Bregir

I am not against sistershipping. However, as long as the MOC is active (for instance as a captured vessel put into active service, not sold as a prize), it should not be reused. As I said, moc and license represent the exact same thing - the IC Vessel. However, if the vessel is sunk or sold, the MOC becomes available again, so to say, and it can be directly sistershipped, without another moc. That is my suggestion. I know some builders would find it a bit harsh to have to build another vessel (or wait for it to be sunk), but there is always the option of asking the capturer for ransoming the vessel. (And if leadership agrees, this could also be done for vessels captured by NPC's. For instance at 80 % of license value.) For PC captures, it will be a matter of negotiation.

Ach so. I would like to have seen an announcement on this. Otherwise it easily gets lost or overlooked!

I would like the NPC captured ships to stay in the game, and it would be really cool to recapture them. My point was mainly one of MRCA management, and a concession to those who are much intent on sistershipping.

Where did you see this? Where has it been announced?

What changes? Are they announced somewhere?

Le Roi est Mort, Vive le Roi! We all mourn the loss of the Olean King, but in Bellson some have already expressed hopes that the new King will be more positively inclined towards Corrington, allowing us to normalise relations with the great nation of Oleon. Neat MOC, and why do I have the feeling this is more than just a piece of trivial information? One wonders what is brewing! (I do hope there will be a short respite before the next challenge, though! So many projects, so little time!)

Clever politicising, Maxim - presenting the questions from our other discussion yourself, thus getting the right of definition! But I am not letting that happen on my watch! As should already be clear, I disagree with Maxim. A moc and a license are two sides of the same vessel, and should not be separated. Let me present my arguments. BoBS is first and foremost a building and storytelling/rp-ing community - and the EGS is an augmentation off this. Therefore, and as I have said before, the logics of the community should go before that of the EGS. IC concerns before OOC. In the case of captures: You capture a vessel - not a license, not a moc, but a vessel. IC, there is no logic to the license alone, as it simply represents the IC costs of building and outfitting a vessel. Similarly, the MOC itself cannot be active (in the EGS) without a license, so on its own, it will not be captured. Thus, the MOC and the license are not to be separated, but are instead two sides of the same vessel. Therefore, if you capture an already moc'ed vessel, you can use her directly: ransom her to the original owner, sell her elsewhere, use her in the MRCA, or condemn her as a prize. And that without moc'ing it. The requirement for using a license is that there is a moc depicting the license, which is already the case. First, I would think it ridiculous, if the captured HMS Otter all the sudden looked different. Secondly, imagine the IC implications - you could have vessels which had been through several IC owners, captured back and forth multiple times; or players putting out a ransom for recapture; or vessels being ransomed back to original owners. All things we wouldn't see with Maxim's suggestions. Plus, they are events directly taken from reality. Of course, this means that you cannot license a sistership, as long as the moc is still active. However, if the vessel (moc plus license) is sunk, founders, captured by NPC's (nations or players), or condemned as a prize, she dissappears from the game, and the sistership can be licensed. (If NPC-captured ships are made active in the next MRCA, that would of course disqualitfy the original builder from sistershipping (Trademarked - Maxim ) her. However, to allow players use of their mocs and simplifiy the management of MRCA, I suggest vessels captured by NPC's are considered sold "out of the new world". Otherwise, we risk vessels disappearing into some remote corner of the world, never to be seen again, but still technically active) However, if you capture a NON-moced vessel, typically an NPC vessel, or one of the 3 un-moc'ed warships allowed each player faction, you will have to moc it before use, as a license cannot be active without a moc. (Of course, you can also sell the license to another player, or condemn her as a prize) This will advance the building side of the game, as it "forces" players to build a specific form of license, for instance 3F, or 1A, etc.. Thus, to Maxim's questions, my logic would give the following answers: 1) Only those that have not been MOC'ed before. MOC and license are inseperable, and together makes up a vessel in the EGS. 2) I would suggest that they are "sold to the old world" - to let people "sistership" the MOC, and to make handling the MRCA easier to manage. 3) You need to wait. Part of the MRCA is the risk of losing the vessel, but if this only entails the licensing sum, that really loses most of its meaning. Again, this is my position, and I present if for the leadership to see both sides. My perspective focuses most on the overall IC feel of the game, which I think is more important than the convenience of each builder. I believe this will make for a more interesting game. Further, it is a continuation of my former arguments on licensing, and I am also convinced some of this has been discussed somewhere before, the conclusion being in my line of thought. Thoughts, fellow BoBS'ians.

