Bigger, badder flotillas
Arr!
The most recent Pirates set, Fire and Steel, has introduced a couple of new, more expensive Flotillas. Where all of the Flotillas in Rise of the Fiends cost 7pts, several of these new Flotillas cost 9pts. This is actually a good thing, because the new Flotillas have abilities beyond just double-range cannons, and because now you have room to put more expensive crew onto them. And, there is one new Flotilla that just costs 6pts, for you point-pinching Pirates.
First up, France has finally gotten a Flotilla in the new set with the Mont Blanc. At 9pts, with 
cannons, and the ability to choose which mast is removed on the target ship, this Flotilla would be a nice addition to a fast ship like Le Mercure or St. Joan. Unfortunately, France does not have a “This ship gets +1 cargo space. This crew takes no space” crew, yet. But, you can use a crew that links to all French ships, like Henry Diop to get +1 vs Mercenaries, or Pierre Aronnax to shoot at those pesky Submarines. An even sneakier tactic would be to put your “Limit, Ransom” reroller crew, Madame LaFontaine, onto the Flotilla where they can’t be captured. Just link her to a French Oarsman (who takes no space), and her link provides space in the Flotilla. Unless you opponent can cancel the Flotilla keyword, they cannot capture her (and get 5pts), so at best they could sink the Flotilla.
Also in the set is the Armada, a Spanish Flotilla with the “When this ship hits an enemy ship, you can also eliminate one cargo from that ship” ability. Good for crew/equipment killing. this piece casts 9pts, and has cannons. For an evil combo, put Master Bianco (“This ship gets +1 cargo spaces. This crew takes no space”) and Master Gunner Rogelio Vazquez (“All of this ships cannons have L range”) to reach out and smack a ship at L+L range.
The British have the Tower in this set, which has the same cannons ()as the Monte Blanc, and almost the same ability as the Armada (“Once per turn when this ship hits an enemy ship, also eliminate one crew from that ship.”) But, you can squeeze some nice crew into the 6pts you have (after using First Mate Ismail). Like Lord Mycron, to give any ship in your fleet 2 actions. You could have the Flotilla towed by the HMS Rye, and have a speedy canceler that could move 6L per turn! Or, put Commander Temple on there to give the flotilla Broadsides!
The Pirates get a nearly useless piece in this set with the Widowmaker. With no extra ability except the Flotilla keyword and Extended Range, and 
cannons, I can’t really see anyone using this piece. at least it’s cheap at only 6pts.
And finally, the Cursed get a new Flotilla in the super-rare Silver Coffin. Unfortunately, it sucks. With no extra ability, only 7pts, and 
cannons, this is another piece that I doubt will see much play.
Overall, I like that WizKids decided to give a Flotilla to the French, and the more expensive Spanish and English Flotillas are going to allow more interesting tactics in the game. I don’t understand why they include the nearly useless Silver Coffin and Widowmaker in the set, because I doubt those piece will see much play.
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3 Responses to “Bigger, badder flotillas”
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count olaf on 07 May 2009 at 8:14 am #
I don’t think that you should call the Widowmaker or the Silver Coffin useless. I use the Widow maker to get some extra guns behind my pirate ships and they are good because they are just as expensive as a marine but shoots double the range(guns stink) and takes no cargo space.
Alex D on 08 Sep 2009 at 7:19 am #
You cannot put crew on Flotilla, only ships and titans can carry crew. …unless you’re playing by house rules that is.
admin on 25 Nov 2009 at 7:20 am #
Sure you can! There is nothing in the Flotilla keyword description that say you can’t put Crew on board. It’s just that Flotilla’s have no cargo space, so you need to make room to put onto it.
And, that’s pretty easy: “Links always add one cargo space to a ship; they do not cause crew to take up less space even though the effective result is similar.” (from the Pirates Code FAQ) So, linked crew, Like Admiral Robert Blake, who is linked to all English ships, could be placed on board an English Flotilla, like the Tower.
Also, crew that add space to a ship, and take no space themselves, can make room for other crew on a Flotilla. Master Bianco, who adds +1 space to a ship, and takes no space himself, is a good example. So is First Mate Ismail.