Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.
3 is average.
5 is the highest rating.
Date Reviewed - 04.11.09
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: Scepter (Pirates)
Card: CC #021 (Rare)
Points: 14
Masts: 1
Cargo: 3
Moves: L+L
Guns : 4S
Hit %: 33 (S), 0 (L)
Ability: Friendly ships within S of this ship get +1
to their cannon rolls.
Ships with this +1 ability are notorious for being
overpriced and almost totally useless. The Scepter
isn't quite the cheapest of the lot, but she has a
few things going for her, at least compared to her
sister support ships.
For one thing, she's got great speed and fair cargo,
so she can run gold effectively. Of course, for 14
points, you could get the Banshee's Cry, Rover,
Mermaid, Bloody Jewel, and Jolly Mon, and have
fourteen cargo spaces for gold instead of only 3.
But those ships can't scoot into the backfield of a
battle and serve as an everything-hater for your
gunships. That +1 ability tends to be costly, but in
this case, it's combined with the traits of a gold
ship, and that makes all the difference. With L+L
speed and no need to fight, she needs no crew (and
with her point cost, you probably can't afford crew
for her anyway).
My rating for the Scepter may be controversial,
because it's traditional to write off support ships
like this as unworthy of a second glance. But this
ship really is different from clunkers like the
Hannah and the Le Solitaire. She isn't great, but if
you use her creatively, she could be good for you in
multiple ways.
