Another Pirate Rescue Attempt!

Originally published to Miniature Trading on February 17th, 2017

60 Points

This is my entry for xerecs’ Free the King Fleet Challenge.

Most of my fleet was chosen for efficiency, but it just so happened that a lot of flavor ironies occurred with the prevalence of PotC pieces.

First off, the main ship is the Flying Dutchman. Against Fortaleza Dorada, and with 30 extra points in the allied fleet, it’s not likely that a 60 point fleet would be able to survive long enough to destroy the fort AND explore the island to rescue Mysion. Therefore, winning a single boarding party against the fort is likely the way to go. The FD has Ghost Ship, SAT with reroll, world-hater, and the necessary captain and helmsman abilities. She also has that nasty built-in boarding massacre ability, which pairs perfectly with Jack Hawkins’ crew-protect ability. In addition, Genny’s Red Rampage adds +1 to all boarding attempts, making the FD an even more dangerous boarding foe. If any allied ships get in the way of the Flying Dutchman, she will simply steamroll them like Captain Salazar!

Jack Hawkins is my required Pirate Lord, though he’s joined by two other Pirate Lords – Captain Barbossa and Elizabeth Swann/Turner, not one but two literal Pirates of the Caribbean. Barbossa and Elizabeth both found Mr. Hawkins to be somewhat suspiciously familiar to another pirate they had known in the past….

~~~~~

A dark cloud of gloom seemed to settle over the small collection of motley pirates, who looked down at the old wooden floor of the Flying Dutchman.

Ragetti: “Never another like Captain Mysion.”
Elizabeth Swann: “He was a good man.”
Bootstrap Bill Turner: “Part of the crew, part of the ship.”
Tia Dalma: “What would any of you do? Would you sail to the ends of the earth and back to fetch back witty Mysion?”

Ragetti: “Aye.”
Barbossa: “Aye.”
Jack Hawkins: “Aye.”
Elizabeth Swann: “Yes. Aye.”

Tia Dalma: “All ‘right… but if you will brave the weird and haunted shores at world’s end, then you will need a sheep that has sailed dose waters.”

Suddenly the waters next to the Flying Dutchman began bubbling… a metallic spine slowly emerged from the depths….

Hawkins and Barbossa frown, while Elizabeth gasps in shock.

Ragetti: “S’ Mysion’s submareen!!”
Jack Hawkins: “Where did you get that?”

Tia Dalma simply smiles and walks to one of the Dutchman’s boats to board the submersible.

~~~~~

The sudden, unexpected appearance of Mysion’s former ship, the Coleoptera, gives the Pirates hope! With canceller Tia Dalma aboard, the submarine will give the Flying Dutchman valuable protection while staying submerged and therefore immunity to the entire allied fleet.

The basic strategy involves the Flying Dutchman ghosting through the allied fleet, while the Coleoptera goes underneath them. The FD arrives at the fort and blasts as many flags off as possible, after which she tries to board. Ideally the FD would get relatively close to the fort before getting an SAT on the next turn, so as to blast the fort with a full broadside before smashing into it and firing another 2 or 3 shots before boarding. However, a single 2 or 3 shot volley could be enough between the +1 to boards and potential reroll. The toughest part will be keeping the FD healthy enough for a boarding attempt, which is why the Coleoptera must at least slow the allied fleet with Tia Dalma, the overlapping rules, and probably some submerged ramming. Finally, if the FD gets an SAT and can rip off 10 shots at the fort, it’s possible that she may simply blast away until the fort is gone, at which point the Coleoptera will surface so Ragetti can jump on the island and grab Mysion (yes, he’s there for more than just flavor heh).

It’s not likely to work against 3 super gunships armed with rerolled double actions, but between the similar speed of the Flying Dutchman and Tia Dalma’s help, it’s the best strategy I could muster in a reasonable time frame given only 60 points. The FD’s cannons are all short range, while her boarding ability could really help if things turn into a chaotic melee.

Thanks for reading; comment and vote!

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