Pirates CSG Podcast

Question of the Day: Do you have a favorite custom game piece from this episode?  Do you enjoy the custom review episodes more or less than the other episodes?

Custom Ships organized version: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=8682///

Rise of the Moon Sorcerer: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/167110/pirates-cursed-seas-rise-moon-sorcerer

Pirates of the Epic Seas: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wB1CDawx3PkRJus_3m0L_04OBxpujzL8xmjSr_QYN9c/edit?usp=sharing

Fiends of the Blood Islands: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/163300/pirates-fiends-blood-islands

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Feel free to rate and review the podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pirates-csg-podcast/id1258016060

Pirates packs on eBay: https://goo.gl/MfHBQJ

Sign the Petition!  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas

Join the Forum at Pirates with Ben!  https://pirateswithben.com/forums/forum/pirates-csg/

The following should eventually be updated from ShoutEngine so they will be available when they get the podcast.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pirates-csg-podcast/id1258016060

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1258016060/pirates-csg-podcast

Google Play Music: https://play.google.com/music/m/Imxc6vplvkqlmagcvkxvi2er2wu?t=Pirates_CSG_Podcast

Blubrry: https://www.blubrry.com/piratescsgpodcast/

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/a7xfanben/pirates-csg-podcast?refid=stpr

New Idea: Challenge.  Your next game of Pirates CSG should NOT be at 40 points!  (20/60/etc)

Question of the Day: Any ideas for new segments we could pursue?

News: MT alive into the new year.  Posting entire story of EE game on IG: https://www.instagram.com/piratescsg/

Obago Deuce for $500!  https://goo.gl/w9KSTJ

Proof: https://i.postimg.cc/85gX4J8V/Eagleman94about-Obago-Deuce.png

(one previous known high was $232.50, hard to find others that have been exchanged since vosarnath’s at MT a handful of years back)

-Having slight technical issues that may compromise podcast episodes and THC a bit

-Between godmason being busy, my impending life changes, somewhat declining content base, and technical issues, expect shorter and less episodes this year.  Suggesting topics is great!!

-Short solo episodes may sometimes be even less than 30 minutes, I can cover a bunch of stuff quickly it seems, especially with only one opinion on each topic.

-Trying to do a post/page every day at PwB, going through MT content for some of my best stuff

-Commenting on my content at PwB will help the site grow and be popular as a “hub” for Pirates CSG - plus I’ll respond to all comments!!  Thank you!

-Looking at podcast data from SE, seem to have about 33 unique IP’s per episode.

Game essentials - measuring card or straws - latter great for arches and planning moves/premeasuring,  Use a big d6 from SE boxes/etc for ease of use and likely better results (fun idea though - 10 tiny d6 for a Zeus shoot action since all cannons the same)

Another idea on playing solo without favoring a faction - really delve into each faction, especially before playing.  Maybe stop playing favorites in general, force yourself to use a faction you’ve NEVER played before. Read a book on the Spanish Empire and then see if you like playing them better.  Make customs inspired by pop culture to play the Cursed or Vikings, etc. Just think outside the box and try to really become a fan of each faction. Partly due to knowing almost all the ships and crew in the game, I find it easy and fun to play as any faction.  (ex: Vikings in CG4 should be fun, and somewhat groundbreaking in terms of factional play in CG’s)

Try reading to get passionate: https://amzn.to/2AQkdBs

New segment - Random Pirate Code page, muse on rules/strategy of results  https://pirateswithben.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Pirate-Code-FAQ-Dec-2016.pdf

Interesting fleets for x point games - try 20 points sometime.  Fast, forces you to be efficient with building, probably no +5’s, easy to get going, fun with multiple players OR multiple fleets per player, etc.  Played Water World game against repkosai in 2017 with Libellule + bonuses, was very fun!!

Libellule fleet: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/showDeck/deck_id/800125/grouping/0/extended_format/true

6 bonuses fleet: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/showDeck/deck_id/800322/grouping/0/extended_format/true

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Feel free to rate and review the podcast on iTunes:

Question of the Day: How do you get lesser ships and crew into action?

