1860 Frigate...

[Carthaginian]

Then how would you determine the speed under sail?

No idea- I'm just assuming that my ships cannot exceed 2/3 their top speed while under sail if they have 2% their displacement in Misc Weight devoted to sails, and that they cannot exceed 1/2 their top speed under sail if they have 1% heir displacement in Misc Weight devoted to sails.

[Ithekro]

Remember that sail was still the primary method of movement in those days.  Steam engines were still increadibly underpowered and unreliable (verses sails at least).  By the 1880s and 1890s steam engines became more powerful and reliable to the point were countries stated removing the rigging for sail their warships would have in case the engines broke or to conserve coal, because the wind is "free". 

Also most steam frigates top listed speed is usually under sail, not under steam.  Steam allows one to go against the wind and allows one to do any kind of turn at speed against an opponent under sail that is limited by the winds.  Trouble is that if the winds are right, the sailing vessel can outrun the steamer, at least up to this point (a reason the Clipper ships were used...they were faster than the steamers for passanger service and priority shipments).

[Tanthalas]

keep in mind im going off Military not Civilian here, but it apears in Conways anyway, that most at this period were slightly faster steaming than under sail, and some were a Damn site faster under steam.  Thats my take on it from what research I have done (I have also found that if you take the SHP in Conways you end up with substantialy faster ships than period)

[Ithekro]

Are you talking 1880s or 1860s?

[Tanthalas]

1865-1880 is the only period I have realy researched at this point.  Conways quite often points out on important ships how they did under sail and on their engines.

[Carthaginian]

Trouble is that if the winds are right, the sailing vessel can outrun the steamer, at least up to this point (a reason the Clipper ships were used...they were faster than the steamers for passanger service and priority shipments).

Ithekro,

The age of the Clippers ended in 1869 with the construction of the Suez. It would have ended soon after anyway due to the increased reliability and range of the steam engine. And sailing ships were almost never faster than a steam ship simply because of variability of the winds. A sailing vessel could become becalmed and loose days worth of travel time. They could be forced to sail hundreds of miles out of their way to maintain headway. They could have yards and sails carried away in storms, and loose not only time but ability to regain it through reduced speed.

Steam might be slower on the top end in the 1860's... but by 1870 if a steam ship carried enough coal for the journey, it would be a much better bet for traveling a distance quickly and reliably than a sailing ship. Sail hung around NOT because of speed for priority cargoes and passengers- it was maintained because sailing ships were cheaper to operate initially.

And Conway's generally uses speed under steam power- unless a ship has no steam engine- to gauge top speed.

[Ithekro]

Hmmm, I thought it was 1879...guess I was off (but then I don't have that Conways, just the 1906-1922 version)

[Walter]

You use pop culture people, because they are recognizable. Would you make the connection that 'Jorge de la Garza' is supposed to represent 'Jack Sparrow'? Probably not, unless it was made extremely obvious, in which case, whats the point in changing the name?

The thing is that Sparrow's not the only pirate around. You could also use captain Vallo and his trusty sidekick Ojo or Captain Geoffrey Thorpe or Captain Yellowbeard or Oliver "Puddin' Head" Johnson and Rocky Stonebridge...

You don't want to put on 32 lb guns you want to put on some flavor of shell gun in 7, 8, 9 inch, etc size.

I guess he should. :D

[Korpen]

The problem we have here is that 1880 is a late start for this sort of stuff 1680 or 1780 would make FAR more sense.  Issues like this should have been resolved by now one way or another.  But people want to use spring style and do a race for the globe so the game starts with a power vacuum in places.

Just curious as a latecomer in this sense; but when was it decided that exploration would be focus?

[Tanthalas]

The problem we have here is that 1880 is a late start for this sort of stuff 1680 or 1780 would make FAR more sense.  Issues like this should have been resolved by now one way or another.  But people want to use spring style and do a race for the globe so the game starts with a power vacuum in places.

Just curious as a latecomer in this sense; but when was it decided that exploration would be focus?

My understanding from what I have read is that maps will look alot like OTL, with the Coasts well known rivers maped out but the hearts of the Continents relitivly unknown (I picture the middle of like Africa with a big "Here be Dragons" written acrossed it)