Captain Dee

Matey... your WIFE is into vintage pirates? Dad-gum!! I mean ARRRGGHH!! She sounds like a real keeper! On a serious note, good luck getting the EF and ITP. I badly wanted those sets as a kid and never got them, so I had to draw big poster drawings of them instead. Their appeal is as great as it ever was all these years later.

It's a draw for me! Each has good and bad points. I prefer the colors and more big windows on BBB and I think it just looks better overall, but TBB has better hull parts for MOCing, plus better rigging and anchor. As official sets neither is really all that good in my eyes truth be told. I can't pick a winner because I don't think either one is a winner.

Schreeuwwitje - Why thank you. Display is correct - that's what I built it for. I should say that's Governor Phes, retired Admiral, sitting on the throne. Considering everything he's done for this forum and Classic-Pirates, this build really isn't much!

Hilarious intro my friend! Welcome to BoBS even though I'm one of those Corries they spoke of. (See, we can be friendly. Some of us might be arrogant and/or self-righteous but at least we aren't rude!) Those are some good characters and the build is really nice. Oh, and I promise to write this entire welcome without once mentioning the phrase "you joined the wrong faction." Uhh... Oops!! Glad to have you with us here in the best forum on EB! (Oops... I... did it again!)

Excellent tower! (I hesitate to call it a true fort but I understand the rules situation...) The wall technique is beautiful and the rocky base looks nice. Unfortunately it's almost solid grey - perhaps a different color here or there would improve the overall look. A cannon up top would really enhance the effectiveness both in terms of scale and reality - making it something like a Martello Tower which definitely would qualify as a fortress-type structure. But those are minor concerns and this looks pretty good overall. Good work and I approve.

Very creative story and build. I like the bright colors, the structure surrounded by the jungle, and all the activity. The headgear is absurd but funny and the islanders are perfect for that type of setting. But Oleon can't catch a break - they're even fighting the natives in other peoples' stories! Good work.

I think it's impossible to overemphasize the value of the indices in the main Pirates forum. They're full of good Lego examples of just about anything you could possibly want from the age of sail. (A few things are missing... I'm working on it...) Carronades are just one example. There have been a lot of newcomers since BoBS launched and I highly recommend that anyone not familiar with those indices should check them out.

For the record, I did indeed notice that the vessel's colors matched the captain's attire and just assumed he ordered it painted to match... ...but I hope he never takes a fancy to tie-dye or I'll be visiting the eye doctor!

Very nice vessel - a passing glance at the bow is enough to tell it's too low for a prefab hull, and the overall shape is pretty good. I like the detailing of the deck and the sail plan looks good. My biggest complaint is the lack of any more photos, especially some close-up detailed shots, and perhaps the lighting could be better for the main pic. But she looks good regardless. Keep it up.

The Coyle Shipping Company has a fine building for its headquarters. That roof technique is in my opinion the best use of those palisade pieces, and I like the varying colors. Unfortunately I can't tell what color some of them are in that soft light! The overall shape is nice from the steeply raked roof to the offset windows. Apparently arches are a requirement for fronts of these types of buildings but that's fine by me. That cobblestone technique is perhaps the best - I must get some more of those parts. The staircase is creative but looks really steep, although I suppose they often were in that time. I'm curious about the lighting - is it supposed to represent the "cold and damp" of the log entry? It looks great in the first pic but the second is really dark for an inside shot. Overall this is a lovely build and I'm glad to see Corrington grow.

Ska - no problem, you didn't sound irritated. It's cool. Capt. Wolf - hmm, good question there. Perhaps there's a way to edit or re-submit those forms?

Nice ships - and good idea to go small for a start. I can certainly see the connection to the ITP trading ship in the design of the two smaller ones. I like the story too, but a single barrel of rum seems like a paltry reward! This Private Collins must be what you call "accident prone" or else he must just make an attractive target. First he takes an arrow to the elbow, now this... will he be one of those characters who gets shot/stabbed/maimed/etc in every episode of the story? Good work and keep it up.

NPC - Non Player Character. The territories in question would be nations/colonies not open to membership - basically anything besides the four factions and their respective colonies.

Capt. Stabbin - you made it! Thanks for dropping by. (Too bad I didn't get this posted before KB disappeared...) This is pretty small but I'm toying with a few ideas on how to do something similar but on a larger scale...

Perhaps I just look at things a little differently! About the freebuilds: again, it wasn't my intention to challenge that whole process so I apologize if it sounded that way. I figured as much about limiting builders' ability to run up a big monthly tally but probably didn't quite make that point when I mentioned limiting freebuilds overall. Makes perfect sense to me. Regarding my sigfig, I expected that answer after reading all the other similar questions, but my intro pic doesn't really show my character in his natural environment so I'm still going to do a proper intro at some point whether it's required or not just because it doesn't feel quite right otherwise. But it won't qualify as "a" freebuild if you know what I mean... Micros are fine. Gotcha. Thanks for the reply.

