My current Configuration (and mistakes
)
Left Broadside (3/5)
Right Broadside (3/5)
Full Sail (1/5)
Come About (1/5) - mistake
Open Fire (0/5)
Ramming Speed (1/5)
Take Cover (0/5)
Windcatcher (3/5)
Tacking (2/5)
Treasure Sense (4/5)
Taskmaster: (3/5)
Total (21/26)
(I think - I'll double check next time I'm on....EDIT: Confirmed and updated)
On Pirate #1 - Take Cover was a waste. It just doesnt last long enough (and once you have lighting and the 'fish tail' manuver down pact - theres no need for it). He has lots of other errors also (one less on Tackling and only one on Full Sail, and a few more on Taskmaster and Treasure Sense and get Ramming Speed would of made more sense I think).
On Pirate #2 - Come About was a waste. My thought was that my War Figate would need it for better 'fish tailing' (this is when you tag a ship - then while it chases you you swing the rear of the ship back and forth while pulling ahead just a bit each time). As it turns out - Tackling would of been the better place for that point (as I never use Come About and better Tackling allows me to turn the ship fast enough - I was looking for a replacement for my less on Tackling... bah - live and learn)
Besides Broadsides, Full Sail and Ramming Speed - all the points I find work best on the 'Passive' Skills' (my crews usually have strong enough Canon, have their Cannon upgraded to fire fast enough, and I never get tagged from long distance shooting and 'fish tailing' and - so Open Fire, Come About and Take Cover just don't last long enough to have them with a point)
Windcatcher. Tacking, Treasure Sense. and Taskmaster all all GREAT passive skills which do much better jobs at protecting the ship, the crew and my overall sailing / recharging of the ship (and get me the Gold!)
My last points will go to one Broadside each, Tackling, Taskmaster and if I get one more I'll go Windcatcher (am I out of points yet??? LOL)
The problem I find with Take Cover, Open Fire and Come About is the duration... WAY too short to be any use.
So you get 5 seconds on Take cover for one point... This will only protect the crew / ship for one round with an enemy vessel - if you don't sink it quick then it gets the next blast in anyway and I find it never worked! The ship was still taking damage even with it 'engaged'... maybe if they gave you 15 seconds to start and 5 second intervals it maybe worth a look - but I wouldn't waste any points on this for a skill I don't think even works.
Open Fire is the same problem. too short! You'd need to spend all kinds of points on this skill so your crew could quickly get -one- enemy ship... placing them points on Taskmaster alone is a better investment becuse its always recharging the Broadsides faster. Most crews are upgraded on cannons for better ammos and cannon skills so this is a wasterd area.
Come About was a dud. Sure it works, but again duration is the issue - and Tackling is always a skill learned forever where you have to wait for this to recharge. I go after a Hi Level ship, thinking I can back-door it... but it doesnt last long enough!
I do think though that it is the way I sail that makes these choices my non-favorites. If you sail with a weak crew often / need to get close to big ships often then these skills may be right for you (so take the advice with a grain of salt I guess
)
As for Treasure Sense... at one time - too many points here would be a waste. The 65k limit on gold did make putting TOO many points on this not worth it simply because there was nothing to buy after weapons and ships... now though - with the new clothes and items out, the new quests coming out (first weapons then the rumored 'summer' update) -and- in the future the ability to build a custom ship??? (in the Frequent Asked / Answers area) I'd want to be sure I can afford it all
Thats my two dabloons worth