Revision 1

Windrose features several ship classes, each filling a different role in naval combat and exploration. Ships differ in speed, durability, maneuverability, and cannon capacity. Choosing the right vessel for a situation matters as much as personal combat skill.

Sloops and cutters

Small, fast boats for early-game travel. These are the first vessels players can access. They are nimble enough to navigate tight island channels and fast enough to outrun most threats, but they cannot take much damage. Best suited for scouting and hit-and-run tactics.

Ketch

A nimble mid-size vessel with good maneuverability. The ketch bridges the gap between the speed of a sloop and the firepower of larger ships. It can handle moderate combat encounters and carries enough cargo for trading runs between islands.

Brig

A versatile workhorse that balances speed, durability, and firepower. The brig was introduced in the October 2025 Galaxies Showcase and became a fan-favorite during playtesting. It is the standard mid-to-late game vessel for players who want a ship that can do everything reasonably well without excelling at any one thing.

Frigate

The largest and most powerful ship class available. Frigates carry heavy cannon capacity and can absorb significant damage. The tradeoff is slow turning speed and limited maneuverability. A frigate can overpower anything in a straight fight but struggles in tight waters between islands. These are endgame vessels for players with the resources to build and maintain them.

Ship summoning

Press K to summon your ship to your current coastal location. This works like calling a horse in other open-world games and prevents the frustration of losing track of where you left your vessel. It works with all ship classes.

Customization

Ships can be fitted with different sails, figureheads, and stern designs for visual customization. Functional upgrades to cannon types and hull reinforcement are separate systems. The October 2025 update added visible deck crew with day-night routines, making ships feel lived-in rather than empty.

Progression

Players start with a small vessel provided through the main quest and work their way up to larger ships through crafting and resource gathering. Each ship class requires increasingly expensive materials to build. Upgrading from a sloop to a brig to a frigate marks clear progression milestones in the game.