Navel combat

[stubby]

First of all, the thrust mechanic is a really cool way to determine wind direction for sailing ships, or current direction if you decide one exists. See the rulebook for details.

Is the 2001 or 2005 rulebook being utilized for this break down?

2010 (Chapter 9.3: Thrust Vectors).

[Phred]

2010 (Chapter 9.3: Thrust Vectors).

Now that's awesome. I like how thrust and steering are brought together into one length calculation instead calculating thrust length and steering.

[IVhorseman]

That's all well and good for what "actually" happened during the age of sail, but discussions like that have zero effect on the possibilities in a game like Brikwars. If you want to have something that relates the size of the hole with the rate of sinking, you can modify the whole "takes a number of turns to sink equal to the ship's size in inches" thing. Divide size of ship by size of hole, total number is how many turns the ship will sink in. Obviously, a hole must be below the waterline.

Armor plating will make small arms (mostly) ineffective, yes. Even then, since LEGO ships tend to be built from large POOP (piece with only one purpose) hulls, showing a "hole" in the side might take a little creativity and imagination.

[stubby]

I'm not sure I can think of a way to make holes sink ships that would feel tactile and fun to play. Let's see.

It might be funny to have a ship take on water as a kind of Field Hazard, if you have a bunch of loose blue bricks to start filling the ship with. Increase the size of the Water Hazard by 1" per turn for every 1" of hole in the side of the ship, with 1" of Current per 1" of hole, swamping away minifigs, cannons, ammunition, etc. A ship that's swamped completely doesn't necessarily go under, but it loses all Movement ability and isn't good for much otherwise, and everything floatable floats overboard and away from the ship.