I really like keeping fleets as simple as can be. With all of the many different factions and various Pirates sets, I like to focus on one faction and one set, if possible. Here, the English from the Pirates of the Spanish Main set is the target (and its difficult to focus this closely).
This fleet consists of two powerful, yet overlooked abilities (probably because of their cost):
1. This ship eliminates two masts with one hit.
2. You own any derelict this ship explores; both ships become docked at your home island.
Also, I thought of using ships or crew which are not so well known for the ability. For instance, the second ability mentioned above is more commonly known with the Harbinger from the same set. And, if you wanted a powerful gunship, HMS Leicester might not be your first pick, but rather the HMS Titan. I decided to keep away the Rares because not everyone can get them.
Ship Makeup and Breakdown
HMS Leicester is a pretty strong ship, quickly able to sink even the biggest ship. Since each shot equals two hits, you can derelict a 5-Master or even a 6-Mast Junk in one successful volley. But in order to exploit the strength of this fleet, you'll need to keep from sinking ships. Just derelict in order to use Commander Temple's ability (you'll see soon enough). On board, I keep it simple: 1 Captain and 1 Helmsman. Her movement is onlyL, so you need that Helmsman to help her keep up with the opponents fleet. It'd be nice if she had a world hater or even a faction hater, but I couldn't spare the points. You'll have to make due with her 3-rank cannons.
HMS Dover is here to provide some help in guns and treasure. Her main mission, though, is to transport Commander Temple around. See, when the HMS Leicester derelicts a ship, HMS Dover moves in and touches the derelict. Then, the next turn, you can explore and use Commander Temple's ability to move the derelict and HMS Dover to your home island. You now have a new addition to the fleet! Also on board is an explorer, so that if an opportunity does not arise for you to use Commander Temple, you can explore wild islands rather quickly and flood the cargo holds.
Uses and Applications
This fleet works pretty well across the board, whether its treasure gettin' or just a shoot-'em-up game. However, the main goal of this fleet is to expand your fleet. HMS Leicester has two cargo spaces left and the HMS Dover has 3 cargo spaces left, so you can explore wild islands, also.
You start off small, with two ships. However, with Commander Temple's ability, you can build up your fleet. Here's how you do it:
You have to keep your ships together. If you move at maximum speed each turn, HMS Dover should be trailing HMS Leicester in her wake.
When the HMS Leicester gets close enough to shoot, fire all available cannons. She's got two Shorts and two Longs, so something should be able to hit.
When the opponent's ship is derelict, move HMS Dover in and touch the derelict. The next turn you can explore and the derelict and HMS Dover will be docked at your home island.
Simple Strengths
Here are some quick strengths to be aware of and to exploit even better:
1. The HMS Leicester can take out a big ship quickly, leaving her as a derelict (you could sink her if you wanted).
2. Commander Temple can "steal" a ship to add her to your fleet.
3. HMS Dover has enough cargo hold to gather gold. If you'd rather use her as a treasure runner instead of ship thief, drop Commander Temple during setup and add some points to the HMS Leicester (Sir Christopher Myngs for same action and Governor Lynch for +1 to Pirates are good combos here).
4. Both ships can hold their own in a gunfight. Though HMS Leicester is better because of her ability, the similarities in their cannons tell you what you can expect.
Weaknesses and Counter-Measures
Like all fleets, there are weaknesses that you need to be aware of.
1. This is a 40 point fleet with only 2 ships. You'll have to be able to keep track of your opponent's 3 or sometimes 4 ships.
2. These ships are a little too slow to keep up with the treasure runners, so when you get that one chance, you'd better stop them.
3. There is only one Captain, so if the HMS Leicester gets taken out, you'd have to scrum to survive. The HMS Leicester has only 4 masts, so another 4-master or better could take her out.
4. Both of the ships have the same cannons: 3S 3L 3L 3S. I like my cannons around 2 rank.
To Sum Up. . .
1. One set and one faction
2. Interesting abilities
3. Knock out and steal some ships
4. Flexible from Gold Gettin' to Fightin' It Out formats
I've never heard of the HMS Leicester not being able to sink ships. Actually, I don't see anything in the ability or rules that would prevent it from sinking a ship. All it does is if you do hit a ship with masts, it removes two masts instead of one. If the target doesn't have any masts, this does not prevent the HMS Leicester from shooting.
There are at least two places in the rules where it describes what happens when you shoot a ship without any masts. Under the quick-start rules, step 4, it says "If there are no more masts to remove, that ship is sunk!" In the original PotSM rulebook, it says, "If a derelict is hit, it sinks".
As for the rest of the fleet... I do like the HMS Dover, but I'd consider replacing it with the HMS Plantagenet. Better speed, so you don't run the risk of out-pacing your ship-stealer with the HMS Leicester. With the 3 points left over, you could put on a Helmsman for even more speed, or put Myngs on the HMS Leicester for more actions.
Other than that, looks like a good non-Harbringer ship-stealing fleet.
I've never heard of the HMS Leicester not being able to sink ships. Actually, I don't see anything in the ability or rules that would prevent it from sinking a ship. All it does is if you do hit a ship with masts, it removes two masts instead of one. If the target doesn't have any masts, this does not prevent the HMS Leicester from shooting.
