Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.
3 is average.
5 is the highest rating.
Date Reviewed - 04.02.08
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: HMS Birkenhead (English)
Card: SM #ES-012 (Common)
Points: 11
Masts: 3
Cargo: 4
Moves: L
Guns : 3S, 3L, 3S
Hit %: 150 (S), 50 (L)
Ability: **This ship gets +1 to her boarding rolls.
The Birkenhead is one of those "is the glass half
full or half empty"
ships. Either she's flexible in any role, or her
role is muddy and undefined. Which is it?
Her cannons are uninspiring, but at least she has a
mix of S and L to pick on any target. Her cargo is
good, her speed below average, and her ability makes
her well above-average in boarding actions. You can
give her a Helmsman and send her after gold (kind of
expensive) or do some ramming and boarding (good),
or you could add a Captain and go fighting (you can
do better). I'd have to say that boarding is the
Birkenhead's best role. Too bad that boarding is the
hardest way to win in this game.
The fact that she can take on multiple roles makes
her flexible, which is usually a good thing. Her
point cost is certainly fair. Is the glass half full
or half empty? You make the call.
After a few weeks of Rise of the Fiends ships, it
seems we're back to the old Spanish Main.
For most British ships, combat is where it's all at.
The HMS Birkenhead is no exception.
Unless you consider boarding unusual for the
British.
Her ability gives her +1 to her boarding rolls
which, when combined with her three masts, makes her
a decent challenger in any boarding action. It'd be
best to pick on ships her size or smaller though.
She has a decent four cargo spaces, so she won't
suffer too much if you give her a Helmsman, which
she'd need since her base move is an L.
She makes a decent backup fighter with two 3S and
one 3L cannon, but she's rather expensive to use as
backup at 11 points.
A decent brawler, but you can probobly find cheaper
ships that do one or the other of her possible
duties.
I give the HMS Birkenhead a 3/5.
Vladsimpaler
So,
this week is PotSM English Week. We continue today
with...HMS Birkenhead.
HMS Birkenhead, 11 points
Masts: 3
Cargo: 4
Speed: L
Cannons: 3S 3L 3S
Abilities: This ship gets +1 to her boarding rolls.
Flavor Text: HMS Birkenhead was part of several of
Sir Myngs'
insertions into Spanish ports. It was outfitted with
spikes and guillotine lines to aid in the repelling
of boarding parties.
I really don't like this ship, I think that I have
at least 5 of them.
Which gets annoying, trust me. But onto the ship.
At first glance, this ship is average. At second
glance, this ship is overcosted. For a ship-to-ship
comparison, look at the Birkenhead vs.
La Joya de Sol. The Joya de Sol has worse cannons, 4
more cargo, is slightly faster and more
maneuverable, and has 1 more mast.
But that's kind of like comparing apples to oranges.
This ship needs a helmsman to get it up to speed,
and a captain. I honestly would go no farther than
that. It only has 3 masts, and you're better off
with Monday's review ship, the Bolingbroke.
The Birkenhead receives a 2.5/5 with me. It's an
average ship, but has an above-average cost.
