Do you want sealed chests from ships, but are struggling on some part of it? Don’t fret, this guide is for you!
Step 1: Have a half-decent ship.
Now, for starting out ship grinding, you’ll need a ship that can take a beating.
For hulls you should have a warship archaic hull.
For sailcloths, brisk/swift archaic sailcloth.
For rams, just use the hammerhead ram, enchant doesn’t really matter.
For cannons, light arcanium works with little sail speed cost, I’m pretty sure they don’t change what they conduct even when you equip them (as I am currently running light arcanium cannons and ram on a lightning-wind mage).
For mortars, run a howitzer.
For attachments? just don’t use them.
For deckhands? Don’t fire them if you’re attached to them, use lucky coins or small gunpowder barrels when you farm ships.
having exotic enchants is nice, but the only one you’ll really need is warship. Cannons and mortars should have strong or powerful if you’re rich. Technically, you can farm nimbus ships with a ketch, maybe a caravel, but I strongly advise using a brig.
Step 2: Check your gear.
Beat up a few max level Bronze Sea criminal/hero, if you can deal with most of them without having to run away in an area larger than a ketch with about as much as one, you’ll be good. If you lose to one or 2, expect that, some npcs just have horrific combos of builds.
If you are farming with another person(s), then they should also be able to pass this test of gear on their own, or else they’ll probably get dropkicked. This other person(s), also don’t need to have their own ship, as long as they help fight the ship crew.
Though if the other person is a glass cannon that needs you to distract the ship crew whilst they charge up devastating moves, or vice versa, then it’s fine if they don’t past the solo test, so long as the distractor can… distract.
Note: the next steps depends if you’re farming with multiple people or not.
Step 3a: Ignore Armored ships.
While you could easily sink them with a brig, killing its crew is a whole other story. If the ship captain is on the lowest end of the range of levels they can be, then it’s possible to beat them, but I wouldn’t bet money on the odds the armored ship captain isn’t level 180+. They also only give 1 extra sealed chest, for MUCH more effort.
On the other hand, the average Heavy ship captain is around the same level as a Bronze Sea wanted criminal, so you’ll probably be able to handle them as long as you don’t lose focus. Now every now and then they can spawn in the overlap with Armored ship captains, but it’s generally in the beatable range of them. Of course, npcs can spawn in with absolutely busted builds, so don’t let your guard down.
To get rid of most of the crew, simply spam aoe attacks until it’s just the quartermaster and ship captain left, then use
For the most ideal ship farming, be neutral or a villain to sink as many ships as you possibly can. Keep an eye on your renown or notoriety level though, just because brigs don’t naturally spawn, doesn’t mean that they can’t spawn in general.
3b: Leave dozens of shipwrecks in your wake.
Sink whatever ship you and your fellow shipfarmer(s) see. Have negative / neutral renown, you’ll be trying to slaughter whatever gets in your way, so might as well commit to it. Merchant ships are the easiest prey, iirc, merchant npcs not only take the slot of quartermaster, but also can’t fight. Besides merchant ships seem to be less strong compared to the other combative ships.
Upon sinking a ship, jump onto the deck of the opposing ship and essentially spam large aoe moves with the other person(s) until everything is dead if it’s a mere Heavy ship. If it’s an Armored ship, spam aoe until the crew is dead, then unless hell upon the ship captain and quartermaster.
The main issue with this strategy, is while you’ll be able to wipe out more ships, you’ll have to split profits, probably. If the other person(s) farming with you just want their payment to be a specific ship part or smth else, then you’ll just make more profit than flying solo.
That’s all I have for this guide, hope it helps… someone, at least.