The curse of the gold plunderer has long been a chilling tale passed down through generations. It is said that any individual who dares to steal treasure from its sacred resting place will be cursed for eternity. This curse has plagued many souls who have succumbed to the temptation of riches, only to face a lifetime of misfortune and tragedy. Legend has it that centuries ago, a notorious pirate known as Captain Blackheart set sail in search of hidden treasure rumored to be buried on a remote island. The treasure was said to be guarded by an ancient curse, but Captain Blackheart was unfazed by such warnings. With greed guiding his every step, he ignored the nagging doubts within his crew and embarked on the treacherous journey.
With greed guiding his every step, he ignored the nagging doubts within his crew and embarked on the treacherous journey. Upon reaching the island, the crew faced numerous obstacles. From treacherous seas to dense jungles, they pressed on, determined to claim the coveted gold.
Plunder Pack Mat First Usage – May 17th, 2015
The order of gameplay was the same as the order of fleets above.
After playing the rules inconsistently for a few years, new house rules were officially instituted, and I’d like them to be permanent for my games. When a boarding party is won, not only does the winner get to pick whether they take a treasure or eliminate a crew, but they also get to pick whatever treasures they want. If you won a boarding party on an enemy ship laden with gold, would you really settle for the cheap trinkets presented to you by the guilty captain? I wouldn’t!
I’ve quickly grown tired of seeing brown wooden tables as the background for my ocean in the battle reports, so for the first time ever, the Plunder Pack game mat was used. As you can see, some of the creases and folds were still present, but they didn’t affect gameplay.
As for the home islands, they are beautiful custom creations by none other than rossinaz. I may experiment this summer with making my own custom islands, but as usual I will focus on playing first. Either way, between the mat and new islands, this is one of the most aesthetically pleasing reports I’ve done yet.
The first player deliberately left Exploding Shot on their HI to maximize the Valeroso’s trip to a wild island. Between her and the Trinity, Fleet 1 loaded 5 coins on the first turn.
The Augusta marks an island explored as the Carcajou crests a wave.
Unfortunately, Fleet 3 just barely couldn’t make it to a wild island on their first turn, but with two galleys and a dangerous French gunship looming, they looked to be competitive.
Fleet 1 was the first to bring back gold, depositing it on their beautiful new home island.
The Antamasia and Carcajou looked to take gold from different islands, but the inaccurate guns of L’epee (LDA) took a mast off the Carcajou. The Valeroso loaded up Exploding Shot.
The Augusta brought home gold for Fleet 2, but the LDA shot away the remaining mast on the Carcajou.
At this point, the game started heating up. The Trinity, still with both movement bonuses, moved S+S+S to ram and board the Antamasia, but an unsuccessful boarding attempt killed her valuable helmsman.
Fleet 2 exacted revenge on the LDA, with the Antamasia going 3 for 3 to leave the French gunship with just one mast.
The Valeroso catches a wave as she sets the Algiers on fire with an exploding shot.
The LDA ran a suicide mission, taking out two masts from the Antamasia while stealing a coin. The Trinity moved S+S to take the coin from the LDA, putting a target on her back. The Augusta grabbed the Carcajou and got her out of the way, and she repaired on the next turn, bringing home gold along with the treasure from the Antamasia.
Seeing an opportunity, the Valeroso dumped her equipment on the last wild island that still had gold on it in order to load both treasure coins. The Algiers and Freedom’s Hand brought back gold for Fleet 3, extinguishing the fire aboard the Algiers. The Trinity began sailing for home with her gold coin. At this point, Fleet 1 had all 3 of the last coins left in play.
For the endgame, everyone went after Fleet 1, desperate to get as much gold as possible.
A huge ramming and boarding parade began in earnest, with the Trinity being caught quickly moving just S as she had lost a mast to the Antamasia a few turns earlier. The Freedom’s Hand caught up to the Valeroso, who had swapped her explorer for Exploding Shot as a free action at the beginning of her turn. The Augusta and Algiers can be seen circling islands in anticipation of cutting off Fleet 1.
Rough seas made for an even more chaotic environment!
