Hmmm I have sailed and won numerous times and been on numerous winning crews since the upgrades. Seen it crash also (but not due to number of crew). Its true, that usually one side at a time is facing the bridges in most boss battles. It's also true that there are more than 4 cannons on each side of the ship, so being able to man more than 4 cannons on a side is definately helpful. I have also found that most people do not 'switch' sides amidst the battle. (I have found I am often the sole person making sure all cannons on either side are manned.. switching sides accordingly)

So I dont see the more than 8 being wasteful OR distracting. Not to people having fun.

I've beaten it more times with full crews than partial ones.

Its obviously a matter of preference, and again, whats best, is whats best to those participating.

From experience take cover does not work on the towers at all. It does work on the Goliath and would probably work on the frigates if it didn't wear off before the cutscene was over.

Hmmm not the "common" experience i'd say having been on the number of BB's I have, and having read the number of posts about it used in the BB that I have.

If you have 3+ high level cannons on both sides, those frigates sink in seconds. Take cover not even necessary there.

Did I miss it? Would you like to hear my take on it?

hehe, wow, quoted a pretty old post...

One first (i was being nice).

On the second, i'd say its still somewhat true with me. What I know and used/done successfully are what ive picked up from observations on others battles ive been on.

Most frequent and seems to be most successful leaves the frigates and the first bridges mostly to the cannoneers, using take cover and moving some to avoid inbound fire.

Then as you pass the first bridge tuck ship just past last bridge as far left as you can get it, and the mountain shields alot of the ship so cannons can take out the bridges. Waiting for skills to recharge each time before you head to the next set of bridges, 3rd bridges similar, and from then firepower skills and luck :)
Goliath stay where it puts you on goliaths terms, and hit her hard and sink her fast, or hit full sail and get some distance and come back and hit her from distance on your terms. Depends alot on your crew.

As I said before, Im usually on cannons, my preferred role in BB's :)

I prefer to sail (mastered also). One of the things I DON'T see a lot or see mentioned in strategies and tactics is using broadsides.

YES--Broadsides work! Line yer broadside up to the bridge and fire away! A massive broadside from a mastered sailor can wipe the bridges out quickly.

And yes, I use Take Cover, and after that wears off I use Open Fire. Both those and the broadsides make a big difference.

However you do it, have fun and good luck, mates!

Agreed... Broadsides and take cover work. I dont use leadership for the most part... just don't need it.

I too like sailing with a full crew.. but then, I dont use the 'all one side' moves some people do for the whole Boss Battle. =)

Frigs: use rear cannons, hit only the left rear frig coz the front frig is impossible to hit using the rear cannon, then go over to right & help the ppl on right side to sink the rear & front frigs (usually the rear one has already sunk by now).

Sailing part, tacking is a MUST skill if you wanna be able to dodge cannons & such. Thats how I pretty much win.
I do use Take Cover & Open Fire for all 4 of sets of bridges.
My lvl 36 with max sailing (been winning since I was lvl 30 tho) for tacking/open fire/take cover rank pts is 1/2/3...I win mostly in the green about 25-40% ship damage, record is 14%.
Last time I took my lvl 25 with lvl 20 sailing (better tacking T/OF/TC = 2/1/3), it was the best on that name so far, actually the only win so far, 19% ship damage. I do plan to max out tacking, so it would be 5/1/3, maybe I'll be able to get less than 10% damage one day lol.

Tacking & knowing how to sail is hard to describe without seeing me do it, but basically:
Going thru the 1st set of bridges, shoot 2nd's left fort & then spin/wobble/whatever the ship backwards to dodge its cannons that r shooting where u were using ur tacking skill. Then take out right fort. 3rd set of bridges, same thing: shoot left fort then right fort, dodge cannons in the meantime. 4th set: ram/full sail to dodge their explosives (or whatever it is now, I remember it shooting explosives, took my green ship to the red zone almost always if I got hit with only the first wave, it shoots regular cannons after the first wave tho).

Goliath: broadside, broadside, broadside! LOL, right after the cutscene hit left broadside & open fire & up arrow to sail forward (no full sail) & Take Cover, move around a bit while broadsiding # until Goliath sinks (but Goliath usually sinks the moment I hit Take Cover anyways) Goliath sinks pretty fast if u got good fury shooters or max thunder, for this method.
If you got just an average crew or just a bit too nervous to sit & fight Goliath next to you, hit left broadside, full sail to get ahead, open fire...blah blah, Goliath should sink by now or turn your ship & broadside # of times until it sinks.

It's easy, people who have seen me sail, try to do it themselves & they win in the yellow zone with around 60% ship damage.