Capt Wolf

The SNOT pier is wonderful, and the figure posing is excellent. I have to echo bd regarding the the knife held behind his back -- nice job! I also really like the helpful mermaid. Fun touch!

And fixing that is what we're advocating: pirates should get some value of a ship's cargo in addition to the ship when they capture it.

Fascinating way to portray the wheat field. It really works well! And I love the highwayman's hiding place.

I've always wondered why we don't have a mechanism for pirates receiving the value of a captured ship's cargo. This seems like something we should be able to work into the new MRCA rules, doesn't it? And if we do work this into the new rules, would this be a reason for armed ships used for piracy to have/need some space devoted to cargo?

Is "Tortuga" now pirate-speak for "drydock"?

I love the minifigs you've created. You've got some creative piece use on the janissaries' headgear, and creative torso and legs usage in general across the army. And I enjoyed the history lesson as well. Thanks, and well done! Do you plan on doing any other non-traditional-looking armies of the period?

Nice fort! Good use of that baseplate.

Very sharp! For some other greencoat examples, check out what the Eslandola players are doing in the Brethren of the Brick Seas (scroll down to the "Army" section).

Ah! I totally forgot about that bonus!

Sir Stig, what are you getting a 15% bonus from? The ESL commerce bonus is 20% (and I think we still need to mention it in the licensing form; I'm not sure how automated that is).

Could someone check and make sure my small artisan license from this build got assigned to Fuerte Unido? I think I may have misspelled the settlement name when licensing it and when registering the build. Thanks.

The small tavern (as portrayed in The Fate of Captain Merker) has been licensed.

Thanks. I always enjoy building FP MOCs. And the governor will be ok, maybe just a bit rougher around the edges now. Thanks. That fortress interior has a permanent place on my shelf. The exterior shot is a completely different build. The surgeon's torso is from the collectible Monster Scientist. I think Guilder will be as visible as always once he recovers, but I am trying to get Aaron into play more. I haven't been able to use him quite the way I want to yet. I'm trying to refocus on telling more stories as we enter Era II. Thanks. And here's the thing about Guilder's accident: I always figured he'd have some sort of accident like this eventually. I've had the idea of giving him a peg leg for some time; I just needed the right opportunity. Guilder needs to evolve into someone a bit crustier, and this seemed like a good way to push him in that direction. Thanks. I haven't done as many MRCA result builds as I would like, so I'm trying to get back to storytelling. And I do like how the colors of the fort floor came out. Any time I can go to pictures of the real thing for inspiration, my builds benefit, and this is one of those times. And Guilder will be ok, but yes, that saw is scary! Thank you. The explosion was an experiment. I think it was a good first attempt, and I have some ideas for how to expand on it when needed in future builds. And that turret is the main reason that MOC is still in one piece!

Great job with the ruined building walls and floor. Nice hook to get us interested! Looking forward to seeing where this story goes and what these characters are up to. And I'm with ya on the new Highwayman fig ... I love it!

Yes, it does count against your sistership limit. That is correct.

It is! And it's true that, when everything was done, only Eslandolan ships were left in Fuerte Unido. Does it really matter that ESL limped away from the battle with only 2 ships and sheltered under the guns of the fort, leaving the Sea Rats without any targets and nothing to do but declare victory and go home? Besides, that version won't impress the barmaid! Thanks! Thanks! I had fun with the dialog. And I'm quite sure I stole borrowed elements of the chandelier design from someone else, but I can't remember who. It might've been you!

More stories from the war zone; a MCRA result build: Battle of the Five Fleets and the Fate of Captain Merker

