Name: Newport (England)

Card: FS #008 (Rare)

Points: 8

Masts: 1

Cargo: 3

Moves: L

Guns : 3L

Hit %: 50 (S), 50 (L)

Ability: This ship gets +1 to her cannon rolls against targets without all their masts.

This ship's role if that of battlefield buzzard, following bigger ships around and finishing off cripples. Her ability is new to Fire & Steel; in some ways it's not as effective as the older buzzard ability (+1 if the target has been shot at this turn), since the other ship's shot has to do damage, but it isn't restricted to the same turn as the other ship's shot.

The problem is that she gets only one shot, so picking on ships with more than one mast is a very risky business. The only way to add another shot is to give her a SAT crew like Christopher Myngs, and that works only 33% of the time. Add the necessary Captain and Helmsman, and you've spent 16 points for a ship with one gun and a limited role. Can you say "bad investment?" I knew you could. The Newport can run gold in a pinch, but every English admiral must have three or four ships that can fill that role with higher speed and a lower cost.

If I wanted an English buzzard, I'd spend two more points and get HMS Clear Wind, which is a bit faster, has three cannons, and is a Common.

The Newport just doesn't have what it takes to make a difference on the seas of battle.

Goldship rating: 2.4 / 5

Gun Ship rating: 2.3 / 5

Boarding rating: 1.6. / 5

Value for points: 2.7 / 5