*Oak & Iron* solo on Tabletop Simulator. This was an attempt to: 1. Try out a boarding-optimized ship design. 2. Do the [bonus prize event](https://bloodandpigment.com/2025/06/21/new-settlement-bonus-prize/). 3. Do the weekly objective (“Veteran Crew”). 4. Try out the new 50pt introductory English list I made. The English list is intentionally simple—very few special rules to track, just some heavy-hitting ships. The flagship is a light galleon, there’s a fluyt, and then there’s a corvette for any cutting-out and interception that needs to happen. The French list is the usual 50pt one I’ve been using, with some changes: the sloop is optimized for the Delivery mission, with Expert Topmen and Troop Transport allowing it to go from battle sail to “delivered cargo” to anchor back up in the same turn—move, action to lower sail, Troop Transport to anchor and place landing party, action to deliver cargo, Expert Topmen to raise anchor. Next turn, able to start moving at minimal sail again. The list also has a corvette optimize for boarding, with Marines and Boarding Party (and it should have Additional Crew, but I didn’t prioritize the points for that). ![[june_29-1.jpg]] ![[june_29-2.jpg]] ![[june_29-3.jpg]] --- Mon intendant, I write this as a prisoner aboard the English ship *Fairfax*. The captain has graciously accepted my parole, and as such, I will not reveal anything concerning the ship’s capacities or current orders that I may have observed. As you no doubt have already realized, though, this letter bears bad news. As you know, we were under orders to deliver much-needed Jesuit’s bark to the settlement on Ste. Estelle, where the inhabitants are much afflicted with the ague. There were reports of an English blockade on the island, and so we came prepared, with the veteran crew of *La Sirène* augmented by a group of marines picked up at Aruba and boarding pikes issued to all the sailors. The sloop *La Railleuse* was loaded with the bark, and given orders to deliver it speedily and avoid the engagement. As we approached the island, the weather turned foul, and the seas ran high. We feared that a full broadside might ship water, and so we took a lee gage as we approached the English line to keep our gunports high. Still, water was coming over the lee rail as we sped onward. *La Railleuse* departed straight for the island, and an English corvette peeled off the rear of their line to intercept. Their ships are yet not as swift as ours, though. The English line was led by the fluyt *Fortune*, and we moved to engage. *La Sirène* and *La Panthère* kept a very close formation, but offset to allow the corvette’s chasers room to fire on the fluyt. At the last minute, my flagship turned to lee and opened her broadsides on the fluyt. It took heavy damage, including to its rigging, and *La Panthère* turned to fire a broadside before closing for boarding. It seemed promising—that we might engage the enemy long enough to ensure the delivery seemed not in question, while there was yet even a chance that we would defeat them and take the fluyt. Alas, matters turned quickly. The English flagship *Fairfax* arrived. *La Sirène* opened a very heavy and coordinated broadside on it, damaging its rigging, but she shipped water over the lee rail as the heavy recoil shook the ship. The timbers were already rattled from the broadside she had taken from the fluyt, and then the broadside from the *Fairfax* proved too much. Her hull was pierced between wind and water and the high waves kept coming in, faster than the pumps could work. The *Fairfax* veered between her and *La Panthère*, as *La Sirène* veered between the *Fairfax* and the English corvette. One last broadside hit the corvette, but then I had to give orders to go to the boats; she would no longer swim. *La Panthère* had closed to board the *Fortune*, and the action was fierce and bloody. Our marines and sailors acquitted themselves well, but in the end, despite the English cutting grapples and the Panthers securing them *again*, both crews were left too bloody and battered to continue. At this point, the *Fairfax* came across the bows of *La Panthère* and a last broadside destroyed the ship. As the *Sirène* sank, and the *Panthère* went up in flames, *Railleuse*—almost within pistol shot of the island of Ste. Estelle—struck her colours as the English corvette arrived. They took the Jesuit’s bark for themselves, as a legal prize of war. A disaster, mon intendant. I hope to be exchanged, but I hold no hope that I deserve to be. Grace à dieu, votre serviteur, Cpt. René Macquer ![[june_29-4.jpg]] ![[june_29-5.jpg]]