There are at least two places in the rules where it describes what happens when you shoot a ship without any masts. Under the quick-start rules, step 4, it says "If there are no more masts to remove, that ship is sunk!" In the original PotSM rulebook, it says, "If a derelict is hit, it sinks".
According to the FAQs: This ship eliminates two masts with one hit.
Delaware HMS Leicester HMS Oxley La Furia Le Mont Blanc Santos Romanos USS Superior
Q: If a ship with this ability hits a ship with one mast, does it sink?
A: No, this ability only applies to masts. It does not increase the number of hits.
Thats why I say that the Leicester can never sink a ship. And, I wrestled with whether or not to use the HMS Plantagenet over the HMS Dover, but decided with the Dover based on cargo space and how many masts she has.
Thanks for the comment. This is my first fleet for this website. Will you please vote for it so I can know how I'm doing? Thanks, again.
According to the FAQs: This ship eliminates two masts with one hit.
Delaware HMS Leicester HMS Oxley La Furia Le Mont Blanc Santos Romanos USS Superior
Q: If a ship with this ability hits a ship with one mast, does it sink?
A: No, this ability only applies to masts. It does not increase the number of hits.
Thats why I say that the Leicester can never sink a ship. And, I wrestled with whether or not to use the HMS Plantagenet over the HMS Dover, but decided with the Dover based on cargo space and how many masts she has.
Ah, I think I understand where you might be getting confused.
If the HMS Leicester shoots one cannon at a one-masted ship, then yes, it can only eliminate one mast because there is not another mast to eliminate. The FAQ entry only means that the "extra" hit that would normally eliminate a second mast does not "carry over" to count towards sinking the ship.
If the HMS Leicester shoots two cannons and BOTH hit, then the first cannon would eliminate the single mast, and the second hit would sink the ship. If the HMS Leicester is shooting at something that doesn't have masts (such as a derelict or a fort), then you would apply the damage from cannons that hit just like any other ship.
I've been trying to rate more of the recent fleets, but after a couple low ratings I decided to wait a few days in case the poster makes any revisions or changes based on comments/feedback.
I do like the HMS Dover, though... it's hard to say if I'd prefer it over the Plantagenet. The Dover has better survivability and more cargo space, the Plantagenet better speed. Actually, I think I'd be tempted to trade in the Explorer for the HMS London, if you were looking for better guns to support the Leicester, but that would be outside the PotSM set.
According to the FAQs: This ship eliminates two masts with one hit.
Delaware HMS Leicester HMS Oxley La Furia Le Mont Blanc Santos Romanos USS Superior
Q: If a ship with this ability hits a ship with one mast, does it sink?
A: No, this ability only applies to masts. It does not increase the number of hits.
Thats why I say that the Leicester can never sink a ship. And, I wrestled with whether or not to use the HMS Plantagenet over the HMS Dover, but decided with the Dover based on cargo space and how many masts she has.
Ah, I think I understand where you might be getting confused.
If the HMS Leicester shoots one cannon at a one-masted ship, then yes, it can only eliminate one mast because there is not another mast to eliminate. The FAQ entry only means that the "extra" hit that would normally eliminate a second mast does not "carry over" to count towards sinking the ship.
If the HMS Leicester shoots two cannons and BOTH hit, then the first cannon would eliminate the single mast, and the second hit would sink the ship. If the HMS Leicester is shooting at something that doesn't have masts (such as a derelict or a fort), then you would apply the damage from cannons that hit just like any other ship.
I've been trying to rate more of the recent fleets, but after a couple low ratings I decided to wait a few days in case the poster makes any revisions or changes based on comments/feedback.
I do like the HMS Dover, though... it's hard to say if I'd prefer it over the Plantagenet. The Dover has better survivability and more cargo space, the Plantagenet better speed. Actually, I think I'd be tempted to trade in the Explorer for the HMS London, if you were looking for better guns to support the Leicester, but that would be outside the PotSM set.
I see now. For years, I've used Leicester thinking that she can only derelict and not sink ships. But, from what you're saying, and what I've learned from other players last night, Leicester works like this (against a 5-master):
1st hit eliminates #1 and #2 masts (3 are left)
2nd hit eliminates #3 and #4 masts (1 is left)
3rd hit eliminates #5 only since its the last mast
you can stop there or. . .
4th hit sinks her.
I understand better. I made the changes in the above army so that readers do not think that Leicester can only derelict. Thanks. With that being said, you've mentioned your approval of the Dover. What about the Leicester? You'd rather have another ship?
With that being said, you've mentioned your approval of the Dover. What about the Leicester? You'd rather have another ship?
The Leicester gets overlooked quite a bit because the HMS Titan is a point cheaper. I'm not sure I can say which is better... stripping off two masts with every hit is a lot of fun, but then, so is rolling two or three actions on the Titan. Given how often we see the Titan, it's extremely refreshing to see the Leicester getting some play time.
Of course, with the HMS Endeavor in the new set, we'll probably stop seeing the HMS Leicester being used at all.
Miniature Trading
