discipline, signaling, seamanship, and damage control must work together before a collection of ships becomes an effective fighting organization.

What a Crew of 750 Men Truly Represents

A crew of 750 sailors is not a single health value.

Most newly recruited men begin as green crew. Through sailing, training, and combat, they gradually gain experience. Some may eventually become veterans.

Experienced crews carry out orders more quickly and reliably.

They can:

• Change sail and complete maneuvers more rapidly

• Load and fire their guns more efficiently

• Control fires and repair battle damage

• Maintain discipline despite casualties and confusion

• Fight more effectively during boarding and capture operations

Veterans, however, are not an unlimited resource.

When a ship sinks, years of accumulated experience may disappear with her crew. Expanding the fleet too quickly may also fill newly built warships with inexperienced sailors, reducing the overall combat quality of the navy.

Ships can be rebuilt. Experience cannot be produced instantly.

Strategic Preparation Leads Directly into Tactical Battle

The campaign layer is not intended to exist separately from the tactical battle system.

The port in which a ship was built, the officers assigned to her, the training of her crew, and the condition of her repairs and supplies will all influence her performance in battle.

Everything the player prepares on the campaign map will eventually be carried into the tactical naval battle.

The strongest fleet is not simply the navy with the greatest number of ships of the line.

It requires secure ports and dockyards, reliable supply routes, a tested officer corps, experienced crews, and sufficient time to prepare them all.

The Crown, Parliament, and Courts-Martial — The War Beyond the Fleet

In the campaign, the player is not a completely independent commander. The Crown and the Admiralty may issue orders according to the developing strategic situation, demanding the blockade of an important harbor, a decisive engagement with an enemy fleet, the escort of a merchant convoy, the relief of a threatened port, or even an immediate departure despite severe weather.

“By the authority of the Crown, Gibraltar is to be blockaded within thirty days.”

These are not arbitrary, repeating quests. Royal orders are generated from the actual state of the campaign, including enemy fleet movements, threats to trade routes, the strategic value of ports, supply conditions, and approaching storms.

Completing an order increases prestige and royal confidence. Failure or refusal damages the commander’s political standing and may result in a court-martial. Obeying a reckless command may destroy the fleet, but refusing it in order to preserve the navy may place the player’s own command in danger.

While the Crown issues orders, Parliament controls much of the funding required to carry them out. New warships, dockyard expansion, crew recruitment, wages, naval stores, and prolonged blockade operations all depend upon political support. Even a commander who faithfully obeys the Crown may face a parliamentary inquiry after losing too many ships, men, or public funds.

The player must therefore manage both royal favor and parliamentary confidence. Low royal confidence may lead to greater pressure and increasingly unreasonable commands. Low parliamentary confidence may result in reduced budgets, delayed construction, restrictions on fleet expansion, and formal investigations into the conduct of the war.

When a ship is lost or an important order is not fulfilled, a court-martial may be convened to determine responsibility. The player must review the circumstances and deliver a verdict upon the captain or officers involved.

Possible judgments include:

• Acquittal

• Reprimand

• Demotion

• Dismissal

• Execution

Protecting a capable officer may preserve the loyalty and fighting strength of the officer corps, but the Crown and Parliament may regard the decision as an attempt to avoid responsibility. Sacrificing an officer may restore political confidence in the short term, but it can severely damage fleet morale and the commander’s prestige.

Courts-martial do not apply only to subordinate officers. If the player refuses royal commands, repeatedly fails important operations, or loses a major fleet, the commander may also be placed on trial.

Every order, refusal, parliamentary inquiry, verdict, and punishment is permanently recorded in the biographies of those involved and in the history of the campaign.

Victory in the campaign is not merely winning battles at sea. It is preserving the fleet while retaining the political confidence required to keep that fleet in service.

Everything shown here remains a work in progress. The interface, values, balance, content, and detailed mechanics may change throughout development.

However, the goal remains clear.

The campaign should not feel like a simple collection of naval battles. It should allow the player to organize and command an Age of Sail navy, and to create a unique history of officers, ships, fleets, and wars through their own decisions.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the game so far.

