Wow! A lonely SoL!

[Irish Jim]

OK... I was working my latest career, started in 1680 as an English privateer, earned promotion to Duke for the English, French and Dutch within five years. So, it was time to turn on my former allies and curry favor with the Spaniards. Problem: they were only at war with Holland, and some of the bigger Dutch cities had already been conquered... Only Curacao, St. Martin, and Rio de la Hacha (one of my earlier conquests) remained. So, I sail up to St. Martin in my Large Frigate with a crew of 250, hoping to pick a fight because their garrison is down to 120. I lob some cannonballs, but cannot tick them off enough to shoot back and allow me to attack.

So, I decide to head down to Curacao and try my luck there. Halfway along the way, I see NEW WARSHIP tagged on a single, unescorted Dutch vessel, and lo and behold, a Ship of the Line is crossing my path! A quick broadside to soften her up, a dash to board her, push the captain overboard, and I have upgraded to a Third Rate Man of War, and I am smiling as I sail off over the horizon!


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"Nevermind the pistols, break out them fiddles, boys!"

[Cussler]

You just have to love those moments, don't you?


I remember visiting Grand Bahama, and the barmaid tells me about an a ship headed for St. Kitts from Barbados carrying XXXX (amount forgotten) of gold. It's an English Ship of the Line.

Must be my lucky day! I get a tip that a SotL exists and also it's exact course so I can find it! AND it's carry a lot of gold!

When I finally spot it just south of Antigua, I see that it's unescorted.

That was a good day.

[headrock]

Oh, I have to disagree.

The greatest thing about the SOL is not only its chance appearance. It is also the glory, the brutality, and the CHALLENGE.

So in my opinion, the best isn't a gold-laden, lonely SOL sailing obliviously on the waves along a known path...

But rather, it is THIS:



As I see it, there's nothin' more satisfying than the hardest fight in the game.


P.S.
it's not as hard as it seems. The War Canoe actually makes it easier.

P.P.S.
It is theoretically possible to battle two SOLs at the same time, but I'm not sure the game works that way. SOLs are never escorts... however Warships do occassionally assist one another, if they're both close enough to you when you attack, and if both ships hate your guts. I just don't know if New Warships can do that, because I've never seen two New Warships sailing near the same spot at the same time - New Warships are uncommon enough as it is.
I do know that it would be the craziest battle ever. And I'd want to use a SOL for such a fight

P.P.P.S.
The picture doesn't show this, but that was the 8th SOL
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Blondebeard: "Madre de Dios! Es el Pollo Diablo!!"
<Spanish Guitar Riff>
Guybrush: "Si! He dejado en libertad los prisioneros, y ahora vengo por TE!"

[Jack Royale]

I once had 2 SOTL's sailing towards me at once! I already had one, so then I got two more!
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"Where there is a sea there are pirates"

[Armorine316]

Today I started a new game on Rogue so I could try and finish with a 126 fame rating. I sign with the English and begin in Port Royale. I notice we are at war with France, so I start heading towards Leogane. On the way I capture a few french traders and such. I sack Leogane set up an English govener and start heading towards Petit-Goave. On the way I capture a few more french traders and just as I'm about to drop anchor a new warship sails out, I attack with one quick broadside and board her. They surrender and 30min. into the game I have myself a SotL.

[Gmatt]

Cool stories. I actually got my first Sotl yesterday (only been playing a few weeks), in my first "real" game (journeyman, and now adventurer level).

I got to Duke with the English and French, and Marquis with the Spanish, Admiral with the Dutch. For the most part at the begining I was a Pirate hunter, and romancer. Anyways, I decide to be mean to the Spainairds, but first I want a Sotl. By now I am about 37, have gotten Montbaldan, all the named pirates, though only one's treasure, rescued about 20 daughters and had all my family. I am sailing around in Morgans Large Frigate, with Blackbeards frigate in tow.

Anyways, I start eh blockade of St Kitts/Nevis/Antigua, and because I was Duke I eventualy took out 20 or so frigates, and 5 or so Large Frigates. I also had a pinnace and a sloop, mainly for taking out thos brig and sloops that are so pesky to take out with a frigate. I hardly had to go to port other than for repairs as I took only the food, and repairs were free at Montessarat.
So I sail around for about 5 years, and these cities are geting mad at me. But they all have got at least once, a new governeor, and immigrants, so they are all prosperous with Antigua being wealthy. I decide to sail down to Barbados, I see a sloop, so decide to attack with my pinnace. Much to my suprise, it was escorting a Sotl that had fallen behind, and here I was taking it on in a pinnace! (I know for alot of you that isn't much, but I am still only a few weeks in..) So I take out the sloop, then the Sotl, divide the plunder, get my crew to max at Tortuga, Port-e-Paix, Port Royal, Leogane etc, then go sack Santiago, then down to Puerto Bello, Nombre Dios and right now I am working across the Spanish coast west to east, a lot of fun!
Anyways, that is MY Sotl boring... story....

[Buckaneer Rogers]

Funny, I was typing this post out and playing at the same time, and I came across my fourth SoL. Bagged it after three tries (it was fully gunned and escorted by a Brig of War, and twice I was demasted) and named it Caledfwlch, the Welsh name for Excalibur.
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"After all, suprise is on our side."
-Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey