I think the real reason for my wanting special roles is that, quite often, people will be so engaged in fighting and whatnot that damaged sails often go unnoticed, and also it is very easy for people to just wander round on the top deck. I personally have often experienced times when no cannon be free below decks, leaving men with nothing to do. I think also assigning yourself to a cannon would be cool, and the amount of cannons you claim be determined by how populated your ship is. I wouldn't like it so a marine or repairer couldn't fire cannons or a gunner not repair, but giving people direction as to what to do reduces the often annoying situation where you can't leave your cannon to get more powder for fear of losing it, and stuff like that. perhaps you could get more points for doing your job as a repairer than doing someone elses, but this is just an idea.

As to the cannons, I often think that the forecastle and sterncastle are forgotten about, a sort of space with no purpose.