“thoughts on optimizing less/not utilized ships"

-MUST have speed, so helmsmen pretty much always necessary (especially since a lot of lesser ships are slow).  Beyond that, try to find a niche use for specific game pieces. For example, 1 cargo and fast speed? (Dark Fox)  Scout explorer with crew or S-Explorer. OR, flotilla tug with surprise crew face down (canceller/captain/etc).

Slow with high cargo - home waters hybrid to get nearby gold and protect HI, potentially use with navigator.  Could also use with gold factory bonus strategy, especially in case of Spanish “treasure galleons” such as Isabela, Concepcion, etc.

-Keep in mind that your competition will not want to dumb things down (people like to win and often use the same OP ships all the time), so have realistic outcome expectations and propose alternative game ideas like “make worst fleet possible, pass to other player” to get lesser ships/crew into action.  Other than that, more points = more points to use on gimmicks and suboptimal experiments

“Rules variants to get the ships on the table.”

-Require specific base move - Challenge of Snails, all L, etc.

-Require all cargo holds to be full during setup - force players to make tradeoffs on when to dump crew - right at start, at wild islands (making them accessible to other players), or go with total war/all combat strategy?  Con-exacerbates how OP Sac already is.

-Require each player to use ONLY ships AND named crew they’ve never used before (for starters, look through what you’ve never punched out!), or a pure faction fleet from a faction you’ve never played.

-Look through Fleet Challenge Archives to find fun restrictions http://www.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=8492///

Reviewing Circle of Blood

https://pirateswithben.com/circle-of-blood-by-riz/

https://pirateswithben.com/circle-of-blood-with-3-players-august-21st-2017/

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Feel free to rate and review the podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pirates-csg-podcast/id1258016060

Pirates packs on eBay: https://goo.gl/MfHBQJ

Sign the Petition!  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas

Join the Forum at Pirates with Ben!  https://pirateswithben.com/forums/forum/pirates-csg/

The following should eventually be updated from ShoutEngine so they will be available when they get the podcast.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pirates-csg-podcast/id1258016060

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1258016060/pirates-csg-podcast

Google Play Music: https://play.google.com/music/m/Imxc6vplvkqlmagcvkxvi2er2wu?t=Pirates_CSG_Podcast

Blubrry: https://www.blubrry.com/piratescsgpodcast/

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podca

Question of the Day: How do you use pieces synergistically? (combos/etc)

News

-HWG out of DJC SE 4 box lot for $20 (Hill’s Wholesale Gaming: http://www.wholesalegaming.biz/pirates/)

-New posts up at Pirates with Ben - comments on posts/pages will help the site with rankings/etc.  https://pirateswithben.com/ranking-pirates-of-the-caribbean-movies/

-Submit your 2018 Pirates CSG Hall of Fame ballot! https://pirateswithben.com/forums/topic/pirates-csg-hall-of-fame-2018-voting/

-Set Reviews now officially done, so we’ve literally discussed ALL existing game pieces PLUS nearly all the Unreleased game pieces that are publicly known (covers various “game piece reviews” mentioned in suggestions, plus you can see additional thoughts on most game pieces in my Collection Review Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRq8fy93o3wHNqZMSQzR342yP4WX_LHzq)

-Nobody has requested custom game piece reviews, and one person even said they wanted less, so might do less of that moving forward.  Link to Podcast survey is below - please provide idea suggestions!

