Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.
3 is average.
5 is the highest rating.
Date Reviewed - 07.01.09
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: El Algeciras (Spain)
Card: OE #067 (Uncommon)
Points: 3
Masts: 2
Cargo: 1
Moves: S+L
Guns : 3S,3L
Hit %: 100 (S), 50 (L)
Ability: This ship may never load the last treasure
from an island.
When I pulled this ship out of a pack, I looked
twice at her stats and thought, "This ship must be
broken." For the cost of a Musketeer, Spanish
admirals can have the cheapest secondary fighter in
the whole game.
Her cannons are average, but they're fine for
harassing gold ships or supporting Le Tartessos. Her
speed is perfect; she needs only a Captain, which is
good, because one crew is all she has room for. Her
negative ability is irrelevant, since gold isn't her
best role. When you recall that ships with high
speed and two fair guns normally cost two to four
times as much, you'll realize that this is one of
the most undercosted ships in the game, exceeded
only by the Banshee's Cry (another 3-pointer).
If you'd rather, you could use her for gold. With
only one cargo and a bad ability, she is not an
effective gold-grabber. But for three points, no one
would expect another Santa Isabel or La Monarca.
Pair her with El Raton, another one-cargo ship with
a microscopic price tag, and you've got a nifty
little gold team for only five points.
El Algeciras will never win any battles all by
herself. But every big fighter needs a support
fighter to cover her back and pester enemy gold
ships. Spanish admirals can have that support
fighter for six points (three for the ship and three
for her Captain), something no other faction can
match. That leaves a lot of points left over for
powerful fighters and crew. Enemies who fell for
WizKids' propaganda about "faded Spanish glory" may
be in for a very rude shock.
Ability: This ship may never load the last treasure
from an island.
Many ships in the last “original” set of
Pirates before they edited the ship shapes were just
epilogues of the original ships introduced. What is
quite interesting about this ship is that it was
introduced in Pirates of the South China Seas with
card number 067, and in Ocean’s Edge its card number
is 067. The original ship was rather useless and was
a square-rigged two master; now she is a
blockade-runner two-master worth a lot more than her
original self. She’s not bad for three points. If
you use a Cargo Master, then you can either put
aboard an oarsman and a helmsman, or you just put
aboard a helmsman and then use her as an explorer
and as a shield against harmful UT’s. Alternatively,
you could use her just as another sacrifice ship in
battle or as a tiny support ship if you seem to get
attacked by SAC crew.
The only good thing about the ship is its dirt cheap
point cost. Other than the purpose of being used as
a shield and such, this ship deserves no better than
a 2/5. Her extraordinary point cost and
ability has caused me not to use the traditional
format.
Draco
Starcloud
El
Algeciras
When a ship's "power" is detrimental, you know she's
going to be a really cheap boat. Cheap doesn't
always mean bad though.
Powers: El Algeciras can't load the last treasure
from an island, so send her to loot an island first.
Cargo Space: Only one space, but you probably could
have guessed that by now.
Masts: Two masts with a 3S and a 3L gun; not bad if
you want to do a little fighting.
Base Move: A great S+L, so you won't need a helmsman
at least.
Point Value: Frankly, you're getting a great deal
for your three points. You could put an explorer on
board to clear the way for your bigger goldships,
you could put a captain on board to back up your
main fighter, or you could flat out run a little
gold and you'd still still paying less than for the
previous two ships this week.
