Intro Game at 3×40 in Everett Washington
7/2/2023
Although I’ll only be playing VASSAL Campaign Game 4 on the Fourth of July, I was able to get a “finishable” game in over the holiday weekend. One of my friends happened to play the game as a kid, and another learned how to play today in their first game. We played a 3 player, 40 point game at Moon Dragon Games in their Egyptian Room – a cool and unique nook of a game store if you ever find yourself a bit north of Seattle.
We kept it simple with no named crew, terrain, forts or UT’s. Flat earth rules with only 3 wild islands and 5 coins per island. Here are the fleets in turn order:
The Frenchman
L’Amazone + captain, explorer
La Mezquita + helmsman, explorer
Morgawr
The Cursed Pirate
Executioner + captain
Lady Newport + helmsman
USS Sea Tiger
The Americans
Constitution + helmsman
Hannah, towing Minuteman flotilla
Hannah is quite a strange ship, being quite fast for a “cheerleader” and one of the most expensive two masters in the game. For a while I’d been wanting to pair her ability with a flotilla, combining the extra firepower with the fast towing speed. An undercrewed Constitution was a good way to fill out the points while paying tribute to the Revolutionary War, especially given that July 2nd is the date of “The Resolution for Independence”.
We were ready to set sail!
2 rounds in: The Amazone, USS Sea Tiger and Executioner all headed north for treasure. Morgawr submerged and escorted La Mezquita southwards, though they were shadowed by the Lady Newport. Both American ships dock at a wild island, to explore next turn.
The Frenchman and Pirate explored, with the Americans breaking for home. However, they were cautious to stay out of Morgawr’s ram range, not wanting to get pinned with gold aboard a few yards from home. Minuteman took a few 4L+L potshots at Mezquita but missed.
Amazone returned home with 2 coins, while Executioner and Sea Tiger headed back with their loot. The Americans docked home their 5 coins between the 2 ships, with Minuteman blasting masts off La Mezquita. The early stages of this game saw quite a few ships changing headings often – more than I usually see.
The Frenchman and Pirate strike a deal to team up against the Americans, but there is a clause where the Pirates can’t take the last coins from the north. Negotiations quickly run awry, with the Spanish miffed that the Executioner sailed into her path home for repairs. The Americans are feasting on Minuteman’s Extended Range, blasting off half the Executioner’s masts. The latter is probably the only ship in play that can realistically make a run at American firepower by her lonesome, but now she is damaged.
With Morgawr lurking and the Amazone having a captain aboard, the Americans were content to sit and wait until the northern gold (the last available coins) inevitably came southwards. Minuteman blasted a mast off L’Amazone and sank La Mezquita. The Lady Newport explored in the north, with the French trying to revise the deal so they could still team up against the Americans as the Pirate brought gold home.
However, as PDXYAR always said, “gold wins the game”. Lady Newport and Executioner loaded up, and it was time for some late-game havoc. The Americans surged east, with Minuteman hitting 3/3 to sink the Sea Tiger. Constitution departed the home island as well, with her crew confident in their abilities to defeat Morgawr.
L’Amazone repairs as carnage erupts in the center. Morgawr sets Constitution alight with its fire breathing attack, but the American crew are in full hero mode, putting it out on the ship’s very next action (the white 6). Hannah rams Lady Newport and steals her 3 coin, though the Minuteman fails to dismast the schooner even with Hannah’s cheerleading bonus, meaning Hannah is still pinned.
The Amazone sails out and is able to get some shots off, hitting the Constitution once. However, American guns are winning the multi-player battle, with Constitution pouring in a heavy fire against Morgawr. Serpent guts are blown everywhere as shots ring out at a rapid pace. Hannah gets lucky and dismasts the Lady Newport with a 4S shot, while Minuteman makes the Executioner derelict.
L’Amazone captured the Executioner, with the latter transferring her coins to the Frenchman with an explore action. However, Minuteman sent the Amazone to the depths and Constitution killed the beast Morgawr to end the game!
- Americans: 11 gold
- Cursed Pirate: 10
- Frenchman: 8
A close-fought and action-packed intro game! After last year’s strong showing by the English, the Americans are back on top in what has become nearly an annual summer tradition. Perhaps next year will see the return of the Anglo-American rivalry of old!