In the next preview, I will introduce the strategic missions performed by fleets across the campaign map, including patrols, convoy escorts, blockades, commerce raiding, reconnaissance, and sea control, as well as how encounters on the strategic map develop into actual naval battles.

See you at sea.

Fair winds, The developer of Ship of the Line

Hello, Captains!

This update completely overhauls the maps and fleet deployments used across all scenarios.

Each scenario map now features realistic water depths and recreates the actual historical waters where these battles took place. Coastlines, seabed depths, navigable waters, and fleet deployments have all been rebuilt to make the battlefield itself a meaningful part of naval combat.

This work is not limited to improving the existing scenarios. In the upcoming Campaign Mode, battlefields will be dynamically generated based on real-world waters, ports, fleet locations, and the surrounding strategic situation.

The reconstruction of the scenario maps is therefore another important step toward creating the battlefields that will be used throughout Campaign Mode.

For gameplay and balancing purposes, the starting positions of some ships may differ from their exact historical locations. Fleet deployments and battlefield balance are still being tested and continuously adjusted.

Campaign Mode will also include port battles. Fleets will be able to raid enemy ports where hostile squadrons are stationed and attempt to break through their defenses.

A successful port raid may damage port facilities and buildings currently under construction. It may also damage or destroy ships that are still being built in the shipyard.

As a result, the location of each port, its defensive structures, and the strength of its stationed fleet will all become important strategic considerations in the campaign.

The newly implemented depth data will also serve as the foundation for additional naval mechanics. Anchors will eventually need suitable seabed conditions and realistic depths in order to hold a ship in place, while a vessel’s draft and class will determine which coastal waters, channels, and harbor approaches it can safely navigate.

The shape and behavior of the sea have changed several times during previous updates. These changes were necessary to find wave conditions suitable not only for open-ocean battles, but also for combat inside ports, narrow channels, and coastal waters.

I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the repeated patches and adjustments.

However, this is only the beginning.

The battles currently available are isolated engagements. A defeat costs little beyond the result of the scenario, and a lost ship can simply be used again in the next battle.

Campaign Mode will be very different.

I want the preservation of the fleet to represent the naval power of an entire nation. A single catastrophic defeat—or the loss of even one first-rate ship of the line—should leave damage that cannot be easily repaired.

Building a major warship will require years, resources, trained crews, experienced officers, and a capable shipyard. Losing one should never feel like losing a disposable unit.

In scenarios, a ship may be defeated and the battle simply ends. In the campaign, every vessel will need to be handled carefully. Retreating, preserving damaged ships, protecting ports, maintaining supply lines, and deciding when not to fight will be just as important as winning a battle.

This is the final goal toward which I am building.

I also want the people aboard these ships to become part of the history created during each campaign. Crew members and officers will record their battles, victories, defeats, wounds, promotions, captures, and losses in their personal journals.

Their lives will continue through the campaign until their final moment.

They will not remain nameless sailors who disappear when a battle ends. By the conclusion of a campaign, their actions—and the ships on which they served—may remain as part of a unique page in the history created by the player.

This update is another step toward connecting scenarios and Campaign Mode through a single, persistent battlefield system.

Thank you for your continued support, Captains.

Please continue to follow the development of Ship of the Line.

Fair winds and following seas,

From the Developer of Ship of the Line

Hello Captains,

This update adds a new Planning Mode for single-player battles.

Naval battles can move quickly, especially when several ships must be controlled at the same time. Planning Mode allows you to pause the entire battle, review the current situation, and prepare multiple orders before continuing.

Press Spacebar to activate Planning Mode.

While Planning Mode is active, the battle remains completely paused, but ships and targets can still be selected, and orders can be issued or adjusted.

Press Spacebar again to resume the battle and execute the prepared commands.

Route and Rally Point Planning

While Planning Mode is active, hold Shift and left-click on the battlefield to add multiple rally points.

Ships will follow the connected rally points as a smooth curved route instead of making sharp turns at each point.

To remove a rally point, left-click the existing point.

This allows more detailed routes to be prepared before the battle resumes.

Reserved Fire Orders

Broadside and sequential fire orders can now be reserved while Planning Mode is active.

You can prepare fire orders for either the port or starboard side and assign the intended target before resuming the battle.

