[Yet another map: Naval Action map]

Ah ha.  Just so.  uBlock Origin is blocking it now, whereas it was not before.

[Yet another map: Naval Action map]

Odd, neither on Chrome nor Firefox for me.

[Yet another map: Naval Action map]

@Felix Victor Just FYI - The map doesn't seem to be populating today.

[Thoughts of a Transylvanian]

Thoughts of a Transylvanian
14.  Karma Bled By Ketch

    These past days have been marked by long patrols that have often netted very little in the line of scalps, but a fair bit in the line of intelligence.  This makes them of value, even if my braves would prefer a more tangible note of their successes.

    With that in mind, the tally of those scalps that were collected:

In Company with Captain @Davos Seasworth:
One British Constitution

Independently:
Of the British:
One Surprise class frigate
Two La Grosse Venture class merchants
One Heavy Rattlesnake class brig
One mercantile brig

Of the French:
One Endymion class frigate
One mercantile brig
One mercantile Lynx

Of the Russians:
One Endymion class frigate

Of the Pirates:
One Prince de Neufchatel class brig
   Of the Swedes:
One mercantile brig

    My activities have earned a bounty of one million pieces of eight, an outrageous sum for doing what the Free Tribes have always done.  However, in light of this bounty, a notice was posted to Captains of all stripes reminding them that though the Free Tribes sail in affiliation with the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania, we are a free and independent nation, not bound by their laws or treaties.

    In an effort to collect said bounty, one French Captain “King of Crowns” (these Europeans do love their feigned nobility) laid in chase, and perhaps with some hidden semaphore signalled to La Navasse, from whence poured a steady stream of sailors from the “WO” and “BLANC” squadrons.  Their chase ultimately prooved fruitless, regardless of their initial certainty of success.

    Speaking of the French, while returning to port from this last patrol, while writing my log in my cabin, I did hear from the masthead that fabled cry that sets one's heart to the rhythm of the drums.  A merchant brig ran into our path, and his own lookouts must have been drunk below, as even with carronades, we were able to do much damage, and ultimately sink her, as her cargo was paltry.  Three scalps to assuage my braves.

    Merchants are an odd beast, and the laws governing them the same.  No one seems to care that their officers are scalped and their hulls sent to the bottom, so long as the Free Tribes are denied their cargo.  This is all one to us, as their cargo would likely go to the bottom anyways, being unable to take it with us.  Take for example, the British.  While departing Les Cayes, I saw a La Grosse Venture with a merchant brig in company, flying the Union Jack.  Captain Davos Seasworth, of the HOST squadron stood idly by, his sailors bound by diplomatic overtures made between fat men in smokey rooms.

    No such diplomacy could hold back my braves, however.  Though the brig escaped, the La Grosse Venture quickly struck her colors.  Her hold – emptied.  Her hull – sunk.  Her officers – scalped.  Yet, as near as I could tell, her Captain was perfectly content, as the Free Tribes were denied her cargo.  My braves were content, as more scalps were added to their collection.  And so, the very same Captain was spotted departing Saint-Louis in the very same brig that escaped earlier.  It amazed me so, and yet, the story repeated itself once again.  All the while, everyone seemed perfectly content about the whole situation (save, of course, those officers that will wear straw hats for some time).

    In the end, I once again find myself scratching my head at those strange Europeans.

    Karma Bled By Ketch

[[HOST] Chernomoriya [Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]

HOST are a good group of lads.  Often sail with them when I desire a bit of company.  Fun, relaxed, and ambitions of becoming ever better.

[GB Political Status]

1 hour ago, Christendom said:

Meanwhile we’ve been fighting the Danes, Swedes, Pirates, Evening French and Dutch.  Even the Prussians come to screw with us.  

So sneaky, I don't even make the list 

[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Political Status]

It seems pertinent to add this here:

A Reminder from the Free Tribes

Shipping beware!  The Free Tribes are not bound by any diplomatic agreements from or with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.  The Free Tribes remind, and encourage other Captains to remaind their Lieutenants and Midshipmen, that we are a separaite and distinct Nation, with all rights and privileges assumed by Nations as established in your own Westphalian System.
 

[Hostility changes - fun for everyone, including small clans.]

