This is my sailing experience every time I play Valheim. I'm starting to believe the devs put in an RNG variable that makes the wind constantly fight you for certain steam IDs or something.
Some further evidence from playing just now. My friend was sailing the ship and the wind was at our backs, he had to take a phone call so I took over and the moment I sat down the wind abruptly spun around 180 degrees and is blowing in my face. Aaaaaaaaaa
just to make one of the powers you get later seem more useful
I want moder power to be useful so fucking bad dude. Last time I played I tried living on a little island that I terraformed into a small fort that rises out of the water, my only way to come or go with ore was by boat and I STILL never used it.
Despite being in literally the most optimal use case for having it that power just feels so lack luster. It would be wayyyyy better if it was just like a passive effect that made RNG better or half cool down or something. As it is I'd rather just use bonemass or Deer since they are more universally applicable
I am not entirely sure about the English names for the parts of a boat but I try my best: the Boat always tries moves towards where the bow is pointed because of the keel below the ship which acts like a guide rail because it creates a path of less resistance. And the hull makes it very hard to much it left and right. So even though the wind comes from a 45° the shape translates that in mostly forward movement and a little bit of sideways movement.
Like a toy car you are stepping on: you are acting as a downwards force but the wheels translate it to forward movement.
I hope that somewhat gives you a bit more insight!
Actually from what I remember from a reddit thread a while back, someone did the math and rowing against wind seems to be faster on average in valheim in any case except if you're in the storm or sth like that. It feels slower cuz its a boring slow line but it ends up being faster
I’m not entirely sure but it always seems like a in-game time of day thing to me. In one of my worlds I used to leave to swamps in the morning and return at nightfall and that would put the wind on my side but if I reversed the times the wind would be against me.