Sailing by COMPASS

[Edward Edgemenace]

Confirmed someone else's observation today: when on cannon, compass is not always "fixed" in the direction the ship is heading. Sometimes it is off by 30 degrees, other times by 180. I SUSPECT it has to do with the captain's directional attitude toward the ship's helm, that skews it off so horribly. If anyone else tests this and has more insight...enlighten us all, please!

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

Confirmed someone else's observation today: when on cannon, compass is not always "fixed" in the direction the ship is heading. Sometimes it is off by 30 degrees, other times by 180. I SUSPECT it has to do with the captain's directional attitude toward the ship's helm, that skews it off so horribly. If anyone else tests this and has more insight...enlighten us all, please!

Not sure I understand what you mean.

The compass is part of the individual pirate (not the boat or the cannon). Should point in relation to the individual pirates position. Top of the compass is always directly in front of the pirate, the bottom behind them. If im up on front cannon of a frigate it would probably be 30 degrees off the captains compass, as im technically pointing that much to either side of straight ahead. On side cannon, 180 degrees off the captains compass. I never really noticed the "N" for north on it before.. so maybe that part is off?

Basically the captain may see an enemy ship dead ahead on his compass, but a pirate on a side cannon would see the enemy ship to the side on his, as thats where its approaching from, from that pirates perspective. This is at least how I understand to have worked.