How to Fire - Ship Cannons

## Overview of the basics about Cannons

Cannons are the main anti-ship weapon used in NBZ: High Caliber.
While this article is only for instructions to fire, article will describe the difference between the various cannons used.

### Different Groups of Cannon Sizes

Cannons come various sizes, this article will break these down since there many. However, these weapons can seen four sub-groups.

* Anti-Aircraft Guns
20mm & 40mm Guns. These are are small anti-aircraft guns, which are used on small ships for other tasks including firing on small craft and enemy troops attacking the ship. while smaller 20mm gun can not be control by a director, the larger 40mm can be controlled remotely by AADirector Sign. These guns use small ammunition boxes.

* Small Caliber Cannons
These cannons of this group range from 3 inch to 6 inch guns. Primary used as main anti-ship weapon on small to medium ships such as Patrol Craft to Destroyers, they are able to use special ammunition to shoot down enemy aircraft as well as kill smaller ships with enough shots. These guns can be controlled by Director Sign for whatever size they are. This size of gun is used on larger ships as secondary weaponry to back up their larger weapons.

* Medium Caliber Cannons
Secondary guns on larger ships, these can range from 7 inch guns to 9 inch cannons. They are geared toward anti-ship / surface fire. They are not ideal firing on aircraft or large ships. However, these weapons like the small caliber cannons can be mounted in large numbers, thus multiple weapons can eventually damage a ship, but may not be able penetrate heavy armor.

* Large Caliber Cannons
Main guns on larger ships, these can range from 10 inch guns to 18 inch cannons, however 11 inch guns and larger only use large shells with gunpowder, while smaller cannons use medium shells and no gunpowder.

### Basic steps firing any cannon based weapon

* Step 1 - Take Control of the Weapon: Click Cannon sign or breech of weapon (20mm & 40mm only).     You will be teleported to top of the weapon if it not a 20mm or 40mm with Jackolantern on their head and given a Blaze Rod. Note: Player with smaller guns can move around near the guns to get better angle to shoot. The player will actually be invisible except for the jackolantern on their heads.
* Step 2 - Take Aim: While wearing the helmet, a display will appear. Using the cross hairs, try to measure distance to shoot and where shots will land. Remember this is not laser, cannon & bullets will fall at angle. If you need turn the gun, just look and right click in that direction. Left click change flak (all guns will do it, but on larger weapons function will not do anything.)
* Step 3 - Fire!! : Left clicking, will trigger weapons fire.
* Step 4 - Lock & Load!! : When the cannon is finished firing, you can shift click to trigger a reloading if the npc crew isn't loading it already.

### Different ways of Firing Cannons

Cannons used on the server have options for players to choose from.

* **Gun Directors** This sign allows to be able choose a selection of the ship weapons. Groups of cannons are controlled by this station vs entire ship. When using a cannon or small machine gun directly (local), a Blaze Rod will appear in your characters hand automatically. Wood Signs can control all gun based vehicle signs while the server is on "Easy Mode". When a group of cannons are selected, a jackolantern will be placed on their head which will give cross hairs so you may be able fire more accurately. Your character to other people will be invisible with exception of the jackolantern on your head. See Directors article for more details.

Currently there are two setups to control a ships controls.

* **Local Control** - Each gun has a sign which designates what kind of Cannon it is. The stubby 3" inch cannon to mighty 18" Inch Main anti-ship Cannons. A player simply click on the sign, they will receive Blaze Rod which allows them to control direction, elevation, firing of the cannon and reloading it. The smaller 20mm & 40mm autocannon/machine gun can be controlled without sign, but only the 40mm can be tied into Firecontrol. When the server is in easy mode, all guns including the 20mm can be used remotely. When activated, the player in question will teleported above or near the gun. Like the Director, a jackolantern will be placed on their head which will give cross hairs so you may be able fire more accurately. A player must right click/punch the npc/gunner to change them from full control of the cannon to load only. Additionally, the crew can be dismissed to allow a second player to manually load the weapon. (It's not recommended, ammo is heavy to hand and not often stored in convenient location.)

* **NPC Control** - When the XO (Executive Officer) or the Chief Villager NPC, option of tapping/punching this character allow to this character take over the control of the all guns (including ones not linked to the Fire Control). Bare in mind, targets can not designated. The XO is only one designate a target as a threat.

* **Indirect Controlled Guns** - When the server is in "Easy Mode" which is rare, the villager/crewmembers will automatically appear once the command **/ship bs** (Ship Battle Stations). These crews will man these weapons until player clicks on the breach of the weapon or cannon sign to take over for them. If a player who the Captain of the ship has a regular Arrow, they can designate a target with it and the NPC crews will fire on them. However, they are not most accurate at shooting.

### Other Methods of Firing Cannons

* **FireControl** & **Gundirector** / **AAdirector** - This is a sign can be used by crew member of a ship to control an all large caliber cannons and smaller 40mm Cannons aboard a ship. Additional firecontrol signs to a ship, will allow for additional locations for a player to control weapons. Once clicked on, the player will be teleported to nearest Firecontrol station sign available, control ships weapons. If more than one turret control sign is used, the master Firecontrol sign will show what control turret signs are available. Hold-Shift and right clicking the sign will switch between what turret control signs available. These individual Turret signs are written "Gundirector" and 2nd line size of the gun used. Example: Gundirector, 2nd line 5- Thus all 5 inch guns on board the ship will be slaved to this sign.

* **Full Ship Weapons Controls** - With Iron Sword, all cannons will fire whatever direction the player holding the sword is looking. The player simply needs to click direction and fire. They can remotely load ammo as long as there is blocks onboard of TnT to reload said guns.

* **Roles NPCs Play with Cannons** - When /ship bs (battle stations), an alarm will be sounded off and npcs villagers will be teleported per gunnery station (no matter what it is) through out the entire ship. The NPCs will automatically reload the guns even if a player using their weapon. To remove npcs, the captain can do the /ship bs command again to secure from Battle Stations.

### Loading Cannons

* **Loading Cannons / Small Arms** - When players are manning weapons on a ship, a player will need to retrieve a ammunition block of the correct type of gun. When right clicking the box, the player will find it very heavy and no additional blocks can be carried. The player will move very slowly, once they reach the weapon they will click the breech (back of the cannon/gun) to load the block into the cannon. Small Cannons (20mm, 40mm uses AA Ammo (5 rounds)) & Lt Ammo (10 rounds). Medium Cannons - (3 inch to 6 inch uses Md Ammo (4 rounds)), Large Cannons (7 Inch to 18 Inch uses Hvy (heavy) Ammo (1 round each), NOTE: 11 inch to 18 inch cannons **must also** have Powder Blocks as well)

* **Notes - Loading Cannons** - It is recommended when operating a ship alone (if the server set to Easy mode) that ship be placed into Battle Stations (/ship bs) in order to have NPC/Villagers automatically load ammunition found on the ship into the guns. Unless you want the villager/crew to fully control the gun, you must right click (punch) the NPC to switch to load only. If not, they will try fire the cannon while your trying to use it.