Played at Jay Stribling's home in Jackson Mississippi, November 26, 2004

"From the mid-1600s to the Mid 1700s, 'The Golden Age of Piratcy', pirate activity was at it's zenith in The Carribean and along the Spanish Main (the northern coast of South Amerrica and Panama). Led by such captains as Henry Morgan; Jack Rackam ("Calico Jack"); Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart); William Kidd; Edward Teach ("Blackbeard"); Stede Bonnet and Captain Graves, to name a few of the more well knowsn scoundrels, pirates were the scourge of commerce on land and sea."...From the introduction to the rules - by Larry Brom .

This game represents a combined descent on a small sleepy coastal town defended by two units of sedentary infantry and the crews of two ships which were anchored their with no chance to escape the villans.

Unusually for the Jackson Gamers, we had no real Game-master for this game. The pirates and other figures were owned by Jim Pitts, Ed Sansing and Jay Stribling. The scenery was the combied efforts of Stribling and Pitts. The Merchant ships were owned by Jim Pitts and the two pirate vessels were provided by Jay Stribling. The scenario was by mutual agreement, and the entire game was more in the nature of a rules introduction for us - this being the first time that we had gone a'buccaneering!

John Murdaugh (Mad dog John), Phil Young (Ruthless Phil), Jim Pitts (Saucey Jim) and Jay Stribling (Black-Hearted Stribling) were the Pirates. "Major" Sean Pitts and "Captain Eddie" Ed Sansing defended the small dirt-roaded town of Puerto Rediculoso.

Photo by John Murdaugh

A view of the small coastal town of Puerto Rediculoso showing the two merchant ships tied to the dock. They don't even have their yards across. So movement would be impossible for them, even it the wind wasn't against them.

Photo by Ed Sansing

A view during the game's set-up. John Murdaugh is showing Sean Pitts a photo just taken on the viewscreen of his camera. Jim Pitts (at right) is getting Pirates out of his 'Transportation box'. Note that we have placed far more ships and boats than we can use for the game onto our 'ocean'. This number was later reduced to two pirate ships and two merchant vessels. Jay Stribling had originally plannned to have an island in front of John Murdaugh, but this was discarded as a distraction. Perhaps in a later game!

Photo by Ed Sansing

'Saucey Jim' Pitts' swarthy pirates swarm in through the jungle following a dirt track as they enter from the northeast corner of the table.

Photo by Ed Sansing

The second of 'Black-Hearted Stribling's' band of merry men (Arrgghh!) enter from the jungle at the northwest corner of the table. Puerto Rediculoso is in the background.

Photo by John Murdaugh

Looking down on Puerto Rediculoso showing the soldiers called out into the street with a few armed civilians about.

Each building, hut, tower, or ruin had a small slip of paper under it, detailing the value of the 'Plunder' to be found there. This was assigned at random, from $100 to $800, so no one knew the amount that could be found there, till they entered the structure or ruin. In addition, each townsperson herded off as a slave or for ransom was worth $50.

Photo by John Murdaugh

The pirate ships Plunder (nearest the camera) and Loot coasting into town under bare yards. How DID they do that?

Photo by John Murdaugh

A close-up view of the Plunder. Both ships were under the command of 'Mad dog John' and contained two 10-man units of pirates.

Photo by John Murdaugh

A squad of soldiers surrounds and fires into the building at the corner of Main and Cathedral streets, which had been occupied by pirates under the command of 'Black-Hearted Stribling'. The other squad engages in a long ranged fire-fight with pirates visible in the background. These were 'Ruthless Phil's' men.

Photo by John Murdaugh

Ruthless Phil's men (and women) rush forward in an attempt resolve the matter with cold steel. They engage one of the squads of soldiers in the street, while the other one attempts to push 'Black-Hearted Stribling' out of the building he had taken. The fickle finger of fate points to the building. The soldiers, under the command of 'Major Pitts', maddened with rum, did push Stribling's men out of the structure.

Figures with black rings on them are 'lightly wounded'. Figures lying on their sides are seriously wounded. Each wounded figure was diced for in the morale phase of every turn. There was a chance that he would improve, remain the same, or go to meet his maker. Wounded figures over-run by Pirates were killed instantly.

Who was the victor in this game?

'Black-Hearted Stribling' won with total loot worth $1600. Arrgghh!

Hold fast lads! More to come!

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