Forced Aim

[fredmiracle]

What is the idea (i.e. the historical reality, doctrinal practices, etc.) behind the Forced Aim rule?

It seems pretty strict. I could definitely imagine a case where you have a friendly on the front edge of the broadside, and an enemy just slightly farther away on the stern edge of the broadside, and the ships wouldn't really be very near each other at all, yet you'd be prevented from firing. What's the principle behind it? How has it turned out in actual games?

[Пилот]

Probably designers took into account possibility of friendly fire with this rule, and they wanted to avoid splitting damage between friend and the enemy.

Optionaly (as home rule), it could be aplied for particular arc only. So, if nearest in particular arc is friend, that arc cant shoot.