Ship customization is a central system in Windrose. Your ship is both your primary means of travel between islands and your weapon in naval combat. The game features multiple ship classes with distinct characteristics, and players can upgrade their vessels through crafting stations built at their base. The Steam store page describes the system: "Equip and customize your ship to suit your playstyle, from nimble ketch to versatile brig and monstrous frigate."
Ship Classes
Windrose includes several ship classes, each with different strengths. Ships vary in speed, durability, maneuverability, cargo capacity, and the number of cannons they can mount. Choosing the right ship for the task matters: a fast ketch is better for exploration, while a heavily armed frigate is built for prolonged naval engagements.
Ship Class | Speed | Durability | Cannon Slots | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Starter Boat | Moderate | Low | None | Basic transport, no combat capability |
Ketch | High | Low | Few | Fast scout and exploration vessel |
Cutter | High | Moderate | Moderate | Quick attack and raiding |
Brig | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Versatile all-rounder |
Frigate | Low | High | Many | Heavy combat warship |
Galleon | Low | Very High | Many | Large-scale combat and cargo |
The developer roadmap mentions that visual customization of ships, including sails and cosmetic elements, along with crew management features, are planned but were not fully implemented in the demo build.
Summoning and Recalling Your Ship
Your starter boat can be summoned instantly to your location by pressing K. This works from any shoreline and avoids the need to walk back to where you last docked. If your combat ship is destroyed, you can rebuild it at the Wharf for a small fee of 20 Wood using the Repair/Salvage option, then press K to respawn it.
The Wharf
The Wharf is a shore-based crafting structure that serves as your ship dock and upgrade station. It costs 10 Wood and 10 Coarse Fabric to build. The Wharf becomes available after completing the Seafarer quest, which requires crafting your first set of cannons. The Wharf must be placed on a shoreline.
From the Wharf, you can equip cannons onto your ship, repair damaged vessels, salvage wrecked ships, and access upgrade options. It is the central hub for all ship-related modifications.
The Shipwright's Workshop
The Shipwright's Workshop is the crafting station where you build ship components. This is where you craft 12-Pounder Cannons, hull bracing, and boarding gear before equipping them at the Wharf. Building the Shipwright's Workshop requires resources including wood and copper ingots.
Ship Upgrades
Several upgrade categories are available for your ships:
Upgrade | Crafted At | Materials | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
12-Pounder Cannons | Shipwright's Workshop | 10 Copper Ingots, 10 Wood | Equips cannons to ship for naval combat |
Hull Bracing | Shipwright's Workshop | Copper Ingots, Planks | Increases ship durability and hull strength |
Boarding Gear | Shipwright's Workshop | Fabric, Rope, Nails | Enables boarding enemy vessels |
Upgrading your ship's hull and cannons before sailing to new islands is strongly recommended. Enemy ships in later areas hit harder and take more punishment. Going underequipped into naval combat often results in a sunk ship and a long swim back to shore.
Naval Combat Role
Your ship's loadout directly determines your effectiveness in naval encounters. Combat at sea involves broadside cannon exchanges, maneuvering for positioning, and eventually closing in for boarding actions. A fully upgraded frigate with reinforced hull and maximum cannons can tank significant damage while dealing it in return. A lightly equipped ketch relies on speed and hit-and-run tactics.
The demo included ship-to-ship combat, coastal fort bombardment, and boarding sequences. In co-op, one player can steer while others man the cannons or prepare for boarding, adding a layer of teamwork to naval engagements.
Tips for Ship Management
Always carry 20 spare Wood so you can repair your ship immediately if it sinks.
Build the Wharf close to where you spend the most time sailing to reduce travel between your base and the coast.
Upgrade hull bracing before cannons if you are struggling to survive naval encounters. Staying afloat matters more than dealing damage.
In co-op, assign one player to prioritize ship upgrades while others focus on land-based progression.
Press K to recall your boat rather than running across an entire island to reach the coast.