Miniature Trading

This fleet is the second edition of my series: "1 Set, 1 Nation". The first of the series was Smash 'n' Grab: Brits from PSM which looked at the British from the Spanish Main. In that fleet, I looked at 1 powerful ability as well as keeping the factions the same, offering ships that are easily accessible, and creating a fleet that is fun, different, and found in the same set. I'm going to try that for each of the sets (though we'll see how far I get ).

Ghost Ships Galore focuses on the Pirates faction in the Crimson Coast set. Normally, I don't like using Pirates faction ships because they have every ability under the sun, and thus are generally easy to create a fleet from. However, that doesn't mean they can be fun and downright nasty . This fleet is centered around the two Pirate ships that have the Ghost Ship keyword: Deliverance and Amity.

Two other considerations went into the development of this fleet: Speed and Cargo Space. This fleet had to be able to get the a lot of treasure in as little time as needed.

Ship Makeup and Breakdown

Deliverance is your enforcer. She is one of the fastest 5-masters available, and tying in the Ghost Ship keyword makes her a tad bit faster by cutting through objects and terrain instead of around them. Also, with rank 3 cannons and 4 cargo spaces, she is a threat to be reckoned with. On board, there has to be The Hag of Tortuga. She'll (I think its a she) allow you to build 5 more points into your fleet, turning a 40 point fleet into a 45 point fleet. Those extra points will buy you a Captain for the Deliverance and a Helsman for one of your other ships. Or, you can move the Helmsman here, but she's already pretty fast.

Amity is the other Pirate ship with the Ghost Ship keyword. She also has S+S+S movement, so she's pretty darn fast. She has awful cannons though, so her role is easily defined: Treasure Runner. On board, put on an Explorer, or a Helmsman, or both. My theory is if she's fast, make her faster. No, make her the FASTEST. Putting both an Explorer and a Helmsman on board will limit your cargo space down to 2, but she can get the best gold on an island and back home in a couple of turns. Then, she can go out for more. Just think: S+S+S+S with nothing to block your path. . .hmm thats good movement . She can get away from an opponent, leaving the threatening ship in her wake.

Bonnie Liz is the last ship to have around. Her S+L movement makes her your perfect treasure runner. She's inexpensive, has 5 cargo and her ability allows English crew to use their abilities on her. Originally, I thought you could substitute Administrator Scott Bratley and still get those 5 bonus build points, but I was wrong (see below).

Dead Man's Point is included for the sake of continuity. I really wanted to use Devil's Maw since eliminated crew are sent to this fort and gain the Ghost Ship keyword, but 2/3 of this fleet are already Ghost Ships and Devil's Maw is from the Revolutions set. Dead Man's Point is a "if you wanted a Pirate fort to use" addition. Its not bad because it'll slow down your opponent's treasure runners as they must go around your fort. AND, if they don't go around, you can eliminate one of their treasures with a direct hit from its long cannons.

The Hag of Tortuga is needed to build the Captain for the Deliverance and the Helmsman for the Amity or the Bonnie Liz, so keep them out of your fleet until you setup and reveal Hag.

The Unique Treasures, Buried Treasure,Grease Barrels, and Neptune's Figurehead are here just to enhance the gold, speed, and survivability of this fleet, though they aren't essential since you can't count on exploring and getting them.

Uses and Applications

The goals of this fleet is to get the treasure quickly and remain untouched while doing so. Luckily, the speed of this fleet and the Ghost Ship keyword are great for that. Deliverance can hold 2 gold pieces and chase after any of the opponent's treasure runners. Use her to get that "uncontested" island that both sides usually go after. Amity is also good for taking care of that island since she is S+S+S+S with an Explorer. Amity and Bonnie Liz need to go in other directions and get the other 2 wild islands. It is typically death to split up your fleet all over the game area, but with the speed of these ships and the Ghost Ship-ness, you can spread them out.
Many times, treasure runners and gunships are stopped by annoying ramming and most boarding maneuvers. It'll remove a mast, a crew, or sometimes cargo. However, when the ships turn "Ghostly", you essentially pass through anything you should touch or be touching, which goes for your opponent's ships as well--they can't touch you. So, its best to keep your ships "Ghostly" as much as possible. Remember to turn them "Unghostly" to dock at wild islands and home islands though.

Simple Strengths
With this fleet, her strengths are pretty much in your face:
1. 3 ships with speed equal to or greater than S+L keeps you almost untouchable.
2. Ghost Ship keyword on 2 of your ships keeps you still even almost untouchable.
3. Deliverance can hold her own in a fight and can scare away the opponent's fleet.
4. You get 5 extra build points with The Hag of Tortuga.
5. The crew is interchangeable and work well with any of the ships (except the Captain should never be on the Amity; talk about a waste of space ).

Weaknesses and Counter-Measures
If I were to go up against this fleet and I knew it, I would:
1. Use ability Cancellers to Ghost-bust the Ghost Ship keyword. Then pin and ram those ships. I'll need to stop or slow them down as much as possible.
2. Go after the Deliverance first. Taking her out is a slap in the face of morale and eliminates the gunship option in this fleet.
3. Chase after The Hag of Tortuga. If you catch her, you get 5 points. If you kill her, you get 1 point. Thats something at least.
4. Match speed with speed. I'd make a really fast fleet to counter the speed of this fleet.
5. Maybe I'd use some events to slow things down, like Mermaids or Becalmed.

To Sum Up. . .
1. 2 ships with S+L and one with S+S+S and one helmsman to place wherever you wish.
2. Ghost Ships
3. All Pirates and all Crimson Coast.
4. A fort? Sure, why not.