Big picture:  As a part of one of those small factions, I like it.  Little details that others are concerned about, I'm sure those who theorycraft the RvR stuff will work through it, expose weaknesses, and things will be adjusted accordingly.

[Marked with the Black Spot - Caribbean]

Do you double it when I point out that you spelled my name wrong?

[Announcement of an alliance between the Kingdoms of Russia and France]

The Free Tribes welcome all who would cast off the shackles of their European Overlords.

[Why Fleet Perk?]

I actually prefer the real choices.  I just wish even more things could be shifted over to perks, and make people make even harder choices.

[A Reminder from the Free Tribes]

A Reminder from the Free Tribes

Shipping beware!  The Free Tribes are not bound by any diplomatic agreements from or with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.  The Free Tribes remind, and encourage other Captains to remaind their Lieutenants and Midshipmen, that we are a separaite and distinct Nation, with all rights and privileges assumed by Nations as established in your own Westphalian System.
 

[Call to the Commonwealth]

Do you want to be escorted by the Free Tribes, instead of attacked?  Do you want to explore the limits of one vessel?  Do you want to learn how to practice the Woods War at sea?

All this, and more(!) if you hoist the scalping knife flag!

[Exciting OR RNG crafting is back, and I have a problem with it.]

Just now, Wraith said:

No one wants ships that are too valuable to sail, or too valuable to not sail.  This crock falls in both categories depending on the type of player you are, with no middle ground to be had.

I had a couple elite refits leftover from the merger, and I thought of them as "too valuable to use."  I didn't want to lose them, them being as rare as they were.

So I sold them for some PvP marks.

I'm tempted to get into the crafting game for some schweet ships.  And you know what I'd do with anything too rare to sail?

Hock it for some PvP marks or Victory Marks.

[Exciting OR RNG crafting is back, and I have a problem with it.]

So many power gamers.  However, I maintain that the devs could deliver a willing wench to a player's cabin, and some players would still find a reason to complain.

[Norfolk nLegend does Grinder...!]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I read "Norfolk nLegend does Grinder...!" but it definitely wasn't about cannons......

[Where shall I go to?]

1 hour ago, vazco said:

Where did you get this information from? I'm curious

It was in the post that I linked to.  Click "This" in that post.

[Where shall I go to?]

This might help you decide.  Rearranging it by order of population:

Unique logins over last 5 days

1. GreatBritain: 1378
2. Pirate: 672
3. France: 500
4. UnitedStates: 494
5. Sverige: 455
6. Espana: 334
7. RussianEmpire: 321
8. VerenigdeProvincien: 275
9. DanmarkNorge: 240
10. KingdomOfPrussia: 113
11. PolishLithuanian: 96

[Thoughts of a Transylvanian]

2 hours ago, DesMoines said:

He was an Englishman who was far from home. We all know that in this game many use ALT accounts for spy ..... In addition, the hostility went up on Les Cayes ... hence our presence. I thought that for someone like you it was a sensible action we were doing ... Apparently no

 

and as you see...I don t write a Letter for say to all players... Guys!!! I have sink a Basic cutter who struts a foot too tall for his body  

We know not these strange words and how you use them, "ALT accounts" and "hostility."  The Free Tribes see only Captains, and care not for the antics of the European invaders.  Recall that before you arrived with your plague, pestilence, and war, these lands were a relatively idyllic place so long as one was not a Huron.

As for these simple writings, they are merely an amalgam of logs and thoughts - a more introspective version of the dry Captain's Log every European seems to keep.

[Thoughts of a Transylvanian]

20 minutes ago, DesMoines said:

 

Indeed, it was really me. As you confirmed in your writing, you sank me. You were under the Polish flag, and you decided to attack two french players who had defended Saint Louis against the English to help your faction. Your fate is now sealed and we will pass the order to any French ship and ally to fire on sight on any of your boats. We had come to St. Louis only to defend and intercept every English ship. You made your choice. I'm doing mine.

 

Libelous lies!  Our vessels did not attack you, we merely defended a Midshipman on his first cruise out!  While true, it was indeed a British Mid, we find it reprehensible that such Captains as yourself would set about someone so new to the ocean before they were able to learn the error of their ways!

