While Skull and Bones features a boarding mechanic, there isn’t a dedicated "boarding animation" in the traditional sense. Here’s a breakdown of what occurs during the boarding process:
Initiation:
You weaken the enemy ship below half health, triggering a blue flashing health bar.
You maneuver your ship alongside the enemy vessel, ideally on its port or starboard side.
You aim at the enemy ship’s rigging (ropes and lines supporting masts) and fire grappling hooks when the "Crew Boarding" prompt appears.
Transition:
A short cutscene plays, showcasing your crew launching grappling hooks and securing the ships together.
Boarding Sequence (Automatic Combat):
You have limited control during this phase.
A cinematic sequence unfolds, depicting your crew boarding the enemy ship.
You can’t directly control your character during the boarding, but you can:
Spam a designated button (usually spacebar on PC or "X" on Xbox controllers) to perform quick attacks and support your crew.
Focus on specific enemies (if possible) through camera movements, although direct targeting isn’t available.
Outcome:
The success or failure of the boarding depends on your crew’s performance.
If your crew overpowers the enemy crew, a victory message appears, and you can access the enemy ship’s loot.
If your crew loses, you’ll be forced to retreat.
Key Points:
The boarding sequence is primarily a cinematic showcase rather than a fully animated and controllable action.
Your primary role during this phase is to support your crew through button presses while the game determines the outcome based on various factors.
While there isn’t a singular "boarding animation," the cinematic representation and your ability to influence the outcome through crew upgrades and strategic choices add depth to the boarding experience in Skull and Bones.