Battle of the Ships Bonus Game

1. Introduction

A bonus "battle of the ships" round translates the standard spin into an interactive sea duel. The player chooses the attacking or defending ship, takes shots and receives payments for sunk targets. Such mechanics revitalize the gameplay, add strategies and provide an emotional boost.

2. Activation of the duel

Trigger: three or more scatter symbols (guns, anchors, steering wheels) on any of the active drums.

Transition to battle: the main game pauses, a special screen with a playing field or two ships starts.

3. Round move

1. Side selection. The player decides which ship will attack first, or gets it by lot.

2. Number of shots fired. A fixed number of moves is set (usually 3-5), each hit brings a prize or multiplier.

3. Goals on screen. Enemies (enemy ships, barrels of gunpowder, floats) are located in the grid; hitting different objects has different payouts.

4. The result of the duel. At the end of the shots, all payments are summed up; when destroying the "main flagship," an additional multiplier or freespins is given.

4. Types of duels

Patrol combat. Several small ships with low payments, each destroyed gives a fixed prize.

Assault on the fort. Targets in the form of barrels and guns on the coastal battery; the scatter barrel launches a mini-cascade after hitting.

Jackpot battle. A large flagship symbol matches the progressive jackpot; hitting it gives a chance to disrupt the main pool.

Combined mode. Mixing goals: first patrol, then flagship, and with the final shot - a prize chest.

5. Mathematics and parameters

RTP bonus: laid in the total RTP - usually 10-15% of the payments of the entire slot.

Average winnings: depends on the number of shots and payments on goals, varies from × 5 to × 50 bets.

Launch frequency: Optimal 1: 80-1: 120 spins to make duels happen often enough but remain valuable.

Volatility: High spread - from frequent small hits to rare but large "flagship" prizes.

6. Design and UX

Graphics: detailed models of ships, ash guns, splashing spray, cracks in the hull of ships.

Animation of shots: mile-realistic volleys, projectile trajectory, explosive FX when hit.

Interface: indicator of remaining shots, current payment scoreboard, illumination of available targets.

Sound: deaf "boom" of guns, creaking of a tree, screams of a team, sound of breaking gunpowder.

7. The psychology of dueling

Strategy element: the choice of targets and the order of shots creates a feeling of control and involvement.

Variable reinforcements: Frequent small hits alternate with rare "trophy" explosions, stimulating the game to continue.

Emotional drive: The duel's visual and sound effects amplify the dopamine response, especially with final shots at the flagship.

8. Examples of slots with battle mechanics

Slot name	Provider	Shots	Key feature
Pirate Battle Royale	Play’n GO	5	Targets-ships move between shots
Cannon Clash Buccaneers	Pragmatic Play	4	"Enemy grotto" with a progressive chest
Fortress Siege Adventure	Quickspin	3 + choice	Storming the fort with the choice of projectile type
Blackbeard’s Duel	Microgaming	5	Flagship jackpot with an accurate hit
Sea Skirmish Sticky	NetEnt	Unlimited (until miss)	Sticky Wild projectiles after hit

9. Recommendations to players

1. Bankroll management: Count on 50-100 bets for one duel, lower the bet with rare shots.

2. Target tactics: first "dirty" targets to run shots, then the flagship for maximum multiplier.

3. Evaluate the demo mode: test the behavior of the goals and the average win for 50-100 duels without risk.

10. Conclusion

The "battle of the ships" mechanic in the bonus round turns the passive spin into an interactive sea duel. Strategic target selection, exciting shot animations and the potential for progressive payouts make this one of the most requested features in pirate slots. The optimal combination of activation frequency, number of shots and target variability will provide players with an unforgettable adventure and operators - high engagement.

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