Reserved guns will be visually highlighted, and the predicted hit probability will be displayed on the selected target.

When the battle resumes, the prepared fire order will be executed.

Reserved Boarding Orders

Boarding and grappling orders can also be prepared while the battle is paused.

Once the battle resumes, the boarding order will activate when the required conditions are met.

Fleet Volley Orders

When a formation or ship group is selected, a broadside can be reserved for the entire fleet with a single command.

After the battle resumes, all ships with a valid target will fire together.

Ships without a valid firing solution will not fire, preventing unnecessary shots and wasted reloads.

This makes it possible to prepare coordinated fleet volleys before restarting the battle.

Fleet-Wide Orders

When commanding a fleet through the flagship, the following orders can be applied across the selected formation or group:

• Fire delegation

• Sail trim

• Formation orders

This allows larger fleets to be managed more efficiently during complex battles.

Full Battle Pause

Planning Mode freezes the entire battlefield like a snapshot.

Ships, the sea, smoke, cannon fire, projectiles, and visual effects all remain paused while orders are being prepared.

Battle sound effects also stop, while the background music continues playing.

Planning Mode is currently available in single-player battles.

Press Spacebar to pause the battle, prepare your orders, and resume when you are ready.

See you on the sea,

Ship of the Line Developer

Hello Captains,

This update greatly improves the firing prediction display, making the existing cannon fire system much easier to understand during battle.

The firing system in Ship of the Line was already designed to go beyond a simple hit-chance calculation. It has been taking into account firing direction, range, shell trajectory, ship roll, cannon angle, wind effects, target height, hull shape, mast position, and the possibility of shots falling short or flying over the target.

However, until now, many of these calculations were difficult for players to see directly during combat, and the on-screen firing information was relatively simplified.

With this update, the firing prediction display has been upgraded so players can read the actual firing situation much more clearly.

When a ship is selected, the firing guideline is now shown on the map in green. In addition, the enemy ship displays a red overlay showing the estimated area that can actually be hit, based on the firing ship’s current roll, cannon angle, range, and shell trajectory.

The higher the predicted hit probability, the darker and more intense the red overlay becomes.

This allows players to see whether a broadside is likely to hit, whether the shot may fall short, whether it may pass too high, and which part of the enemy ship is most exposed.

Depending on the situation, cannonballs may strike the hull, hit the mast or rigging, fall short into the sea, fly over a smaller target, or even continue toward another ship behind it.

This update is not simply about adding a new firing system. It is about making the physical and tactical calculations that were already working inside the game visible, readable, and useful for the player.

Positioning, wind, ship angle, distance, and firing timing are now much clearer and more important than ever.

See you on the sea, Captains.

— Developer of Ship of the Line

Hello Captains,

I’m happy to share that I have successfully created a new and remarkable ocean system that truly fits our game.

In Ship of the Line, we will exchange cannon fire across seas that are sometimes calm, and sometimes fierce and unforgiving. The ocean is not just a background — it is part of the battlefield itself.

This was made possible thanks to all of you who have supported the game, shared feedback, and continued sailing with us.

Thank you very much.

You will be able to experience this new ocean very soon.

See you all at sea.

— From the developer of Ship of the Line

Hello, Captains!

Several new historical and tactical scenarios have been added to Ship of the Line, each with different objectives, terrain conditions, and fleet situations.

• Speedy vs Gamo — A close-range duel designed around decisive action and boarding tactics.

• Flamborough Head — Night Battle — An American night engagement where the British must escort three merchant ships to safety.

• Grand Port — A confined battle among reefs, shoals, and narrow channels, with the British trying to hold their anchorage.

• Lissa — A survival-focused fleet action where the British must keep at least three ships alive against a Franco-Venetian force.

• Santa Maria — A Spanish treasure convoy scenario where three treasure ships must escape toward Cádiz.

• Droits de l’Homme — A storm battle where the British must bring down a French ship before it escapes.

• Zealand Point — A Danish escape scenario centered on saving a single ship from British pursuit.

• Fidonisi — A Russo-Ottoman fleet action where the Ottoman flagship must be protected at all costs.

• Dogger Bank — A rare dual-convoy scenario where both sides must escort merchant ships through the battle zone.

