[Edward Edgemenace]

Is that your primary complaint? But, computer ships always go in one direction. Pirate players almost always avoid incoming shots by twisting and going backwards. NPC ships can't hit me when I do that - pirate players can't hit me with their broadsides either. No magic to it - I'm sure most high level sailors must do the same in this game. On larger ships, it makes much less difference. On a light sloop, I can dodge between two cannonballs, if I'm pointing at the boat that is shooting.

Have you tried rotating your camera view to see just where your cannonballs are going? For most broadsides aiming/targeting, nothing beats the compass. But for small targets (ahem, like the light sloop) you have to aim more accurately than you can with only the compass. Which in turn, means you have to have direct visual cues to line up on and practice on. Not only is it weird to get used to using right-mouse while sailing, you also have to re-learn how to aim.

I agree that all sailing aspects SHOULD be the same in PVE and PVP. I'm just not convinced that "broadsides targeting" is actually different. The disparity you are seeing could be due to the fact that NPC ships always go forward, never stopped, never going backwards.

OK, re-reading what you actually said, instead of what I thought you said, I have to apologize and agree completely. Broadsides targeting in PVP is different than it is in PVE, but should not be.