Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale 1 being the worst.
3 is average. 5 is the highest rating.
Date Reviewed - 02.07.08
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: Black Arrow (Pirates)
Card: RF #040 (Common)
Points: 12
Masts: 2
Cargo: 3
Moves: S+S
Guns : 3S, 3S
Hit %: 100 (S), 0 (L)
Ability: Schooner. This ship can’t be shot at by
ships within S of her.
I'm reviewing this ship in honor of Karen, a teen in
my church youth group, who was forced to read a book
with the same title as this ship's name, and utterly
hated every moment of it. She'd be less than
thrilled to know that her "nemesis novel" is also
the name of a decent little ship.
All her numbers are just average; it's her ability
that sets her apart.
Who wouldn't love getting an immunity to all
cannons, if all you have to do is stay within your
own cannons' range? The many ships with all S-range
guns can't do a thing to the Black Arrow, unless
they ram her in frustration. As an added bonus,
she's a Common ship, one of very few Commons with
this ability, so she's easy to add to your fleet.
You could use her for gold running, but to get your
money's worth, you'd have to send her to islands
where enemy ships were patrolling. A better idea
would be to give her a Captain and use her as a
fighter. She won't score many hits with two 3-rank
cannons, but her ability should keep her safe long
enough to do some damage. Pick your adversaries
carefully, and run up close to them. For 12 points,
you get one of the best defensive abilities in the
game. Try her out and see what she can do.
Black Arrow (Pirate, 12 points)
Masts: 2
Cargo: 3
Move: S+S
Cannons: 3L 3L
Ability: Schooner. This ship can't be shot at by
ships within S of her.
Finally an acceptable ship! That took long enough.
Black Arrow, equipped with the new schooner design,
will be a terrific nuisance to any opponent. From
much hated experience, the ability "this ship can't
be shot at by ships within S of her" is one of the
most irritating and aggravating abilities a ship can
have.
Basically, Black Arrow can sail right up next to a
ship and shoot away. The ship being shot at can't
fire back since Black Arrow can't be shot at by
ships within S of her. If the opposing ship decides
to ram, Black Arrow can choose not to move until she
sinks the ramming ship.
Her cannons are acceptable, she has a tolerable
move, and she has enough cargo to load her up with
some hefty crew. Imagine a world-hater on her... 2L
2L and she can't be hit within S for 16 points! Now
that's dangerous.
Black Arrow will be a real irritation to anybody and
I can see this ship being regarded as the mini Le
Bonaparte a couple months from now. I'll give her a
3.75/5.
Vladsimpaler
Black Arrow, 12 points,
Pirate
Masts: 2
Cargo: 3
Speed: S+S
Cannons: 3S 3S
Abilities: Schooner.
This ship cannot be shot at by any ships within S of
her.
Flavor Text: The crew
of the Black Arrow close in quickly and confuse
their enemies into missing with their cannons, while
they attack.
---
Well, this ship isn't
as good as it used to be. What am I talking about?
The new ruling, which makes bow-pinning illegal. So
ships that can't be hit at by ships within S just
got nerfed. It's still a good ability, just not as
good as usual.
Anyway, onto the ship.
If I'm paying 12 points for a 2 mast ship, I would
hope for better cannons than rank 3. But at least it
has S rank cannons, so you get the most out of the
ability. 3 Cargo isn't too bad for a 2 mast ship,
but it could be better. S+S is also not too bad,
especially when seen in context with most ships in
the set. Plus, being Pirate, you get some good
access to some nice crew, such as PotSM Captain Jack
Hawkins. Not only do you get move+shoot, but on a
ram you eliminate an enemy crew.
The Black Arrow is a
potentially devastating close quarters fighter, but
watch out for those ships with L range cannons!
I give this ship a
3.5/5. With the right crew, the Black Arrow can be
devastating.