• Agosta — A flagship protection scenario centered on Admiral de Ruyter’s ship against the French fleet.

I hope these new scenarios give you more variety, more tactical problems, and more reasons to return to the sea.

See you on the battle line, Captains!

Hello, Captains!Hello, Captains!

All Asian ships have now been updated!

I have also made some improvements to the existing 3D models, and I would love to hear what you think. :)

See you all at sea!

— From the developer of Ship of the Line

P.S. There is also a small update that allows you to arrange your ships before battle. Haha.

Hello Captains, This update introduces a major overhaul of the physics system, along with a new option to choose between 2D Classic Mode and 3D Mode. The goal of this update is not simply to change the graphics, but to make the most important elements of age-of-sail combat — **angle, distance, wind, ship class, armor, flooding, and damage location** — matter much more clearly in battle. --- ## 2D Classic / 3D Mode Selection Added Based on player feedback, a new ship display option has been added to the main menu settings. You can now choose between: * **2D Classic Mode** * **3D Mode** The default setting is **3D Mode**. However, players who prefer the original visual style can switch back to **2D Classic Mode** at any time from the settings menu. The improved physics system applies to both modes. This means that even in 2D Classic Mode, the new cannon physics, flooding, mast damage, ship durability, and class-based protection systems are still applied. For multiplayer, matchmaking is separated by graphics mode to ensure stable synchronization. * Players using 2D Classic Mode can play with other 2D Classic Mode players. * Players using 3D Mode can play with other 3D Mode players. Room listings now display ** / tags**, making it easier to see which mode each room uses. --- ## Cannon Fire System Improved Cannon fire is now affected much more strongly by **distance and angle**. Small-caliber cannonballs fired from long range may now fail to penetrate the thick wooden hulls of large ships of the line and can bounce off instead. For example, using small frigate guns to harass a ship of the line from far away is no longer an effective tactic. Cannonballs can also ricochet when they hit the enemy hull at a shallow angle. To inflict greater damage, it is now much more important to approach the enemy broadside at a more perpendicular angle. Sea conditions and wind also affect gunnery. Strong winds, gusts, and storms increase gun dispersion and reduce accuracy. After a broadside volley, gun smoke now appears on the firing side and drifts with the wind. A ship trapped inside its own smoke may suffer reduced visibility and aiming clarity. Volley timing and wind position now matter more than before. --- ## Sailing Physics Improved Wind is no longer completely static. Gusts can now occur during battle, briefly filling the sails and causing ships to accelerate. In storm conditions, sailing ships suffer a speed penalty and gunnery becomes much less stable. Weather is now not just a visual background element, but a real tactical factor. Ship turning inertia has also been improved. Light ships such as brigs and sloops can begin turning relatively quickly, while large ships such as first-rate ships of the line no longer respond instantly to the rudder. Ship size and weight are now reflected more clearly in maneuverability. Collision behavior has also been improved. Ships can now be pushed and rotated by impact, making close-range engagements between heavy ships feel more solid and weighty. --- ## Mast Damage System Improved Mast damage is now more detailed. When a mast is destroyed, the effect is no longer just a simple overall speed reduction. The impact depends on which mast has been damaged. For example, damage to the foremast reduces the ship’s ability to sail against the wind, while damage to the mizzenmast affects steering support and turning performance. In 3D Mode, broken masts visibly collapse. In 2D Classic Mode, damaged masts are indicated with text labels so players can still understand which mast has been destroyed. --- ## Flooding System Added and Improved If a cannonball penetrates below the waterline, flooding may begin. As flooding progresses, the ship becomes heavier and slower. If flooding reaches a critical level, the ship will gradually sink. Crew members automatically work the pumps. A ship with more crew can resist flooding for longer, while a ship that has suffered heavy crew losses from grapeshot or other attacks becomes much more vulnerable to flooding. Storms also make flooding harder to control, as waves can wash over the hull and reduce pumping efficiency. This means that shots below the waterline, crew casualties, weather, and ship positioning are now connected as part of a deeper combat system. --- ## Ship Durability and Protection Rebalanced Ship durability and rigging durability have been rebalanced by class. Previously, the difference in rigging durability between small ships and large ships was not clear enough. From this update onward, sails and masts now have durability values that better reflect each ship class. Large ships of the line now have stronger, thicker hulls and can better withstand small-caliber fire from smaller ships. Smaller ships, on the other hand, must rely more on maneuvering, positioning, and tactical opportunities. Galleon-class ships have received durability improvements to better preserve the battle tempo of the Armada scenarios. East Asian ships retain their unique rules while receiving durability and performance values appropriate to their battlefield roles. --- ## Reef and Grounding Damage Improved Ships that run aground on reefs will now continue to suffer hull damage if left there. Grounding is no longer just a movement problem. It is now a dangerous situation that must be resolved quickly. --- ## Graphics and Visual Effects Improved Visual effects in 3D Mode have been improved across the board. As ships move, water now parts along the hull, and foam trails and wake effects follow behind more naturally. Wave impact effects have also been added on the windward side of ships. Ship shadows have been improved so that ships feel more grounded on the water surface. When masts are destroyed, the broken mast, sails, yards, and rigging now disappear together as part of the destruction effect. --- ## Other Fixes * HP bar colors now reflect the actual remaining durability ratio more accurately. * Fixed an issue where visibility reduction in fog battles was being applied too heavily. * 2D Classic Mode now uses the improved aiming guide and broadside reload indicators. * Room listings now display 2D / 3D mode tags. --- This update is also an important foundation for future campaign systems, ship upgrades, officer abilities, and crew mechanics. The original 2D visual style remains available through 2D Classic Mode, while both 2D and 3D modes now share the same improved combat physics system. Thank you to all players who shared feedback. I will continue improving the game to make age-of-sail battles deeper, more tactical, and more enjoyable.