Beautiful catamaran, Sarge - the best example we have seen sofar, should you ask me. She looks very fast and sleek, and I am certain she can outrun most pirates (or revenue cutters, should she be smuggling..) in these waters! Very well done!

Rumours have reached Captain J. Cooke in King's Harbour that Maestro has launched the most powerful warship yet to be seen in New Terra, and despatched it towards the new world. She is known to be a 55 gun twodecker, and one cannot help but to question the trade company Maestro's motives! Such a large ship seems more suitable for single concentrated assaults than for protecting trade... The balance of power has been shifted, and Cooke will have to petition the Crown to despatch some powerful frigates to the New World! Further, one wonders what King Fernando thinks of Maestro's rise to power... Outside of politics, I must say this is a beautiful ship, Maxim! It shows that much time and love has been put into it, and I really think it pays off. I like the subtle curve of her gundecks and the elaborate ornamental stern gallery and beakhead is fit for a flagship! It is a shame those fences and windows do not come in dark red, but I think it works pretty well with red too. It is cool how you have included guns in the great cabin, and I like the open deck under the boat. I would suggest carrying the boat upside down, though - otherwise it is likely to fill during rain... (Well, a Corlander-built boat would, I am not too sure about Eslandian craftsmanship... ) Presentation is good too, but I would have liked to see a little more crew on deck and in the rigging. Currently she looks a bit underpopulated. The rigging is very very good too - and I believe you that it took 2 days! Did you try punching out the bowsprit after finishing? I did that twice on my soon-to-be-posted snow... Result: Two (technically, three, as she is a snow) masts fallen over, and a lot of rigging to redo. And that far from as elaborate as yours! I am loving those shrouds with their ratlines, and I am happy to see you have included fore- and backstays - it looks like you have been researching a lot! Well done! A few constructive comments for your next SOTL. (I have no doubt that Maestro will field more... Trade company? Yeah, right! ) It seems to me that her lower masts are a bit too short. That is what gives your lower shrouds such a flat angle, and makes your courses look very small compared to the topsails. (Judging by the placement of her yard arms) Further, it means that the gaff for her spanker sail is very low, leaving very little space for that rather important sail. Should we really go down the realism lane, the masts should be divided into separate spars, like you have done with the bowsprit, but I am not sure how it would look in lego. Lastly, she seems to be riding rather high, which gives her a slightly chubby look. (No reflection on your fiancee, mind you! ) Typically, the lower tier of gunports would be very close to the water, and I wonder if not that should be possible to do with your current technique? (At least, closer to the water) I would then bring down bow and stern as well, but I see how that would take away some of the curve. However, even the middle of the gundeck seems like it could be lowered by one, or even two bricks, which I think would give a more harmonic look. She does look a bit bulky, currently, and like she would be rather tender, prone to heeling over in hard weather. On the other hand, there is no risk of flooding by opening the gunports, as she carries them so high! But perhaps this is only due to her not yet having been provisioned for a long spell in the new world? All in all, great ship - and now I am certain I will have to build a frigate when I return to my bricks. While a 28 gun frigate will be no match for the Margot in the case of war, two frigates, or perhaps one in consort with a large sloop, would be enough to at least restore some balance of power!

King's Harbour will be the best protected Harbour in the new world, as things are going now! I really like this tall rock face with the beach below it - if fits quite well with my ideas for the terrain of the Northern peninsula protecting the King's Harbour cove. Will mainly built with traditional studs up technique, I still think it works really well, with the texture, the cavern (There is sure to be some non-descript bats!) and the vegetation. The beach is looking really nice too, and I particularly like that turtle (as does Montoya, I assure you!) I also like how you have emulated the gun carriages of my colonial half-battery, and Cooke is very impressed by Captain Allcocks work. While the idea of heated shot is hard on his sailors heart, as a military governor, he is entirely pleased with the defensive capabilities! Well done, and really nice entry!

Otter and Sphinx entered by the form.

Great looking little pier - it really has the look of an out of the way, rarely used little dock - well done. While I would typically agree with Capt. Wolf on the story, for this particular build, I think the short text perfectly conveys the atmosphere of the build.

