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Date Reviewed -
July 10, 2009
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: Cursed Blade (Pirates)
Card: RV #005 (Common)
Points: 11
Masts: 3
Cargo: 5
Moves: S+S
Guns : 3S,3S,3S
Hit %: 150 (S), 0 (L)
Ability: Schooner. Once per turn, this ship may
randomly take one treasure from any ship she
touches.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: boarding
was the real-life pirates' preferred attack, but in
this game, it's a hard way to make a living. Ships
like the Cursed Blade make it a little easier.
Her cannons are fair, but her cargo and her ability
define how you should use her. That ability is much
better than boarding, because you don't have to win
a die roll, and because you get a coin at random,
instead of the enemy giving you his most useless
treasure. If you feel lucky, you can use the ability
and then board, in hopes of winning a second coin.
There are two options open to you. You can ram and
hope to bulldoze a mast, improving your boarding
odds but leaving yourself pinned. Or you can pull up
near the enemy and use the Schooner ability to swing
your gunwale against his bow or stern, doing no
damage but leaving him unable to fire all his
cannons at you when it's his turn. If you want to
add crew, a Helmsman will be useful; a Captain might
be able to pay his way, or he might just take up
points and a cargo space that could be better spent
elsewhere. The three points might be better spent on
Genny's Red Rampage or Bloody Jake, who improve your
boarding odds.
The Cursed Blade won't automatically make the
boarding game into a winning strategy. But she'll
definitely make herself unpopular with enemy gold
ships, and she can sling a cannonball or two if she
has to.
Keep her away from enemy fighters, and see what she
can do for you.
