Boarding Party Gear

Boarding Party Gear is a ship-mounted equipment item in Windrose that improves NPC crew performance during boarding actions. It is crafted at the Shipwright's Workshop and equipped through the Wharf interface.

Recipe

What It Does

Boarding Party Gear raises NPC crew HP, Defense, and Attack during boarding combat. The gear does not affect the player character's own boarding performance; it affects the NPC crew that accompanies the player onto the enemy deck. A ship with fully upgraded Boarding Party Gear fields a crew that can hold its own against enemy deck fighters, sometimes clearing an enemy vessel without needing player intervention.

Upgrading at the Shipwright's Workshop

Boarding Party Gear has its own upgrade track at the Shipwright's Workshop's Upgrade tab. Each tier consumes more of the base materials (Copper Ingot, Rough Hide, Coarse Fabric) and can later incorporate Foothills Iron Ingot, Tanned Leather, and Linen Fabric for higher tiers. Players who lean into boarding-heavy naval combat typically prioritize this upgrade path over cannon damage increases; crew survivability is the single largest swing on whether a boarding action succeeds.

When It Matters

• Solo boarding. Without Boarding Party Gear, the player does most of the deck-fight work alone; with it, the crew pulls weight

• Larger enemy ships. Blackbeard Brigs and Frigates spawn more deck defenders than a Ketch; crew that cannot match their HP pool gets wiped fast

• Co-op fleet play. In multi-ship engagements where the player manages the helm, crew boarding performance is the only boarding you get; upgrading Boarding Party Gear effectively turns your crew into an autonomous boarding party

See Also

• Boarding — the broader boarding mechanic

• NPC Crew — the crew that benefits from the gear

• Shipwright's Workshop — crafting and upgrade station

• Ship Customization — full ship-loadout context