As I told you elsewhere, I really like this story - and I too think that smaller builds to advance a story are perfectly acceptable - and with those two 16x16 builds, this is actually larger builds than what we have seen posted before. (This is not meant as a lunge at those smaller builds - merely saying that there is no issue with this) What I enjoy the most is how you have been loyal to my characters - it is a pleasure to read! I think the boats are swimming a little low in the first moc, and a little more interior detailing in the boats would be nice. I have my self managed to get three benches inside this kind of boat. (Two for rowers, one for helmsman). However, it does well in showing the letters changing hands, thus illustrating your story, which is really the most important. Your second build does really well to depict a busy scene of supplies being unloaded and people asking questions left and right, and Cooke is surely sleeping well these nights, with all the responsibilities of Governor on top of his task as Master and Commander of the Athena.

For some reason, that first picture makes me think of a recreational beach, with a lifeguards tower etc. Very nice story and some rather nice action shots, if you ask me. Well done! I am happy and relieved to find that the lady's honour went unsullied!

Congratz to both the winners and to the MCTC for the wonderful competition. And to all participants for amusing and alternative entries!

Interesting earthworks, BD! I am wondering at the limited traverse of the gun position, and how they have constructed the roof over the gun. I really like the idea of trenches, but would probably have suggested an open gun position, as that would make more sense as part of earthworks. Well done.

Nice action going on! I really like that little sloop - her hull has a nice shape, and the guns are great. I, for one, though, do not condone of this constant bashing of Oleon. While we have had our disagreements in the past, Oleon in no way deserves its name for mistreateing indegenous people.

It is nice to see someone finally realising that the natural flag to fly over any island is that of Corrington! I am certain those brave Corlanders will repel the attack from those Sea Rats! Nice little scene, and nice story to go with it.

Welcome in BoBS, Kappy. Good to have more sea-rats - since they are more or less the only legal prey for our cruisers! I am not too sure about the lycanthropy, though - my suggestion would be to play it down abit. Reduce it so that those who prefer a more realistic universe can interpret it as rumours or old-wives tales. I am certain we will see mermaids and some other mythical beings here, so you are not completely out of line, but it might be somewhat a great area. At least my characters will believe that this is a pirate wearing a wolf's mask to intimidate his enemies, or similar, and leave the foremast hands to believe he is truly a werewolf. They might even interpret him as crazy, if they are told he believe it himself! I am not going to tell anyone how to play along here, and I think your idea can make for an interesting story. However, I reserve the right for my characters to interpret it as they see fit. Do what you like, would be my advice, but be ready to face the reactions (IC as OOC) from your fellows.

Nice little patch of Cotton, Umbra-Manis. I think I prefer this way of representing cotton, as it makes the plants somewhat taller. Well done!

Great looking and very realistic emplacement, Cpt. Wolf. This will be one of the tougher nuts to crack, should we ever come to a clash of arms!

Nice looking little battery - I really love those baskets of stone - reminds me of the modern Hesco-type barriers used in Afghanistan and Iraq. Red hot shot is a great idea too, although they need to be handled with care, not to be as dangerous for the crew as for the enemy!

Beautiful merchant ships, Phred. The snotted decks are great, and their overall shape really nice too. I like the rigging, and including the spritsail is a great detail! The working tiller takes it up another notch. I will agree with Kurigan that their bow-chasers makes me somewhat suspicious as to their true purpose. As does the uniforms - rather uncommon on traders! Decks flooded with men and they would be effective privateers.... The use of tan for the cannons doesn't work too well for me, but that doesn't take away from their nice designs. As to her type, I agree they look like caravels, although they would typically carry lateens on all masts. However, my sources (wikipedia ) tells me that later caravels carried square sails on the fore-mast. They would normally carry three or more masts, though. And Kurigan's suggestion that she might be a type of polacre, well. I think that would normally carry three masts, and further have more square-sails on the main. Thus, I think caravel is the most accurate description. As to EGS-rating, I think 3F is pretty accurate. Well done, and really cool that you made two! You can never have too much of a good thing!

Great work, Elostirion. It seems that Corrington's newest settlement, King's Harbour, has not yet been added.

Great looking build, KB. It leaves one wanting for more! The details inside and out are really nice. I particularly like the building (and would love to see a full building in this style) and the gate/fence. That arc with the trademark logo is great, as is your interior. I am not entirely convinced by the ship-building part, though. It seems to me odd that they should strike up a ship so near the building, and it seems rather flimsy. I think something easier to show at small scale would be better. In any case, great build! I will be looking forward for more of this shipyard!