Recent Rulings: https://pirateswithben.com/forums/topic/questions-about-game-rules-the-pirate-code-the-no-duplicates-list/

How to use synergistic pieces: +1 to cargo on flotillas - devastating combos available

Norvegia -

http://www.miniaturetrading.com/im/showDeck/deck_id/375/grouping/0/extended_format/true

Norvegia vs. Altar of the Loa at 40 points: https://pirateswithben.com/norvegia-vs-altar-of-the-loa-2013/

Strategy talk: who to annoy or help in various situations you don’t expect - should you help or hurt certain opponents at various times? Especially in multiplayer.  Examples include Pandora’s Box, Message in a Bottle with tied islands, Maps of Hades, etc. (with Maps - could go back and forth to toy with opponent)

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Pirates packs on eBay: https://goo.gl/MfHBQJ

Sign the Petition!  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas

Join the Forum at Pirates with Ben!  https://pirateswithben.com/forums/forum/pirates-csg/

Return to Savage Shores Set Review

-RTSS WAS NEVER PHYSICALLY RELEASED!  Woelf provided the information in 2012.  It is not a set you can collect, and you’ll have to use proxies, custom made ships, or VASSAL to use it.

Question of the Day: Do you like Return to Savage Shores?  Do you wish it was released? Do you like it more or less than Savage Shores?  Have you used any RtSS game pieces yet? If so, how did it go?

You can find Return to Savage Shores in the Master Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18Z-x-z9gaWiKFLk-kw1weamc0A1-NxMN3xLjWWKsUmA/edit?usp=sharing

Wikipedia page with info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_Constructible_Strategy_Game#Return_to_Savage_Shores

Woelf’s original Sneak Flashback threads: http://www.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=8679///

Artwork: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9DQ-tDHg6ns/SdU6SfYxWOI/AAAAAAAAAKg/svxwP-NC1Ng/s1600-h/untitled.JPG

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Sign the Petition!  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas

Join the Forum at Pirates with Ben!  https://pirateswithben.com/forums/forum/pirates-csg/

Question of the Day: Do you have any custom game pieces you want us to review?  What other topics should we discuss on future episodes?

News

Working forum up at Pirates with Ben - 20 confirmed members so far (https://pirateswithben.com/forums/forum/pirates-csg/)

Play has begun in The Hourly Campaign! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRq8fy93o3wGXirxof6PFGc1PJgbDcUvT

Republishing my best and longest reports - Century of the Empires, Economy Edition, VASSAL Campaign Games 1/2/3, and Command the Oceans all on PwB or will be soon.

Customs

Custom Ships organized version page 2: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=8682/postdays=0/postorder=asc/start=15

Rise of the Moon Sorcerer: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/167110/pirates-cursed-seas-rise-moon-sorcerer

Pirates of the Epic Seas: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wB1CDawx3PkRJus_3m0L_04OBxpujzL8xmjSr_QYN9c/edit?usp=sharing

Fiends of the Blood Islands: https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/163300/pirates-fiends-blood-islands

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Sign the Petition!  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas

Join the Forum at Pirates with Ben!  https://pirateswithben.com/forums/forum/pirates-csg/

Question of the Day: What is your opinion of Savage Shores?

We recorded this just in time for the 10th anniversary of Savage Shores, which was released on November 5th 2008!!

Get Savage Shores here: https://goo.gl/gPFFtK

Information

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_Constructible_Strategy_Game#Savage_Shores

Page at Miniature Trading: http://www.miniaturetrading.com/?action=selectCard&series_id=1170&full_format=1&sort=bASC&new_sort=n

Master Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18Z-x-z9gaWiKFLk-kw1weamc0A1-NxMN3xLjWWKsUmA/edit?usp=sharing

Info on the Miniature Trading crisis:  http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=9350///

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Sign the Petition!  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas

Master Keyword List (by Woelf): https://pirateswithben.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Pirates_Master_Keyword_List.pdf

The Pirate Code (by Woelf): https://pirateswithben.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Pirate-Code-FAQ-Dec-2016.pdf

My fansite: https://pirateswithben.com/

Document with changes 

Pirates CSG Master Spreadsheet 

Get the official Wizkids documents here, courtesy of Woelf sharing them with me: https://pirateswithben.com/official-wizkids-documents/ 

Question of the day: What would things have been like if this were reality? 

Info on the Miniature Trading crisis: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=9350/// 

~~~~~ 

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323 

Sign the Petition! https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas 

If you'd like more Pirates audio content, check out my blog. 

