Conflict Looms Help - Sequence 7
This is the memory I'm having the most trouble with.
I actually own the guidebook but only use it unless I'm absolutely positively stumped. I like to be creative and figure things out for myself. I learn a lot better if I figure things out on my own. On this memory I had to use it because I was completely stumped.
The objectives are: Cross Charlestown without taking damage. Air assassinate a Grenadier. Remain undetected while on the ships.
-Cross Charlestown without taking damage: I'm able to complete the first objective 100% of the time without any problems so I'm good there. This was without use of the guidebook. I decided to attempt the guidebook way, which is crossing the rooftops, out of curiosity to see if I could do it and wound up failing.
-Air assassinate a Grenadier: My first time around I was unable to complete this so this is where my guidebook came in handy. I'm able to complete it using their method with minor tweaks. So far, I've been using the ship closest to the shore. It's the ship with the fewest guards (6?) aboard. I take out the first guard who patrols back and forth across the deck, when the Grenadier isn't around, via ledge assassination. I then take out the guy patrolling around the crates closest to the helm via corner assassination. When the Grenadier turns and heads to the bow I climb the mast in front of the helm. I can air assassinate the Grenadier when he heads around the mast.
-Remain undetected while on the ships: Unfortunately, the second objective causes me to fail this objective. There are three guards standing at the bow of the ship. Two are facing the shore and one is facing the deck so I figured it's no surprise he saw me. I tried pulling him overboard only to get noticed. On another attempt he noticed me while I was heading for the mast to attempt the assassination. I poisoned him but I was still noticed by the other two guards while doing the air assassination.
This is what the guidebook suggests but I can't imagine why. The guards at the bow are never mentioned. I was also wanting help with the second ship as well because I'm a bit leary of their method which is to walk on the deck after an Officer has passed to plant the explosive. On my first attempt I was detected whilst planting the explosive but I had jumped ship before the guard could fully investigate.
I realize this is a bit lengthy but I think the more detail I give the better you guys are able to help me. 
*Warms up capture device*
Ah, I repeated this mission quite a few times (my friend Niandra was over, he can attest to the failage) and eventually did it in a way which I will now outline. I'll say though, my steps are not 100% exact, it's just a rough idea of what I did, as I don't entirely know myself.
I made sure to go into the mission with at least 1 Arrow and Max (3) Poison Darts. Crossing Charlestown is no problem, just keep moving like you usually do. When you get to the ships, I finish the one on the left first because the one on the right is easier. The one on the left is where the Grenadier is anyway.
I Ledge Assassinated one of the guards as they walked by, then climbed to the side of the ship where a single guard was either patrolling or standing still (I'm not sure exactly what he was doing). There's another guard that walks around him quite frequently, so when that other guard was not looking or off to another section of ship, I climbed up, Sprinted for a second and Low Profile Assassinated the guard that's mostly stationary. As soon as I did this, I immediately started climbing the mast that was near him.
When I got high enough, I Poison Darted pretty much everyone on that ship that remained that I hadn't Stealth Assassinated or Ledge Assassinated. With the Grenadier as the last one standing, I just Air Assassinated as normal.
Now for the ship on the right, although I say it's easier, it's only because it's less time consuming and I've had to repeat it so many times. As I swim towards it and begin climbing, one of the guards near the less populated end of the ship walks around, so I pop up for just a SECOND to let him see me but not Detect me. I then jump back into the water. This changes the guard's patrol route for the rest of the mission, pretty much, because now they're all suspicious and they move in a different way. I Ledge Assassinate one of the guards, and that leaves two on the left of me. One walking, one standing. The one that's walking, I wait for him to move near to the one who's standing, or at least turn his back, and follow him. I stab him in Low Profile, stab the other one in Low Profile, then either hang from a ledge or jump in the water again.
This leaves the two that are chilling RIGHT NEXT to the powder reserves. This is kind of the part where I forget. I either wait for them to start moving and On The Move Low Profile Assassinate both of them by holding down the Kill button as I walk by, or wait until they turn their backs and then kill them one after the other. The next part is just setting the ship to explode and jumping off/climbing the mast and replacing a flag.
Sorry I couldn't explain it much better, and I also apologize for my lack of naval knowledge (whatever is the bow or stern, etc.)
The hardest one is the air assassinate without being detected.
Go to the first ship (on the left... the one with a grenadier). Swim to the back side and climb up. Wait until all backs are turned, then climb up the ship mast. SSIs will be active, but you will climb fast enough that the arrows don't fill full red. Once on the masts, just pick off everyone but the grenadier with arrows. Don't use your gun. Even if you use your gun when cannons are going off, they will still detect you. Also, the further you are from a target, the less effective your arrows are. Try to be right on top of them shooting down with full strength. Once you've picked off the 5 others, simply air assassinate the grenadier, light the ship up, and move on. Because no one else is left alive, you can air assassinate and not get detected. 
For the second boat, again go to the back of the boat and climb up where you basically see a ladder. You then only need to only kill the one guy where you climb up with a ledge assassinate (making sure the other patrolling guard isn't looking). When the patrolling guard walks by, just walk to the interact portion to light up the second boat with all the people still on it. Everyone's back is to you, so you're not detected, provided you walk and don't run. Jump into the water and you're good. No need to kill everyone else, the explosion will do that for you. Climb back onto the boat to raise the flag and you're done.
EDIT: just played it again. There is no need to kill anyone on the second boat. Again, go from the backside of the boat (not the back of the boat, but the side opposite the firing cannons). Wait for the patrolling guard to walk past you to the right. Make sure the patrolling guard at the front of the boat isn't looking, and calmly walk in, set the thing on fire, and walk back to the water. Done.
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
Thanks for the replies, guys! I think I've gotten a pretty good idea of what I want to do now. I'll still do the ledge and corner assassinations for the first two guards. For the three at the bow, as you guys suggested, I'm going to take out from above. I think I'll climb the mast behind the helm and just jump from one to another. I'll let you know how that works out.
I am happy to announce that it worked! I got it the first time around. 
You guys were an amazing help!
I am happy to announce that it worked! I got it the first time around.
Yeah, we're pretty great...