Hello, Captains!

As previously announced, we are now updating the game with 3D ship models for all ships except those in the Asian scenario.

The reason this system is being applied before the campaign mode is that it serves as a prerequisite for the ship upgrade and refit systems planned for the campaign. These include various research systems, crew abilities, officer skills, and other related mechanics.

The Asian ships are also planned to be updated within next week.

In addition, many of the physical systems were already implemented in the existing 2D version, but by moving to 3D models, we can now present these mechanics to players in a much more intuitive way.

I am not a professional graphic designer, so some players may feel that the current 3D ships look somewhat toy-like. I fully understand that. In the future, I will consider improving the UV textures or providing a ship editor so that players can customize ship designs according to their own preferences.

After all, I do not think most of you chose this game simply to look at beautiful 3D ships. :) Even so, I will continue to improve the visual side of the game as well.

Below is a brief overview of the combat systems related to this update.

1. Ship roll affected by windward and leeward conditions

Depending on wind direction and sea conditions, ships will roll from side to side. This will affect the range and accuracy of broadside fire in real time.

2. 3D target system

As targets are now represented in 3D, damage can be calculated by different ship layers and deck sections, including upper, middle, and lower deck areas.

Masts such as the foremast and mainmast can also receive damage and be destroyed individually in real time.

3. Reading wind direction through flags and sails

The state of flags and sails will change according to wind direction, allowing players to read the wind more intuitively during battle.

4. Magazine compartment system

Previously, magazine explosions were handled by percentage chance. Now, explosions can occur when a specific magazine compartment is directly hit.

This means that choosing which part of the enemy ship to target will become an important tactical decision.

With the transition to 3D ship models, many more systems can now be implemented in the future.

Of course, since this update is built upon the existing 2D system, I have also focused heavily on optimization. My goal is to make sure players feel little to no performance difference during actual gameplay.

Now, I will once again move full speed ahead toward the campaign mode.

Perhaps we may eventually encounter something quite different from the multiplayer systems we have seen so far. :) For now, it is still only a plan…

Until then,

May the wind be with you!

— Developer of Ship of the Line

Hello, Captains.

We are currently testing 3D ship models to improve the visual readability and realism of naval battles.

One of the most important elements of age-of-sail combat is the relationship between a ship and the wind. Whether a fleet is sailing windward or leeward should not only affect movement and tactics, but also be something the player can understand visually at a glance.

The wind calls the waves, and the waves move the ship.

