General description:
I'd like to start this review by thanking all of you who voted for my review of The Unblinking 99 (titled "I'd rather say BOOM! than BOO!") since you were directly responsible for it being chosen as a review of the week. Secondly, I'd like to say hello to my fellow shipoholics... ugh. Man, I know you'll feel for me when I say that I accidentally snapped the rear mast of a Gale Force Nine I was constructing. It was an early Christmas gift from a friend so I feel simply awful. What really bit the big one was that it was late at night and I had to stifle my screaming/swearing or else I might wake my landlord who lives right above me. So I feel that I must scream textwise right here and now about this truly irritating ship. Observant Pirates fans already know what's wrong with it. In and of itself, it's tolerable. The Pirate nation had this ability for 5 points by way of Crimson Coast's Fancy but she was a 1-master. For the English, Spanish Main's HMS Meresman has the ability and is a half-step faster but she's only carrying S-range cannons. The other core nations have at least one double ranger. So why should this ship infuriate me? Surely its link to Benito de Soto has got to give it an edge over all other double rangers of similar size. Hmm... okay, why don't we take a look at Benito? Wow, captain and reverse captain in the same crew! He's DJC Jack Hawkins revisited! What could possibly be wrong with that? I'll tell you what's wrong with that.
Just like Hawkins, de Soto is 9 points.
El Tejon is 7 points.
Wizkids greenlighted a crew that is linked to a ship WHICH HE CAN'T EVEN FLIPPING BOARD!!
Other mistakes found in Mysterious Islands:
- La Sirviente having a link to The Mask, when one of The Mask's ability mimics its OWN ability. How does this reach the printing process when duplicate abilities can't be used aboard the same ship? Sssomebody ssstop meee...
- Generic crew portraits swapped.
- Coleoptera's 2/2 card has the same graphics as Nautilus.
- Nancy Nox doesn't have its ability printed in its entirety on the card.
- "Cannonball" Gallows has a 10 point printed cost when all other similar crew before him have a 0 cost.
Uses:
If de Soto could fit aboard El Tejon, it would be sort of nasty. It could play keepaway while chipping away at ships from L+L distance.
Strategies and game play:
Move and shoot, move and shoot. Hopefully you'll nail something. This ship isn't about finesse. This ship is about forcing your opponent to either avoid this ship's superior range or go full speed ahead into it with a gunship of their own. Granted, it could use more chances to roll those sixes but hey, that's why El Neptuno would be a better pick if you wish to exploit this ship ability to its full potential.
Combos with other miniatures:
At 7 points and 2 cargo, there's not much else to do but throw a Captain and Helmsman on her (due to her slow speed and low cargo, this one's gunship material) which is more than the Devil's Pay can accommodate. Devil's Pay is El Tejon's twin abilitywise with the exception of not having a link TO A CREW IT CAN'T HAVE ABOARD!!! A reroller that could link to another crew would be nice but I'm at a loss as to whether or not the Pirate nationality possesses such a crew. I'm inclined to think that they do not. Musketeers would be a waste since El Tejon couldn't increase the musket shot but it would make for a nice surprise against those pesky L-range cannonproof ships.... hmm.... nah, never mind. For optimum gunship efficiency, no two crew would serve this ship better than a captain and a helmsman.
Ways to counteract it:
Well, your opponent certainly doesn't have to worry about counteracting a captain/reverse captain strategy, does he?
Strengths/Pros:
- excellent cannon ranks.
- ability has the potential to create a "danger zone", forcing goldrunners to sail around it.
Weaknesses/Cons:
- not very fast
- those sixes are tough to roll.
- not enough masts/cannons to strike fear into your opponent's heart.
Artwork and aesthetics:
Nothing to write home about. Average in appearance.
Overall rating:
For twice the cost, you can get an El Neptuno which can fire more shots, hold more crew as well as higher point cost crew. Like, say, crew that cost 9 points?
Honestly, doesn't someone proofread or double check these cards before they ship 'em off? Give me that job, Wizkids! You can pay me in LE's!
Miniature Trading
