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Pirate Piece of the Day

USS Kettering

USS Kettering (USA)
(Our 500th Ship Review)

Piece Ratings: 3.33

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.
3 is average.
5 is the highest rating.


Date Reviewed - 09.02.08

 
Cadet-Captain Mike

Name:    USS Kettering (USA)

Card:    FN #200 (Limited Edition)

Points:  16

Masts: 3

Cargo: 3

Moves: S+L

Guns : 3L,3L,3L x2

Hit %: 300 (S), 300 (L)

Ability: Longship. Once per turn, one crew or ship within S of this ship cannot use its ability that turn.

 

For Pojo's 500th ship review, it would have been nice to pick a really exceptional ship, but we've already reviewed all of those. This ship is an interesting one, though, and a pretty good one at that.

 

I don't think any other three-masted longship can catch the USS Kettering in speed; most of them move only L. She also has good cannons (six shots at 3L isn't world-class, but I'd still hate to be on the receiving end), a very useful ability, and a price tag that's lower than some longships that are much slower and less capable. She has the longship's usual 3 cargo, but she doesn't need to fill one cargo space with a Helmsman, which helps. As a nice little detail, the figurehead has been lightened in color to resemble a bald eagle. Fighting is this ship's reason for being; a Captain is all the crew she needs. If you can spare the points, a Shipwright would be a good second crew, since he gives back two cannons for each mast he repairs.

 

The USA has three ships with the Canceller ability: the one-masted Hessian, the windcatcher Ghost Walker, and this longship, which is the most versatile of the three. Yes, she's a bit expensive for three masts, and yes, there are longships with better cannons. But if I could get my hands on the Kettering, I'd use her in a heartbeat, and I think my enemies would not be happy about it.

 

Goldship rating: 3.2 / 5

Gun Ship rating: 4.1 / 5

Boarding rating: 3.1 / 5

Value for points: 3.4 / 5

Draco Starcloud USS Kettering

Happy 500th PCoTD Review! We celebrate by taking Labor Day off and reviewing a boat-load (HA HA HA) of American boats.

Starting off the week is the American limited-edition longboat, USS Kettering. It's a longboat, so based on previous experiences, you can bet it's going to be a pricey fighter.

The USS Kettering does not disappoint in the fighting regard.

As a longboat, it gets two shots per mast, resulting in the possibility for six hits against a target. All three of its guns are 3L, so they're good for fighting. The one weakness in the USS Kettering's attack plan is its ability.

The USS Kettering has an ability-canceller, but you have to move within S of the boat whose abilities you're cancelling, negating the range advantage offered by your 3L guns. Against some enemies though, trading range for ability cancelling is worth it.

The USS Kettering has a great S+L speed and an average 3 cargo spaces. USS Kettering can gold run in a pinch, but why waste its potential when you can likely find two equally-skilled gold runners for the cost of one USS Kettering? Those spaces are better filled with crew, especially a captain and a shipwright. A helmsman would be good if you want to leave most opposition, and the rest of your fighters, in your wake.

The USS Kettering, like many longboats, is very pricey. 16 points would be a great price to pay if she were a bigger boat, but longboats only get to be three masts at their biggest. If you're good at rolling and getting in the first hit, maybe this ship is worth it. Otherwise, I can only recommend it in high-point games.

I give the USS Kettering a 3.5/5.
Vladsimpaler

Yay, I'm back! : D

And school's back, so I'm going to be gone...again. But for our 500th card of the day...what is this? No San Cristobal? Heresy!

 

USS Kettering, 16 points

Masts: 3

Cargo: 3

Speed: S+L

Cannons: 3L 3L 3L

Abilities: Longship. Once per turn, one crew or ship within S of this ship cannot use its ability that turn.

 

Flavor Text: The United States stole this longship with the unofficial help of France, and then turned her into a spy ship.

 

Pfft! Did you just read what I did? 16 points, and only 3 masts? What is this, anyway? A longship? Why yes, yes it is. And sadly, the best one. Yes, you read that right. The Americans have the best longship, and not the Vikings. Does it makes sense? No. Anyway, onto the ship.

 

First of all, you'll laugh at how expensive the darn thing is. But, you can cancel stuff! And, you get 2 shots for each mast! That's pretty good. This means that you'll get an average of 3 shots per turn, which is good.

 

The canceling mostly makes up for this ship's pitiful lack of defense, and you can do some nice damage, meaning you can cancel your opponent's USS Constitution ability. Very useful, indeed! Of course, your opponents are going to know of this ship's ability. For the most part, anyway. And extra action ships are this ship's bane...at least 2 direct hits are all that's needed to ruin this ship.

 

So, I recommend this:

 

USS Kettering (25)

Captain, 3

Brent Rice, 4

Helmsman, 2

 

Err...it's deathly expensive, but you get good kick, scoring an average of 4 hits per turn and moving at S+S+L.  If you really want, drop Brent Rice (the worldhater) to save 4 points, but then you have those nasty 3 rank cannons again.

 

I don't know...Longships just really stink. But this one's a little better, garnering a 3/5 from me.


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