I am not generally much of a forum poster, but I find the melee combat in this game to be one of its most engaging activities, and wanted to throw out some ideas I had in hope that they get seen and maybe considered to be a part of the game in the future, as well as getting some feedback from others.

First and foremost, I would REALLY like to see a system that allows for dueling between crew mates. I believe it would help pass time sailing on the larger ships, provide distraction when there is a lull in content, and also allow for very fun way of interacting and getting to know each other as a crew. That said, here is my idea for some fun additions to the melee combat system.

If the cutlass is a pirate's bread and butter when it comes to melee, then my idea is that other varieties of weapons become available. In the same way that the blunderbuss is a short-ranged weapon, the flintlock intended more for mid-range, and the Eye of Reach being intended for long-range engagement, I am of the opinion that melee should have a few more varieties.

Beyond the combat applications, the cutlass is also a great utility tool. I use it for moving, boarding, jumping and “sprinting” through water more than I do to fight, and I think it's probably one of the most useful skills in the game to have, being able to properly time and range lunges into water is incredibly helpful in pretty much every scenario.

So I organized a sort of system that scales around the mechanics of the cutlass, but works for other weapon types. I don't totally know if the way that the weapon works is actually intended, but because it seems to have its own animation, I assumed it did, and gave other weapons a similar format to how they function.

CUTLASS

Base pirate weapon, moderate damage, moderate speed, good defense

Basic Attacks: 3 (on hit repeat)

Block: Parries indefinitely (Front – slows movement)

Charge Attack: moderate windup into a forward piercing lunge attack ('stun' on miss)

Block/Charge Attack: moderate windup with movement, into a forward lunge (Allows for jumping and other movement during charge)

BOARDING AXE

Strong attack, slow, bad defense

Basic Attacks: 1 (no repeat, decent re-swing cooldown)

Block: Damage reduction, but no block – Block action flips the axe around, and the claw is used to attach to ship exterior, and enables a slow climb up hulls/trees/wooden construction – 'blocked' hits force player backward and deal slightly reduced damage (Does not slow movement)

Charge Attack: quick charge, swings axe right to left and then left to right in quick succession – no movement, moderate cooldown

Block/Charge Attack: Slow windup – charges and leaps forward with an axe swing. Longer than cutlass lunge. Axe swing hits for full health at end of movement, and attaches to hulls/trees/construction. (Allows for movement, jumping – long cooldown)

RAPIER

Quick duelist weapon. Aggressive on attack, weak on defense.

Basic Attacks: 4 (no hit necessary, fast repeat cooldown)

Block: Riposte - Parries first incoming attack and returns a force movement forward attack (does NOT slow movement)

Charge Attack: Quick windup, backstep feint into a short lunge attack

Block/Charge Attack: Quick windup, forward hop into a short lunge attack

PIGSTICKER (KNIFE)

Very weak damage, very fast attack, no defense

Basic Attacks: Infinite fast jab. Hits do very small damage on the strike, but apply a short damage over time debuff, and a short speed reduction debuff.

Block: hops a short distance in whatever direction you are moving. Avoidance is the only defense.

Charge Attack: Forced forward movement with 2 violent swings of the knife, hit does knockback

Block/Charge Attack: forward broadjump with no attack, no “out of breath” function, short cooldown

The idea is that the cutlass be the best all around weapon for piracy, as it what everyone starts with. The boarding axe would be a commitment weapon that gives added utility to boarding ships, but offers little help in defense once you are in the fight. The rapier would be a very aggressive weapon that creates difficulty that only a skilled fencer could overcome, and the pigsticker is more about silly antics and thematic hijinks. I just don't think you should ever have a pirate game without knives, honestly. Just me.

Anyway, I know this is an afterthought of an afterthought, but I would love to see a more complex melee system, as well as some more interesting mechanics for boarding ships and interacting on the sea. I wouldn't expect to see any of this anytime soon, but I am hoping someone with some influence thinks it's a good idea, and uses it to make something even cooler!

As a last note, just wanted to say thanks to everyone that worked on the game, on the chance any of them see this. It's amazing!