hmm, it appears to be a rotational cannon with equal parts advantage and disadvantage, allowing a player and their crew to pursue a unique playstyle that benefits chasing but is bad for extended engagements. what a Novel concept, how you may ask?
-Placed at the bow or stern of your ship, has a 270 degree arc of movement, aims faster.
BUT
-removes a standard cannon on each side of your ship, has a longer reload time, and much smaller AOE.
hmm but what about crews that want to excel at range, even though it may cost them at close distances?
here's the answer
-Double range, double damage, double AOE
BUT
-replaces 2 cannons on the side of the ship with the
Big cannon, Aims Slower, and reloads at Less than
half the Speed of a standard cannon.
Alright, but some crews just love boarding. SO...
how about a harpoon gun for boarding, but reduces a ships damage potential? that shares many attributes with the swivel gun?
-placed at bow, has a 270 degree firing arc, Fires a harpoon that anchors two ships together, pirates are able to run across the rope line and board each other.
BUT
-The line can be cut or shot off, Removes a cannon on each side of the ship, has 2 time slower reload and 75% of the range of a standard cannon.
DANG, all that seems pretty balanced, and gives more power to the community to be the pirate they want to be, very neat.
P.S also smoke shells and grape shot(Small ship damage, high player damage). as well as rounds for all the specialty cannons listed above. and to further balance that out, throw the idea around that the special ammo must be bought and doesnt spawn randomly
;)