Hi, I've just started playing this game and am absolutely loving it.
A (probably unusual) situation occurred in a recent game where a heroic little Spanish sloop, after a few turns of exchanging shots, suffered a raking broadside that did most of its damage to the crew and rigging, while leaving the guns and hull largely intact. With such a little crew aboard, the vessel was reduced to less than the amount needed to trim sails each turn (she only had one crew factor left). However the player had rolled very well for captain and crew quality at the beginning of the scenario and rolled very well in his command check. The sloop passed, even with the modifiers for having lost such a high proportion of her crew. We marveled at the gallant crew's determination even while pitying their lot.
So my uncertainty was with what happens to a ship that no longer has sufficient crew to trim sails. Does she stop sailing, drift and pivot in to the wind? Is she simply unable to make major turns, while still being able to sail in a straight line and make minor turns?
Similarly, what happens when a ship is at full sail, requiring a larger minimum crew for trimming sails, but takes crew casualties reducing her to less than the complement needed to trim sails at that sail setting? Would she be forced to reduce sail to the lowest setting at once? Is she out of control until she can do so?
Thanks for your help, and thanks for an awesome game.
James