The wind is coming from the south (right photo) with the Galleon anchored under the guns of a Spanish fort (seen in next photo). The French Sloop is seen approaching at bottom right, while Morgan's Brigantine is advancing (seen at top right). Diego's ship hasn't made it's appearance yet.
The view from above the Spanish Fort (housing a 64pounder (!), two 12pounders, with the Galleon at top. Morgan at top left and L'Olonnais top right
As the French Sloop moves to rake the Galleon's stern (it was hoped for anyway), it came under fire from two guns in the Spanish fort. While the smaller gun missed, the massive 64lb made an incredible die roll (needed a 10 on 10x!) and put some hurt on the French although amazingly, no casualties. The Spanish commander (Juan Corso) has raised his anchor and put on minor sails to begin inching forward. The Dutch Fluyt as arrived as well, hoping to occupy the enemy's attention thus allowing his cohorts to rake both bow and stern.
Disaster for the Privateers! The wind changes and now comes from the east (right photo). Good for Morgan (upper right), but both the Sloop and Fluyt are in trouble. L'Olonnais was just getting ready to fire on the stern and now is pushed into the surf. No real worry about grounding he thought, only a roll of 10 will affect the low draft vessel. The French roll a 10! Paying a doubloon (like a get out of jail card in the rules), the French get a second roll...and another 10!! Finally, spending yet another doubloon, the Sloop doesn't ground. But now she is out of the fight. Morgan is forced to lower sails to reduce speed so he can attempt to turn inside the Galleon and stay on her bow. But that port side broadside is getting prepared to lower destruction on the English. Diego is facing a very difficult decision. Does he turn with the wind (to port) and into the Spanish broadside, or to the starboard and try to tack.
While the French Sloop has lowered his sails and is using his sweeps (2" a turn) to bring itself back into the fight, and the Fluyt struggles against the wind, a collision occurs which does heavy damage to Morgan's Brigantine. A number of Spanish guns pound away as well, and the English are in serious danger!
Morgan is gone! Spanish guns pulverize the unlucky English, sending her to the bottom. While the Sloop continues its sweeps, the Fluty is now in an unenviable position. Her only hope (and a bad one at that) is to maneuver down the starboard side of the Spanish Galleon and take her chances she can survive the guns. She is already taking a pounding from the forward guns of the Galleon. But it doesn't turn out that way. The two ship's rigging become fouled and the Fluyt cannot escape. She too is sunk beneath the waves!
L'Olonnais would have been better off simply turning with the wind and fleeing the battle, but he had loyally stayed with his allies and eventually brought his ship around. Unfortunately in the time it took, Corso brought his Galleon down onto the poor Sloop! The collision and bow chasers brought down both masts of the French vessel. The one advantage the French had was that they were on the Spanish bow and dealing serious damage down the length of the enemy ship, including starting a fire!
The only hope the French have is that they remain entangled so they can continue to blast their cannons into the defenseless bow. But it wasn't to be as the Galleon cuts away the wreckage and when she moves slightly forward again, the damage done to the Sloop is too much and she goes down as well. Great day for the Spanish!
The game was enjoyed by all (especially the Spanish player as he had not won a game in B&P yet!) That huge Galleon is quite the powerhouse
Cool game, tough road for the privateers. Guess a huge ship and massive firepower should have caused the privateers to reconsider.
ReplyDeleteLove the ships and crews too. Good work!