Battle of the Five Fleets and the Fate of Captain Merker | Capt Wolf | Eslandola

It had been four of the most harrowing days of Jack Merker’s life. When it began, he was the captain of the Wolf II, a class 3 armed brig that was part of a flotilla of smaller ships in the Eslandola fleet sent to end Mardier’s blockade of Fuerte Unido. The fight had started so well the first night with the resounding defeat of the Mardier fleet. They had been caught at anchor, totally surprised. The Mardierians had no choice but to try to burn their own ships to deny them to Eslandola. And Eslandola still took two of their ships and captured the Mardier commander, Commodore Vrinsky. But then, through the fog the next morning, the victorious Eslandolans saw what they thought were their comrades from Trador. Instead, it was a Sea Rats fleet in the pay of Mardier, flying false colors. The Eslandolans realized the ruse too late, and soon were in a battle for their lives. After the Sea Rats victory, they made camp for two days on the shores of the bay outside the range of Fuerte Unido’s guns and repaired their ships. Finally, the Trador fleet arrived and ran them off after a fight for the ages. [Edit: That's not exactly how the battle ended, but that's my Eslandian-slanted story and I'm sticking to it. ] And now, with the battle finally over and his administrative duties in the battle’s aftermath concluded, Jack Merker needed a drink. Captain Merker found his way to a new tavern in the growing settlement of Fuerte Unido. Upon entering, he made his way past a fellow sailor who had a big head start on Merker in the drinking category and headed for an empty table. The barmaid soon returned from the kitchen. “A mug of your strongest, if you would be so kind, “ said Merker as he removed his hat. “Our strongest?” she replied. “It packs quite a wallop. You sure you can handle it?” she teased. “My dear woman,” replied Merker, “I have survived quite a wallop, as you put it, for the last three days, so I assure you I can handle whatever you bring me.” “Were you in the big battle in the bay?” she asked excitedly. “We’ve heard all sorts of things. Which ship was yours?” “I was indeed, in the battle. I am, er, was the captain of the Wolf II.” “Was?” she queried. “You lost the Wolf to those Sea Rats, eh?” “The Wolf II, yes, I did,” Merker replied with a sigh. “Wolf II? What happened to the Wolf?” “I lost the Wolf to a Mardier war fleet last month. The Wolf II was her sistership.” “You don’t seem very good at keeping ships. How did you get to be the captain of a navy ship?” “I was recruited from the merchant ranks, where I lost the armed sloop Lady’s Revenge to pirates. May we change the subject now?” “Of course, hun. But do tell me about the battle. How do you come to be sitting in our tavern today if you lost your ship in the battle? I’d think you’d have been drowned, or taken prisoner back to Mardier, or made to walk the plank.” “Naval officers do not make men ‘walk the plank’,” said Jack. “That’s pirates.” “Aren’t the Sea Rats pirates?” the barmaid asked. “They were in the employ of Mardier, so technically they were privateers,” replied Merker. Silently, Jack stewed on the fact they were, for all practical purposes, indeed pirates. “Excuse me, where was I?” “You lost your ship and were captured by privateers, and they did not make you walk the plank.” “Yes, thank you. One of the other ships in my squadron exploded when their magazine was hit, and the other surrendered. We were boarded and fought as best we could, but the Puck’s Jest was a much bigger ship and they had us outnumbered. After that, we spent two miserable days in the hold of the Puck’s Jest as their captives while they affected repairs. We were quite relieved to see the Trador fleet finally enter the bay.” “I read that several sailors from town joined the Sea Rats and fought against Eslandola’s Trador fleet.” Merker looked at the barmaid incredulously. “Sailed against the Trador fleet? Where did you hear that?” “I read it in the Kings Port Advertiser.” “Don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper.” The barmaid looked at him with a confused expression. Merker continued. “The resulting battle between the Sea Rats and the Trador fleet was a confusing affair, and we could not follow it well from the hold of the ship. But when the Puck’s Jest captured the Sleeping Siren II, we saw our chance. While the Sea Rats were busy above deck putting together a prize crew to run the Sleeping Siren, we made our way out a port hole and across to the Siren through a gun port. We were able to see that the Purple Reign was in trouble, with her men getting into the boats, so we signaled them. They could see that the Siren was now flying Mardier colors, but that we had more men aboard her than the prize crew realized. The men from the Purple Reign dodged hellfire to make their way to the Siren. As the prize crew fired on the longboats, we set about freeing the Siren’s original crew from their chains. As Commodore Lenoir and the Purple Reign’s crew finally made it up the sides, we surprised the prize crew from below, and together we retook the Sleeping Siren II.” “Did you make the prize crew walk the plank?” asked the barmaid. Merker sighed. “We are not pirates, nor convicts as the KPA would like everyone to believe. The prisoners have been locked up in town.” “Still, quite a drubbing we took,” said the barmaid. “I’m afraid it’s only a matter of days before Mardier comes over the mountains from La Puebloto and attacks the town.” “My good woman,” replied Merker, “if Mardier were capable of such a feat, they would have done it long before now. La Puebloto is ours after the great victory led by the Prince of Brickwall – may he rest in peace. General Alonso and the troops stationed here have fought a masterful campaign, as have General Samu’s troops on the eastern part of the island. We have taken several Mardier settlements, yet they have not set foot in Fuerte Unido. The KPA may crow about their great victory, but it is their fleet that is no more. The Sea Rats may be celebrating their showing, but they are hired guns, and they also have losses to mourn. No, victory will be ours.” Merker paused, then added: “Now then, would you please go and fetch me that rum?”

I really like these kinds of hybrid classics, and you've done a wonderful job of creating a new ship with the classic feel of both originals. Something I might do differently would be to preserve the proportions of the Imperial Flagship, which used a narrower hull, by using two middle sections instead of one, but that would likely necessitate adding a second mast and become a whole 'nother ship. So I return to what you have here, which is a great combo and looks quite "playable." Consider your experiment a rousing success!

Ooh! A power play! And what do we know of Lady April? Intrigue reigns in Pontelli! And I love the courtroom build, with the different segmented areas of the court, and the frame and stone walls. Edit: How did I fail to mention those great windows? My bad. Love 'em!

An overlooked event in the war with Mardier: Mardier assault on Weelond rebuffed; Governor injured

Mardier assault on Weelond rebuffed; Governor injured | Capt Wolf | Eslandola

From the Weelond Herald, May 617... As reported in the King’s Port Advertiser, elements of the Mardier “Grey” fleet, after being driven from their blockade of Elysabethtown by our Garvian allies, assaulted Weelond for two days earlier this month. As all residents of Weelond know, the Mardierian fleet was no match for our city’s fortifications, which gave back a barrage as good as they got. What our good readers may not know is the role our governor and leader of the MCTC, Willem Guilder, played in the defense. Gov. Guilder was at Fort Weelond when the Mardier fleet sailed into the bay, and he was quick to organize defensive measures and order returning fire. The defenses were holding well when, alas, a lucky shot from one of the Mardier ships struck near the governor’s position. Initially there were fears that the governor may be mortally wounded. But have no fear, readers. An excellent surgeon from neighboring Bardo was on hand, and he tended to the governor immediately. Word we have received directly from City Councilman Aaron van der Meede, Governor Guilder’s right-hand man, is that other than the loss of a leg, the governor will be fine. The editors of the Weelond Herald wish Gov. Guilder a speedy recovery and hope to see him up and about soon. ----------- Guilder directing the defense of the fort: The lucky shot hits: The governor gives final orders before being taken to surgery: Aaron van der Meede receives an update from the doctor:

Oh, you are! And we're not assuming any victory. Totally understood. We were heartened to see most factions (cough, Oleon, cough ) built some on both sides in the challenges. Thanks! And there have been some very talented entries from all factions in these challenges. It's been impressive.