~~~~~ 
Check out my fansite at Pirates with Ben!

Pirates CSG Master Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18Z-x-z9gaWiKFLk-kw1weamc0A1-NxMN3xLjWWKsUmA/edit?usp=sharing 

I will also release the documents that led to this episode that Woelf has shared with me, so everyone can look at them! 

Question of the Day: Which of these game pieces would you most want to use? Which ones excite you the most? 

Information about Miniature Trading: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=9350/// 

Audio version of the podcast: http://shoutengine.com/PiratesCSGPodcast/ 

The Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/165340696838921/ 

Woelf has shared some original Wizkids spreadsheets with me to help in my process to create a "master spreadsheet" that I hope to turn into a second database, similar to the one at Miniature Trading. In these incredible documents are many "juicy tidbits" of information, a true treasure trove of cool stuff for a Pirates fanatic like me.  
How crazy is this?! New Pirates information 13 years later! XD I can't wait to use some of these new game pieces in games sometime. 

Pros of my spreadsheet: 
-Don’t have to scroll to the right for anything important (flavor text and treasure values off to the right) (Basically a rule of Pirates CSG spreadsheets in my opinion - if you can’t easily see all gameplay-relevant data without scrolling, columns should be shrunk down for ease of use.) 
-All flavor text included 
-Factions color coded for maximum ease of use (I like the new design so much that I think I will be converting my custom sets to the same color scheme!) 
-Took the best stuff from each resource used (Holofernes’ notes from Jolly Roger + filtering, flavor text from Wizkids spreadsheets, Miniature Trading database for cannons and some flavor text (a/b for crewfer twofers/etc are lowercase because that is how they appear on the WK documents) 
-Includes unreleased and “lost” items from official Wizkids documents 

Cons: 
-Some columns do not display well at all with the filter view. Those are the ones I slanted so they would be more legible (it gets worse if they are horizontal). 
-Filter view does not seem to work with Google Sheets version for online viewing, unless you create a temporary filter view yourself. Even tried allowing editing mode and locking the sheets, but that didn’t work either. (https://productforums.google.com/d/msg/docs/68RwOGYUCqA/PFFYjiaKBwAJ) 
To view filters in online version: Data-Filter Views-Create new temporary filter view 
The .xlsx file of the spreadsheet has the filters. 
-Likely some minor mistakes due to copy/paste errors or excessive dragging of cell data. (please point out so I can fix them) 

Listened to this playlist while working on the master spreadsheet: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR_xCgMZxpEhsLTENwBgZUWQ2FnpuZCnW 

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323 
Podcast length poll on MT: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=9155/// 

Sign the Petition! https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas 

eBay is often the be

This was recorded before the Miniature Trading crisis started, which is why you won't hear me talking about that in this episode.  http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=9350///

Game history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_Constructible_Strategy_Game

Gameplay tips: https://pirateswithben.com/gameplay/

Fleets!

HMS Grand Temple: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/showDeck/deck_id/215534/grouping/0/extended_format/true

Cheapskate Pirate All-Stars: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/showDeck/deck_id/800113/grouping/0/extended_format/true

Minimal Crew: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/showDeck/deck_id/685364/grouping/0/extended_format/true

-Feel free to vote and comment on any of them!

Master Keyword List: https://pirateswithben.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Pirates_Master_Keyword_List.pdf

The Pirate Code: https://pirateswithben.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Pirate-Code-FAQ-Dec-2016.pdf

The Curse of the Black Pearl movie: https://amzn.to/2LVS6ol

Get all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies!  https://amzn.to/2Aogain

My thoughts on Dead Men Tell No Tales: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/p=62078///#62078

Take the podcast survey! https://goo.gl/forms/CsnwVmi3qhtqik323

Podcast length poll on MT: http://m.miniaturetrading.com/im/forum/viewtopic/t=9155///

Sign the Petition!  https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bring-back-pirates-of-the-cursed-seas

Question of the Day: If you had to hear discussion about ONE game piece on the podcast, which would it be?