For that reason, we are working to visually represent not only the direction of the wind, but also how sails react to it, how the sea responds, and how ships move upon the waves. By looking at the sails, the angle of the hull, and the movement of the ship, players should be able to intuitively understand how the fleet is positioned against the wind, why certain maneuvers are faster or slower, and how tactical decisions are shaped by sailing conditions.

This is still an early visual test, but the goal is clear: to make ship movement feel more realistic, more understandable, and more deeply connected to the actual logic of naval warfare.

Ships will be produced across a total of 13 classes, and some vessels may be created as unique ships with their own distinctive appearance and character.

Our focus is not only to make the ships look better, but to make the battlefield easier to read. Wind, waves, sails, formation, maneuvering, and cannon fire should all work together as part of one tactical system.

We will continue testing and improving the ship visuals step by step as development progresses.

See you at sea, Captains.

— Developer of Ship of the Line

Behold our cute little supply boat!

But if a blockading fleet is cut off from its supply line… well, that would be a very sad fate.

Hello captains,

I wanted to share a small preview of the campaign mode currently in development for Ship of the Line.

The current prototype is set in North-West Europe, 1778, where players will be able to command fleets, manage ships, develop naval infrastructure, research improvements, and assign officers before sending their squadrons into action.

The campaign layer is being designed to connect strategic preparation with tactical naval battles. Instead of fighting isolated scenarios only, players will gradually build up their fleet, improve their ships, organize crews, and prepare for larger operations across the map.

Current work-in-progress features include:

• A hex-based strategic campaign map

• Fleet movement and regional naval zones

• Port and naval base management

• Research trees for ports, buildings, crews, officers, ships, and shipbuilding

• Individual ship lists and fleet organization

• Officer assignment for roles such as captain, lieutenant, gunner, boatswain, marines, and carpenter

• Officer stats such as leadership, attack, gunnery, seamanship, and fame

• Historical and semi-historical naval figures

• Preparation flow before major fleet actions

In the screenshots, you can see the early campaign interface, including the Channel Fleet, ships such as HMS Victory, HMS Temeraire, and Prince of Wales, as well as officer assignment and research systems.

This is still a work in progress, so UI, balance, content, and mechanics may change during development. However, the goal is clear: to make the campaign mode feel like commanding a real Age of Sail naval force, where preparation, ship quality, officers, logistics, and tactical execution all matter.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the game so far. More campaign development updates will follow soon.

Fair winds, Developer of Ship of the Line

Hello Captains,

A new update has set sail!

This update brings a major UI graphics overhaul, improving the look and feel of the game’s menus, command buttons, panels, and battle interface.

Campaign development is also moving forward. The basic design for ship development, dynamic officer abilities, officer growth, and training systems has now been completed.

Please wait a little longer while I continue building the campaign foundation.

Thank you for your support — I’ll see you on the waves.

— The Developer of Ship of the Line

Hello Captains,

A new update has set sail! This one focuses on bringing your battles to life — full broadsides, crews on deck, and a much louder, grander roar of cannon fire.

Changes:

• Full broadsides — ships now fire their entire gun deck. Every port blazes at once, with multi-tier cannon rows on larger ships of the line

• Deck crew — sailors now man the decks, with their numbers scaling according to each ship's complement

• Firing arcs — select a ship to see its broadside firing zone (green for allies, red for enemies)

• Overhauled cannon audio — a thunderous, layered volley that grows with the size of the broadside

• Battle cries during boarding actions

• Richer gunpowder smoke and muzzle flashes

• Time Compression (2×) added for single-player battles

• Reload pacing rebalanced to match the heavier broadsides

• Smoother sinking sequence, timed to the new sinking sound

• Fixes & polish: collision damage no longer stacks on contact, fog now appears far less often, and cannonballs read more clearly when zoomed in

Thank you for your support — I’ll see you on the waves.

— The Developer of Ship of the Line

Hello Captains,

A minor update has been released.

This update adds new sound effects and improves the way ships sink during battle. Destroyed ships now have a clearer sinking animation, making naval engagements feel more dynamic and immersive.

Changes:

• Added new battle sound effects

• Added sinking animations for destroyed ships

• Improved ship destruction feedback

• Minor visual and audio polish

Thank you for your support.