Whaddya know... it's my turn to ask questions now. I wasn't sure whether to bring this first one up publicly or not but in private conversation with one of the forum big-wigs I was encouraged to do so. You could say curiosity has gotten the best of me so here goes: I've been wondering about the reason for the approvals/doubloons chart being nonlinear for each builder's third-and-up monthly freebuild. A few people have posted 3 or 4 freebuilds already in our first month so it will be affecting them soon. Looking at the chart (in the locked Economic Game System thread) it takes just one approval to earn 2 DBs, and increasingly more up to a minimum requirement of 35 approvals to earn the maximum of 7 DBs. My automatic reaction is that this is skewed - it's pretty easy to earn those first 2 DBs and exactly 10 times harder to earn 7 DBs (3.5 times as many DBs requires 35 times as many approvals when comparing minimum required approvals). It just looks too easy to earn those first 2-3 DBs and pretty much impossible to earn 6-7 based on a few observations: first, since the builder's faction can't approve, that eliminates some commentators from approving which means a given number of comments will yield somewhat less actual approvals; and secondly, we all know it's very rare to see something posted on EB actually prompt 35 replies, let alone the 40+ total number of replies that would be necessary to earn 35+ approvals - unless everyone in BoBS starts making a major effort to reply to these builds because offering a friendly comment/approval never hurt anyone. (Don't look at me - I've done my part!) I don't want to throw water on anyone's ambitions, but - if your third+ monthly freebuilds aren't stupendously magnificent front-page material - you ain't gettin' many DBs with this chart! I like the idea of rewarding people based on effort, but the low end seems too easy while the high end looks impossible. I just can't see that many people taking the effort to respond. BUT... ...having said all this I can come up with one good reason for it. If the idea is to limit the number of freebuilds beyond 2/builder/month then it makes perfect sense. But I still think a higher minimum approval (say, starting at 3 instead of 1) would be better overall. I don't want to be critical, and I don't imagine this will affect me often, if ever. As I said at the start, I'm curious! But if the person(s) with the answer doesn't want to explain it - hey, that's fine too. A little intrigue is cool. Okay, enough of that. Question 2: Is it permissible for me to post an abridged character intro (beyond my simple sign-up post) that would NOT be awarded the 25 DBs just so I could start doing freebuilds, challenges etc. and then post the full-length, 25-DB character intro at a later date? My situation is unusual - my planned intro is rather in-depth and could take quite some time to complete because I want it to truly be worth the 25 DBs. I would like to get on with the program in the meantime! Question 3: Will microbuilds be accepted as standalone freebuilds? Specifically, microbuilds that take up a 32x32 or 48x48 baseplate or even multiple baseplates? I have a few big ideas but I would like to try the layout as a micro to start with and I'm confident I can cover a large area with both of them. I apologize for being such a pest. Any input will be greatly appreciated! - Sir Dee of Corrington

This may well be my favorite free build in BoBS yet and I like the choice of white for the walls. The design is neat and tidy and the subject matter is unique. The furnace looks appropriate for glass-working with the bulging rounded parts and the depiction of the actual glass-blowing is nice. The shelves of shiny new bottles is a good way to detail the side of the build and it has a certain cheery feel to it all. Lastly, it's a fine companion to your next scene, which I just sampled... uh, visited. Good work and I approve! Edit: Oops, I missed the spoiler pic. No big surprise but a good technique nonetheless. You're putting very good effort into these. Keep it up.

Fabulous build my friend. I like the towering structure and yes, ze machine, she iz wonderful! *urp* Actually it looks a bit modern but who cares... it's a brilliant design with the gold and trans-clear parts. The shields are a neat idea and I did indeed spot the grey of the curved ceiling in the first pics. I like the rows of sparkly clean bottles; let's hope they don't get overly aggressive with that broom and dust them all up. The activity is nice, but those "thirsty crewmen" are after more than a sample... I mean, after he's downed two whole buckets he won't be walking out on his own two feet no matter how "delightfully smooth" the rum is! Great idea and a job well done. Of course I approve. Bottoms up!

Beautiful build - neat, clean, tidy. Those walls are lovely and it has a warm homely feel to it. The arched windows are nice and the palm leaves provide a nice counter-texture as well as the intended shade. Good work.

That's a very clever (if not painful) way to introduce a character! But two peg legs... I'm picturing wobbly, unsteady, wavering - I suppose he could conceal his drinking with his handicap. At least he won't have to worry about the press-gangs since he wouldn't qualify as an A.B. seaman! But it makes for a memorable intro and the WGO sounds like an interesting story waiting to be told. Keep it up.

This is a very neat tidy scene. I like the big beams on the left and the row of bottles are a good way to detail the other wall. But my favorite feature is that lantern - it's simply the perfect use for that part because it looks better than any other design I've seen. Good intro and keep it up.

I like dense jungle scenes such as this. The trees are excellent and while the variety of other plants may look busy on such a small scale methinks it is a fine representation of what the jungle would look like, bathing beauty or no. Interesting idea for the challenge, and excellent design and presentation. Good work.

An interesting counter to all those annoying rumors, aye? I like the concept and the build is pretty good but it's a little hard to focus on the tree against that backdrop. The poses are pretty good, especially the monkey, and it's nice to see some peaceful interaction. Keep it up.

I really like the basic design approach - of all the raised baseplates this one is perhaps best for creating a realistic setting. Lush is definitely the word to use with so many plants and trees. I feel like I could just step right in. But the photos let it down; if you could improve the lighting it would make a huge difference. Keep it up.

As already mentioned, an overview shot would be nice. The basics are there - the dock, shed, cargo etc and this is the making of a fine start. Perhaps it would benefit from a little polish but the story drops enough hints to be interesting. Keep it up.