Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale 1 being the worst.
3 ... average. 5 is the highest rating.
Date Reviewed - 8.27.07
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: USS Mercury
Card: MI #300 (Rare - Special)
Points: 16
Faction: USA
Masts: 3 (rating: 3 / 5)
Cargo: 4 (rating: 3 / 5)
Moves: L (rating: 2 / 5)
Guns : 2L,2L,2L (rating: 4 / 5)
Hit %: 200 (S), 200 (L)
Keyword: Submarine
Ability: This ship ignores the first hit she takes
each turn as long as she has all of her hull pieces.
This is "Mysterious Islands Promo Pack Week." If you
found all four "message in a bottle" papers in packs
of MI cards, and sent them to WizKids with a given
number of pack wrappers and receipts, you got a
bonus pack of two ships, a crew, and a unique
treasure. Our first victim is the American
submarine, USS Mercury.
As subs go, this isn't a bad one. Her cannons are
excellent, and with her defensive ability, she can
surface and fire on almost anything with four masts
or less without fear. She has the submerged-ram
ability of all subs, but most subs don't dare fight
on the surface unless the enemy is weak; the Mercury
is a double threat. With decent cargo, she could
also grab a little gold if no other targets are
nearby.
The sub's down points are her low speed and her high
cost. A Helmsman can fix the speed. The cost is
unavoidable, and it gets worse once you add the
Helmsman, plus a Captain to take full advantage of
her cannons.
This is not a sub you'd use in a 30-point game. On
the other hand, the high cost means you can trick
her out with all kinds of fancy crew without going
over the ship's point limit for crew. A powerful
(but very expensive) combination would be Jonathan
Haraden, for the Captain ability and a reroll, with
the MI version of Montana Mays, for a second action
and a bonus on boarding rolls.
I have to compare the Mercury to two other subs. The
other American sub, USS Lamon, is faster and 25%
cheaper, but not nearly as good in battle; the
Mercury is a better value. The same 16 points would
buy you the Nautilus, similar in many ways, with
slightly worse cannons and a better defensive
ability; I rate them about the same.
This is a good little ship. Any aggressive captain
can find plenty of uses for her. If he can afford
her.