The Valeroso just barely couldn’t make it home, allowing the Augusta to steal a coin, at which point she immediately turned and ran. The Trinity had given up her action for the turn to swap the higher value coin to the Valeroso, who could move L+S compared to the Trinity’s pitiful S. In addition, the Trinity was in rough shape, being rammed by the Freedom’s Hand and Antamasia as her masts fell overboard. The Valeroso docked a coin home and simultaneously set the Augusta alight, upon which the fire spread quickly.
The Carcajou and Antamasia teamed up to sink the Trinity and coin, which was only worth 1 gold. However, there was still a 2 on the burning Augusta, which was quickly set upon by the galleys of Fleet 3. Fleet 1 watched in amusement as the Valeroso poured in a heavy fire, content to see the gold sink beneath the waves to be lost forever.
Greed, chaos and gunpowder:
The Algiers and Augusta were sunk on the next turn, but not before the Algiers gave the final coin to the Freedom’s Hand.
The Freedom’s Hand was promptly sunk by the Valeroso, ending the game at last!
Gold was tallied up, with plenty of booty to go around:
Fleet 1: 19 gold
Fleet 2: 15
Fleet 3: 11
Unfortunately, I think the order of play mattered a bit too much in this game, but this hasn’t been the case in many of my games. Despite this, it was a great game, hard-fought and hotly contested until the bitter end!
You’ll be seeing more of the islands (made by rossinaz) and probably more of the play mat soon!
After playing the rules inconsistently for a few years, new house rules were officially instituted, and I’d like them to be permanent for my games. When a boarding party is won, not only does the winner get to pick whether they take a treasure or eliminate a crew, but they also get to pick whatever treasures they want. If you won a boarding party on an enemy ship laden with gold, would you really settle for the cheap trinkets presented to you by the guilty captain? I wouldn’t!
As they delved deeper into the heart of the island, the crew discovered the hidden treasure chamber. Ignoring all signs of danger, they eagerly pillaged the gold, ignorant of the curse that had been set upon it. Little did they know that their lives would be forever changed by their actions. Soon after leaving the island, the crew began to experience a string of misfortunes. Their ship was caught in a violent storm, leaving them stranded on a deserted island. Hunger and disease plagued them, and one by one, the crewmembers perished. Those who managed to survive faced a lifetime of bad luck, never escaping the curse that had befallen them. As news of their plight spread, the legend of the curse of the gold plunderer grew. Many believed it to be a cautionary tale, a reminder of the consequences of greed and moral corruption. Others dismissed it as mere superstition, attributing the misfortunes to mere coincidence. Nevertheless, the tale continued to captivate the imaginations of both young and old, serving as a warning against the destructive nature of greed. To this day, there are those who believe in the existence of the curse, cautioning against any attempt to disturb the resting place of the gold. The legend serves as a compelling reminder of the power that curses can hold, whether real or imagined. It warns of the consequences that can befall those who choose to prioritize material wealth over moral integrity. As we consider the curse of the gold plunderer, let us reflect on its significance in our own lives. Are we, too, at risk of succumbing to greed and its damning consequences? Perhaps the curse serves as a reminder to prioritize values such as honesty, compassion, and integrity over the fleeting pursuit of riches. Only then can we hope to avoid the fate that befell Captain Blackheart and his ill-fated crew. In conclusion, the curse of the gold plunderer is a cautionary tale that highlights the perils of greed and moral corruption. It serves as a reminder of the power of curses and the consequences that befall those who prioritize material wealth over moral integrity. Let us heed this warning and strive to lead lives guided by values and virtues, rather than the pursuit of riches..
Reviews for "The Dark Shadows of the Gold Plunderer: The Curse that Follows and Devours"
1. Amy - 2 stars - "Curse of the gold plunderer was a disappointment for me. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth, making it hard for me to stay engaged. The characters were underdeveloped and their motivations weren't well-explained. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it."
2. Mark - 1 star - "I found Curse of the gold plunderer incredibly boring. The pacing was slow, and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. The descriptions were overly detailed, making the narrative drag. The plot twists were predictable, and the ending was unsatisfying. I regretted wasting my time on this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting adventure."
3. Sarah - 3 stars - "While I didn't hate Curse of the gold plunderer, I can't say I enjoyed it either. The writing style was mediocre, and I often found myself getting distracted while reading. The characters lacked depth, and their actions were sometimes inconsistent. The story had potential but failed to deliver on its promises. I wouldn't actively discourage someone from reading it, but I don't think it's worth seeking out either."