User:Antonkraft/Blockadeguide

Ahoy and welcome to Yaruto's blockade navigator guide.
This guide is not designed to teach you how to move in a blockade, that is for everyone to find out for themselves. This guide offers tips and suggestions to get into blockade navigation so that you get a firm grasp of blockades and begin to develop your own style of navigation.

How to get on a blockade nav list.
All I can give here is a few hints because it all comes down to who you know and how you're seen by others.

When you hear there is going to be a blockade or you can see the blockade on the notice board here is what I do and it works for me most times.

First ask who is in charge of the blockade (remember be very nice.) When you find out who it is send them a tell and ask/beg to see if they need one more naver.


 * note* most flags won’t let just anyone nav for them, but there are a few tricks to sweeten the deal for them.

Tell them you're ready to risk the ships you own in their blockade if you get to nav for them. (Works best in a sinking blockade.) Offer to stock the ships you nav yourself (works best in a non sinker) Tell the blockade team you can fill up a ship with your hearties and crew/flag members (Only tell them that if you are sure you can do it.) Offer flag broadcast from your flag (Only works if you're a royal and have a semi large flag) Remember these are just hints and I suggest you find your own way to get to nav. Never use threats or anything like that for a nav spot that is just bad style.

Yaruto's 10 rules of blockade navigation.
People ask me how I get to navigate in so many blockades and how I get picked out to nav before the so-called better navigators in some cases. There are a few simple reasons why. I like to call them my rules for naving. (Note that I sometimes break them and I always regret it afterwards.) 1. Never whine that you don't happen to have a boat to drive immediately. It only makes it worse for yourself and the good people running the blockade. 2. Never bitch about the size of the boat you are driving. If they say you are going to nav a cutter or a war brig then it is what the blockade team needs on the board. 3. Keep calm in the chat and voice servers. Screaming in there will only get you on the bad side of a lot of people and will only worsen the odds of you ever driving for them or anyone else again. 4. Be ready to XO or puzzle if asked. 5. Be nice, calm and helpful in crew chat for the whole blockade if you have the time. 6. Work towards the points and not the sinks 7. Work together with the rest of the navigators. You're a team, nothing else. 8. Keep your XO happy and your crew happy. They are the boat’s heart and you're the brain. 9. Always contest points even if you are damaged. Never move away from points to repair. 10. Ego can be good but suppress your ego in the blockade. It is team work that wins a blockade, never a solo navigator.

Things to do before
If possible get your own XO. It is both easier for the blockade team and for you because you can work with someone you trust and know. Get Ventrilo, Teamspeak or what ever Voice system the blockade team will use and test out if it works for you. Do this at least an hour before the blockade starts. Be sure to eat before the blockade and have a few of your favourite snacks and drinks close by if you get thirsty or a bit hungry. Blockades can last a while and naving when you're hungry or thirsty is not nice. Home yourself on the island that the blockade is on.

Things to do during if you are not naving
Ask the admiral if they will let you be on the watch ship. If they are already out on the board, jump on the ship that is loading and ask the XO there if you can watch from their ship. You should take the opportunity to watch the blockade simply because it is both more fun to watch the blockade board than wait around, and you get a good idea what you should do when you get on the board and you might pick up a few things while you watch. Keep the chat of the blockade crew calm and polite. Answer any questions the jobbers might have and try and sort out any problems that might happen. If no one else does, tell the jobbing count in officer chat. Around 5 minutes apart is fine but be ready to stop if asked. (/cwho on the other sides blockade crew and /cwho on your own blockade crew.)

Things to do when your ship is filling up
Waiting for your ship to fill might be one of the most boring parts of a blockade both for you and your jobbers so try and make it fun for both you, the XO and the crew. Try running trivia contests or encourage people to tell jokes. It makes the time more enjoyable for all.

Things to think about while you nav
Points win the blockade not running after ships to sink. Team work is everything in a blockade. Don't be a ego tripping naver. Follow the orders you get from the board admiral/Lead naver.

Things do to after the blockade
Thank your crew on the ship and your XO. Say thanks to the admiral and the rest of the blockade crew for allowing you nav and be part of the fun.