Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.
3 is average.
5 is the highest rating.
Date Reviewed - 03.10.08
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: Congress (USA)
Card: RF #030 (Uncommon)
Points: 14
Masts: 4
Cargo: 4
Moves: L
Guns : 2S,3S,3L,3L
Hit %: 217 (S), 100 (L)
Ability: This ship gets +1 to her boarding rolls.
This ship gets +1 to her cannons rolls against sea
creatures.
RotF Americans Week starts with the only ship in the
entire release that I'd like to own, which is also
the biggest American ship in the set. You can call
me harsh for the first comment, but the second is
undeniable evidence that the USA didn't do so well
in Rise of the Fiends. Well, as Vladsimpaler always
says, on to the ship.
The Congress is a pretty good four-masted shooter,
even if your enemy doesn't oblige you by bringing
sea critters to the battle. That's good - many ships
are so focused that, if they can't use their
ability, they're useless. The Congress has a mix of
S and L cannons, which is always good, plus good
cargo and a point cost that's a little lower than I
expected. She obviously needs a Captain and
Helmsman; if you can also put Shinji Smith on her,
she'd be one of the game's best slayers of sea
beasties.
The relentless parade of American ships with red,
white, and blue sails (and hulls) is getting a bit
monotonous, as one person has said. This is one of
the best-looking of the lot, with her airbrushed
sails. But even if she were ugly, I'd still want
her. Beauty is only skin deep, but well-aimed
cannonballs go clear to the bone.
Remember the Aquilon we reviewed last week? Well,
for three points more, you can get an American boat
that does the same thing, only better!
The Congress has the same +1 to boarding and +1 to
cannons against sea monsters that Aquilon does and
is generally better in every way except speed. With
four spaces for crew, you can beef up the Congress
very well. It’s got bright red sails too so you
can’t miss it unless you’re color blind. Her cannons
are, from front to back, a 2S, a 3L, another 3L, and
a 3S, so you’re well armed no matter what.
This boat is best used as a creature fighter, though
that boarding bonus if used correctly would be good
for stealing from gold ships or taking out crew on
an enemy boat.
I give the Congress a 4/5.
Vladsimpaler
Hi
everyone, welcome to RotF Cruddy Ships Week! Err...RotF
American ships week! Sadly, the two intertwine a
little too well...
Congress, 14 points, American
Masts: 4
Cargo: 4
Speed: L
Cannons: 2S 3S 3L 3L
Abilities: This ship gets +1 to her boarding rolls.
This ship gets +1 to her cannons rolls against sea
creatures.
Flavor Text: Hiring whalers instead of gunners, the
captain of the Congress is confident that his crew
are prepared to fight the ghastly beasts of the
Cursed.
The U.S. Congress is very ineffective in real life,
why not in Pirates? It translated a little TOO well.
Let's see...save one point, and get the Franklin,
which can have all rank 1 guns, or this extremely
situational ship? Who uses Sea Monsters anymore,
anyway? Really. If you still use them, then you must
be a masochist. Every set with the Cursed seems to
have a bunch of anti-sea monster abilities. Sea
monsters are really nothing more than overpriced,
ineffective ships.
Well, if you do happen to go against one, then you
will have rank 1 and 2 guns. Not too bad.
Again, just use the Franklin over this. I know it's
stupid to just compare them in a vacuum, but since I
haven't ever seen this ship played, but have seen
the Franklin played, I will just resort to comparing
them in a vacuum.
The captain of the Congress should have stuck with
gunners.
