Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst.
3 is average.
5 is the highest rating.
Date Reviewed - 03.07.08
Cadet-Captain Mike
Name: Jules Arnaud (France)
Card: RF #023 (Rare)
Points: 4
Ability: If a sea monster begins its move within L
of this ship, it gets
+L to its base move.
This crew is no different from similar crew in other
nations, like Jerky Johnson or El Pescador. Because
the French have only one sea creature under their
control, and that monster (the shark Carcharodon)
isn't very good, Arnaud will be just about useless
in a single-faction fleet. He might see more action
if you mix your flags. But he has the same problems
that those other crew have - he's overpriced, and
the monster will quickly outrun him, so he can't use
his ability more than once every 2-3 turns unless
he's on a very fast ship.
A crew like Arnaud would make sense for the Cursed,
who use lots of sea creatures. For the French, it
doesn't add up. I can't recommend this crew.
Gold crew rating: 1 / 5
Gun crew rating: 1 / 5
Boarding rating: 2 / 5
Value for points: 2.5 / 5
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Name: Lenoir (France)
Card: RF #024 (Rare)
Points: 4
Ability: Loyal:France, Parley. Once per turn, you
can reroll any die roll you make for this ship; you
must use the second die roll result.
Monsieur Lenoir used to be a canceller crew, a very
useful talent for an aggressive French commander.
Now he's more general-purpose. That's good for a
ship, but not so good for a crew.
Parley lets him buy his way to safety by bribing an
attacking ship. That means you need gold on board to
use it, which in turn means you probably want him on
a gold ship, or possibly a boarding ship. The reroll
is most useful on a fighter, but a boarder can also
put it to good use. So if you have a ship that's
meant to board enemy gold ships and steal their
gold, Lenoir would be a good fit. For a gold ship, a
fighter, or a ship that will board to kill crew,
you're paying for two talents but will likely use
only one.
Lenoir needs to make up his mind how he wants to
serve France. As he is, he's kind of schizophrenic.
His point cost is fair, but you'll rarely get full
value out of him.
Jules Arnaud is one of those interesting crew
members who gives a +L to the move of any sea
monster that begins its move with L of him whether
it be friend or foe since the ability description
doesn’t mention whether or not the monster has to be
an ally of his. I never found this ability to be
very useful though.
I give Jules Arnaud a 1/5.
Lenoir requires you to have another French crew or
ship in your fleet in order to be used, but is that
actually a problem? For four points, you can give a
ship a reroll and Parley, which has a chance to
protect a ship carrying gold from attack. The
downside to Parley is if it is successful, you give
your enemy money. Not a total loss since your ship
has a better chance than before to recover the gold
or it still has the gold. Lenoir is far from
useless, but he’s best used aboard a fighter.
