MASTER & COMMANDER: Napoleonic Naval Combat Rules

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Naval warfare in the late 18th century was the apotheosis of the ships of the line and frigates. Britain, Spain, and France perfected the designs of their vessels in order to achieve perfect sailing and gunnery platforms that combined good sailing characteristics with artillery power.

Highlighted: The great ships of the line, called three-deckers, had three decks with a number of guns varying between 98 and 114, and were the true battleships of the era. Although their sailing and maneuvering capacity was very limited, they could inflict and endure great punishment.

The 74-gun ships, ships of two decks, had good sailing ability and powerful gunnery, and were the backbone of the fleets of the line.