Why don't my ships fight?

[Damascus]

My 3 schooners against 2 schooners. Full ammo, no damage, no cargo, not set to hold fire or flee. First, they are lined up abreast and, of course, the line leader is the middle ship so you can't turn one way or the other without someone sailing around in circles. (How about the ability to designate a line leader?) Second, my ships fired about once while the enemy fired four or five times. The battle took place at the very beginning of the Grand Scenario, when the "no battles" orders had just been rescinded so both sides should have been fairly equal. I tried to have my ships parallel to the enemy at all times so they had a clear arc of fire, but it just got to be not much fun after all my ships were sunk.

Do ships need to be given a specific target or will they fire at the nearest ship or best target?

Sorry for the vent, but I really want to enjoy this game and it's obvious that the tactical portion is a big part of the game. I just wish that the commands were easier. I use the mouse for most if the commands. but scrolling with mouse is too slow (and the shift keys don't work with mouse scrolling, only keyboard scrolling). I also would like to be able to zoom out more.

Also, is this a known bug? I captured a ship, transferred its cargo, and when I went back to strategic mode my fleet was gone.

 

[unmerged(105858)]

When i played this game at the beginning i also did what you do and it dosn't work very well.
Now i right click on the ship i want to attack first and i have good results this way.

I don't have an answer for your second question.That didn't happend with me so far.Could be a bug.

 

[unmerged(137712)]

I have seen this is sort of thing is fairly common in the early game with no experience grocery captains. I think it is more how the game works not necessarily a bug. As a ship gains battle experience its rate of fire and accuracy increases. It also seems that accuracy tends to follow morale. Meaning as your ships morale decrease so does its accuracy at longer range.

I have found it best to use direct command and jump from ship to ship manually firing the cannon and adjusting the ships course. I also like to have two or more ships attack one enemy. The trick is trying moving your ships through the enemy's fire so that a single ship does not take the brunt of the enemy fire.

Love the game.
Greg.

 

[Damascus]

Thanks. I've been doing better, especially when two French schooners ran aground and sank before I got to shoot. I guess ship command does take some doing. Next battle my ships did shoot quicker.