[Thoughts of a Transylvanian]

(The Free Tribes also encourage individuals and squadrons to respond, as long as it is in the spirit of the time period or at least in good spirits.  Don't want any bad blood or flaming, but it would be swell to get some more interaction on here.  Feels a bit dry otherwise.)

[Thoughts of a Transylvanian]

Thoughts of a Transylvanian

13.  Old Drums

I am uncertain how I desire to begin this pamphlet.  It has been a fairly unremarkable series of cruises these past two weeks.  I have worked with other members of the Commonwealth, I have sailed my usual paths, and I have even assisted in the taking of a port.  However, these are little excitement enough.  We have put word out that we seek new braves for the Free Tribes, however, thus far the call has gone unanswered.  Such is life.

At the very least, I shall start with a listing of those vessels which have sunk.

As part of a task force:

Of the Prussians:
One Endymion class frigate

Of the French:
One Surprise class frigate

Independently:

Of the British:
One Agamemnon class heavy frigate
One Essex class frigate
One La Grosse Venture class merchant
Three Mercantile Lynxes

Of the Russians:
One Endymion class frigate
Two Cherubim class frigates
One Surprise class frigate
One La Grosse Venture class merchant
One Privateer schooner

Some of these encounters deserve special mention.  The Prussian Endymion was the former Commonwealth Captain "@vazco" There was much celebration in Les Cayes after his vessel was sunk.  My braves were only able to scalp two or three of his officers before being stopped by the other Commonwealth sailors who do not appreciate our ways.

The French Surprise was Louis XVI, a monarch of France who struts a foot too tall for his body.  He was accompanied by a second Surprise which unfortunately escaped Captain "@Davos Seasworth" and myself.

Davos Seasworth, a strange name if I ever heard one (he must be from an exotic place), is perhaps less appropriately called “Captain” and more appropriately called “Viscount” or some such nonsense formal title, as he successfully led the capture of some port or another in the south.  I assisted here by shelling the town, so as to break morale before my braves went ashore.  This seemed strangely unappreciated by the Commonwealth Captains.  A strange bunch.

The Russian Endymion was an interesting fight.  I was so impressed by the British Essex that I was doing workups with my crew in one of my own.  This was simply a trial vessel, however, the best trial is of course by combat.  The Russian, a Captain of the “VCO” squadron (a squadron that is neither Dutch, nor in the East Indies, nor a Company) listed in the signal book as “@Forlorn Hope" did set about this trial Essex in good fashion, as we exchanged numerous broadsides.  I believe he was carrying long 18's to my 32lb carronades, but the gunfire of the Essex soon overwhelmed him.  As he attempted to break off, his planking splintering to nothing, the very beams of his vessel started taking damage, forcing him to slow.   His planking unable to resist my carronades, even at rifle shot distance, and his beams exposed, I was able to finish him off, though unable to send a crew aboard to inspect the vessel before it went under.

The VCO squadron, as a whole, however, have often given me grief in Bermuda.  Though the various squadrons such as RUS and USSR are slow to respond to my presence, VCO routinely organizes quickly and effectively, spreading sail in such a diverse group of vessels that it is difficult to find a heading that allows an escape.  This of course has to factor in how I manage my long patrols.

Old Drums.

@DesMoines - I think you're Louis XVI referenced in this?  (Not entirely certain.)
@Christendom - For references to VCO.

[Where shall I go to?]

The Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania, in affiliation with the Free Tribes, are always welcoming new Captains.  As one of, if not the, smallest factions in the game, each individual stands out all the more.  While PFK is primarily Polish speaking, HOST and TRIBE are English speaking.  RvR is generally not a large aspect of the game for us however, as we are still trying to build up the faction.

[Provisions]

36 minutes ago, rediii said:

Out of interest, how many sinkings?

Looking back at my "log" (pad I keep at my desk for notes for Thoughts of a Transylvanian) it looks like I average six a patrol before I have to return to refit and resupply.

[Provisions]

7 minutes ago, admin said:

Long range frigates were usually supplied for 6 months at sea, average days at sea currently do not exceed 20 days.

I think I might have the record for combat patrols, at 60 days at sea.  But those are up to Bermuda and back, and living off the repairs I loot off other players.