It will be legit useless. The Naval Guns that we have right now are more then enough for the amount of Naval sieges this server sees.

Its an interesting idea but I dunno if we need more complication. There would probly just be 1 optimal length for a navel battle which everyone would find in like a week change there design by 1 or 2 blocks. And maybe super extending them for shelling onto land. Would probly be fun to have but may be harder to implement.

I guess they could just create variations on each kind of kind of gun. so you have 12 inch normal a 12inch +1 , +2, -1, etc

Kapitan it'd be great if you gave an actual reason instead of just saying "this is useless."

Plant, also, your points are kind of irrelevant as range and velocity can make a big difference in fights, and each fight is different, so there wouldn't be one single meta barrel length. A 14-inch/37cal might be better for closer-range fights while maintaining its high damage output, and a 9-inch/50cal would be good for a cruiser that specializes in fire-support rather than close-range combat. A dreadnought with 12-inch/37cal would be excellent for obliterating cruisers and destroyers that got too close, and a cruiser with 12-inch/50cal would be good for both fire-support AND shelling forts.

There are many different combinations with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, so simply claiming that there would be a meta is objectively false.

Of course some specialization will be used. But of course there's gonna end up being a meta when has that not ended up happened? One of the lengths will give a good balance and that will be most of the ships. Still going to have some with much longer ones for fire support and maybe some for really close range. But people aren't gonna print 8 different barrel lengths. People could modify there ship before using it but most of them aren't even gonna know this is a feature. My Question is how is this different than adding different kinds of guns?

I never said I didn't like the idea

I personally wish more guns were added but that is extremely unlikely to happen.

It's moreso a stopgap so that there aren't a billion and one new shell TYPES that have to be made, and also it's different because the amount of damage per shell wouldn't change.

Also yes, many ships would probably retain their default barrel length, but some wouldn't, and it'd allow for more flexibility in navies and the doctrines they serve.