Spanish Town PB 7/30/08

[mud117]

Just an FYI newer Brits: the ships the older Brits used in the red aren't good for PB's.

[gussie]

Originally Posted by ejengstrom Good work new Brits! Try these techniques to help for a while:...

Thank you for the tips and the encouragement. They are a rare breath of fresh air on this forum.

[bootytrap]

I guess I was the leader, and couldnt have been less prepared as I usually ride Richards coat tails to victory. I had no plan, but my no 1 priotiy was not to give the Brits the opportunity to take it to avcom. The brits fought damn well, and it would have been a coin flip had they brought more firepower. Once I saw their fleet, I knew the PB was already won, it was just a matter of controlling our own losses. Thanks to the Pirate nation for listening to me so well, and vent was suprisingly quiet and organized. Next time I guess we better get the back up commander whoever it may be up to speed. I never even considered the option that Richard wouldnt get in, but all in all it was a very successful PB. GT in their skirmish group was just awesome. Everyone did well, infact outstanding. Remember, though that was chaotic and we looked like a bunch of "rodeo clowns", we took a resounding victory. Forcing a battle to chaos IS in fact, a strategy. Pirates have always thrived and done well in chaos.

/salute Pirate nation

/tiphat Brits forces.

[DragonCat]

Before the battle, there was a lot of chatter in Nation about only bringing small fast boats to harrass and annoy.

I stepped up and said that personally I was going in to fight and that I would appreciate everyone else that was coming to bring a boat they could fight in and weren't afraid to lose. Personally I am bringing my heavy hercules! (I am a privateer).

To their credit a large number of Brits stepped up and came ready to rumble. We still had three show up in small boats who didn't get the message so we made best use of them as we could. To their credit, they stayed and helped and did their part. At the end, they also told us they regretted not bringing fighting ships. /Salute The Returners!

Having stepped up I had to follow through and took over the leadership. We assembled our groups and got some basic orders in hand and went in through the default door.

It wasn't where I thought it would be and so I spent a few key moments (seemed like hours) contemplating how to gain the wind advantage. Special thanks to John Galt who graciously stepped up with a plan which we immediately adopted. His leadership in this was very much appreciate. We deciced to sail away from the channel towards the port as going to the port would have totally surrendered the wind gauge. As things turned out, the Pirates obliged us by taking the channel and surrendered the wind gauge to us. As soon as this was done we turned back with the wind and formed a line (training as we sailed!!! Person by person was mentored and instructed) and we actually were then able to concentrate our fire on key points of the pirate blob that was slowly evolving into sort of a line.

The first key moment came as we were sailing the line and concentrating fire, several of the pirates attempted to rush the front of the line (upwind!) but Jonathan Turnbull managed to first block and then totally stop this by boarding the lead ship!!.

We were then able to turn and first sunk Shady McGrady! We continued the "conveyer like" line and as time passed it grew less and less effective and we began to lose the wind advantage. (I know what to practice in PvE with people now!). But not before we were able to sink Leprechaun. At this point I was more than happy with the results no matter what else happened.

We went from a defeated rabble ready to harrass and annoy to an effective fighing force. I cannot tell you how important this is for British morale. For my second port battle in a row the comments I heard at the end was about how much fun everyone had (and not just the Brits!!!)

The remainder of the battle (at least for me) was trying to get in one more kill, which led me to get into an untenable position. And I think this was the story for the rest of the Brits. Our line eroded, and our wind advantage disappeared which resulted in our ultmate loss. But we put in some heavy licks, gained some respect, saved a few ships and are eager to learn and try again. Best result possible!

/Salute the Brits for stepping up and showing that they can fight with the best of them. Thank you to all who followed and to those who took command and led when needed. I mostly noted John Galt, Jonathan Turnbull and Duncan Swift (who took point and sailed at the Pirates with a vengeance!). I know there were many others who did their parts well. Thank you all!

I am especially pleased that most, if not all, of you had FUN! That is what brings us all back to participate, to try, to learn, to improve and to ultimately excel!

Ok Soapbox Speech is over! ;-)

/Tiphat to our worthy competitors the Pirates for a well fought battle and victory won. We enjoyed the competition and will be back for more Port Battles and PvP.

Captain Kat DragonHeart - Acting Commander for Port Battle Spainish Town

[Ronbo256]

/tiphat to you also Kat, for stepping up to the plate. We recognized the "conveyor belt" but it took the guys in back a while to get their act together to combat this as some of the larger ships sailed past "the point of no return!" When the belt broke into groups of 3 and 4, the brits went home in life rafts though! The belt looked good while it lasted, nice discipline for almost one full rotation! Salute!

[bootytrap]

I have ALWAYS envyed the British discipline concerning keeping formation. Pirates as a whole are aggressive as hell i think which leads to difficulties when keeping the line.

[Madalynn Blackthorn]

yeah well my Charge and board of the one ship to stop their advance did little consider it was even waves, i should have been a good fight.
and i was stoked to get a board when i had a 28% chance to board, so i felt pretty sure of myself it would have been a good fight considering im fairly decent at the avcom battles. But then i go to hit my skills and my tool bar is blank. and i hit the scroll button to see if it was on maybe another bar, and alas i remember that i respec'd before the Pb in both Naval and Swashy skills. Sure i put the points into the Naval tree and then heard there was 2 pirates outside Port Royal so i went to fight them, was a fun battle but yet i still forgot to put points into the avcom skill tree for fencers.
in the end, all i could do was run around screaming "crap crap crap crap" (another word was used but i didnt want that one blocked out) i think Folkert didnt even lose a wave the 1st board, well maybe one with my 5 waves of crew doing all the damage. And i was repelled, i'd hope to get far enough away to sink him with shot, but nope i got one good broadside into him and he then boarded me, and the slaughter began in ernst. i think it was 4 on 4 waves and Folkert didnt even lose a wave before i sunk.

sooooo

note to all captains dont do what i did and forget to make sure your ready to go before going to a PB

DOH!!!!!!!!!

[Leprekan]

Originally Posted by DragonCat We were then able to turn and first sunk Shady McGrady! We continued the "conveyer like" line and as time passed it grew less and less effective and we began to lose the wind advantage. (I know what to practice in PvE with people now!). But not before we were able to sink Leprechaun. At this point I was more than happy with the results no matter what else happened.

I am happy my sinking was able to bring joy to the Brits

[trongey]

Originally Posted by dominar34 ...good job pirates. we are becoming a nation finally ...

NOOOOOOOOOoooooooo!
Not THAT.
What's this world coming to? Oh for the days when a pirate could be a fiercely independent ne'er-do-well only looking out for his own skin. /QQ

[DragonCat]

Originally Posted by Leprekan I am happy my sinking was able to bring joy to the Brits

Well, I will be glad to keep you happy like that any day ;-)

Kat