Grim fantasy combined with thunderous naval combat in a vibrant, monster-saturated world! Captain an Orc, Dwarf or Human warship and sail the turbulent Abyssal Ocean to play online multiplayer, in free-for-all or fleet based matches.
The goal is to: Plunder as much gold as possible while outwitting and outgunning all others and be the last ship sailing.
- Be ruthless! Sink other players ships, take their loot and collect their bounty!
- Be greedy! Maps are littered with floating treasure chests and ships loaded with gold.
- Be cunning! As the match progresses hungry sea monsters become more aggressive and encroach the safe waters ships can sail in. Ships sailing in 'Dead Waters' for too long end up as monster chow!
- Be unsinkable! At the end of a match ships can be upgraded and customized with captains, cannons, armor, mates and more!
BOMBASTIC BROADSIDES!
Cannons are the heart of combat in Maelstrom. Cannonballs are physics controlled, with a significant firing arc and hang time, meaning prediction and good aim are necessary to deal damage effectively. On the receiving end, players with good reactions and anticipation coupled with a nimble ship can dodge incoming fire.
WARSHIPS WIN WITH WITS
Enemy ships can be rammed, grappled and boarded! A clever captain at sea will become a wealthy captain on land.
Skillfully maneuver yourself through the swelling sea and prepare your ship for ramming. The faster the ship is moving the more devastating the collision will be on impact!
Looking for a friendlier approach? Hold both ships in place while crews fight it out. Grapples will be cut eventually, so boarding actions only last a short time. If one crew manages to kill all of the opposing crew, they will set fire to the enemy ship, sending it to the depths!
ARMOR, AMMO AND POSITIONAL DAMAGE
Each ship has armor on all four sides. The armor sections serve as additional defense toward damage to that side and must be destroyed before the ship's hull can be damaged. Maneuvering to keep your armor between you and your enemy is vital to staying afloat - and seeking the enemy's damaged sides will make you much more lethal in combat! Every cannon has access to three kinds of ammunition and can swap during combat to suit the situation. Ammo is unlimited.
- Iron shot blasts chunks out of ship armor and hull.
- Chain shot is used to shred enemy sails and cripple a ship's speed.
- Grapeshot slaughters enemy crew and makes ships easier to board.
LURKING THE DEEP
Like the ocean they reside in, sea monsters are titanic forces of nature. They stalk unwary captains and can devour a ship whole. Like this Murkwater Thrasher.
Each ship in Maelstrom is a character with a colorful history and unique weaponry as well as strengths and weaknesses such as speed, firepower, crew, and toughness. There are many unique ships available for players to unlock and explore.
ASHBORNE, HUMAN FRIGATE
Ashborne has incredibly punishing broadsides and wields spell-infused incendiary ammo, unique to her, which ignites enemy ships!
HUMANS
The well designed ships of mankind's Phoenix Empire are the fastest afloat. Each ship is armed with a large number of the most modern cannons available, giving them unmatched range and broadside firepower.
- Great speed
- Powerful broadsides
- Great range
ORCS
The shark-driven ships of the orcs are incredibly maneuverable, and have a large number of forward-facing cannons making them deadly on the pursuit. The orcs themselves are ferocious fighters, unmatched in combat during boarding actions.
- Lethal boarding
- Great ramming
- Formidable agility
DWARVES
Dwarves disdain brittle wood and flimsy sail, instead forging steel armored steamships. Dwarven ships can withstand far more punishment than the ships of other races and are armed with massive giant cannons on all sides. Though not the most nimble, all Dwarf ships can switch gears and sail in reverse.
- Tough armor
- Omnidirectional cannons
- Ships can reverse
