By Mitch Reed
A common question from new Blood & Plunder players is about what ships they should collect to play in sea battles and the most common answer we have is “it depends.”
In playing with the ships in Blood & Plunder over the last few years the best advice I have is that you can go big or go small and a lot of that depends on the force you play and your personal playing style.
In this jam packed double episode, the Tailsmen Glenn, Tyler and Tom are joined by new player and unanimous vote for favorite opponent in the Blood and Plunder Land Tournament, Andy Hodges, to talk Historicon. Oak and Iron, Blood and Valor, Blood and Plunder Land and Sea all had events, and we break down how they went and who triumphed.
In Part II (Beginning at the 1:40 mark) after a break, we discuss the upcoming tournament at The Calvert Marine Museum, as well as this month’s Trivia winners and questions. https://fb.me/e/1zLmBzcJi (link to the tournament event) – Space is limited so please register soon!
By Tyler
We’ve just wrapped up the first month of the global ‘Summer of Plunder’ campaign, and the Spanish faction has grabbed the lead and ran with it. This left us wondering: how do we reward every player of a faction? Well, with previews, of course! The ‘Raise the Black’ kickstarter is well on its way to a projected September-November release date, and with it will come several new factions to move the game into the early 18th century.
During the June episode of the Tales of the Sail podcast, we looked at the upcoming Spanish factions. Today, let’s take a deeper dive into two of those new factions, connected by one very unique commander – the legendary Amaro Pargo.
By Tyler
The global campaign is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever!
The Talesmen of No Dice No Glory will be partnering with Firelock Games, Blood & Pigment, and The Plunder Den to present you with another global community campaign for Firelock’s “pirate” games – Blood & Plunder and Oak & Iron. Veterans of last year’s inaugural campaign will recall that the Summer of Plunder follows a loose structure, offering a fun way for Firelock gamers around the world to interact, regale with photos and stories of their battles, and compete for the glory of their chosen faction (and prizes, many prizes).
By Niguel Vega
Black Kettle reflected on the strange circumstances that found him leading his warriors through the sparse woods.
The men they tracked were unfamiliar to him – his English allies had described them as the last remnants of an empire in decline. They’d raided several caches of pelts along the river, and it had fallen upon him and his braves to drive them from their lands.
He ran his thumb along the smooth finish of the English musket he carried, marveling at its craftsmanship as his warriors settled into prime ambush positions. Hearing the sound of strange, foreign voices, he raised the weapon to his shoulder and waited for the enemy to come into view.
For today’s battle report, Tom and I played a game of Ostend Privateers versus the Mohawks from the Fire on the Frontier expansion.
By Tom “Cap’n Chairborne” Mullane
As the leaves turn, and the winds grow chilly, Historicon will soon be upon us. This coming November 11 through 14 many of us are coming together for the first time in a long time to get some gaming in. Glenn Van Meter, Tyler Stone, and Tom Mullane (the Tails of the Sail gentlemen) have quite a bit planned in terms of Firelock Games this time around. Tom will also be wearing a Spanish Conquistador outfit, because he lost a bet.
Signups are happening now on the Community Page for under events. So please sign up soon. We have available slots, and loaner armies, but those spots won’t wait forever. Check below for the specifics of each tournament. (Blood and Plunder, Oak and Iron, Blood and Valor). And remember, Firelock is providing a special prize to anyone brave enough to play in all three events.
By Glenn Van Meter
Photo above: French forces are ambushed by North American Braves. Photo courtesy of Adam Johnston.
Thursday September 10th marked the final day of the campaigning season for the 2021 Summer of Plunder Worldwide Campaign. Blood & Plunder and Oak & Iron players submitted reports of games they had fought during the campaign.
Each report included their name, photographs and the faction they played. The reports were then compiled by faction. The faction with the highest number of reports established dominance of the high seas and won the campaign. After tallying the results from over 250 entries submitted by players all over the world, the winning faction is…
By Tom “Cap’n Chairborne” Mullane
Several months ago, I was able to bring people into my dining room to run a game of Blood and Plunder. It was a great present to get this experience on my birthday, and I’m grateful for the warmer weather, some willing friends, and a waning pandemic (pre-Delta variant – ed.) for allowing it to happen. Three brave souls made the long journey from their separate bunkers with the minis in two, but only one could reign supreme. I threw together a scenario on the fly that would allow all four of us to play a big free for all game, and was happy with the results.
Since all of them are still in the process of getting their armies bulked up and painted, I lent out a ton of minis (A fully painted Dutch Army to my friend Rod, and few odds and ends to Shane to flesh out his list of pirates and brigands.) Tucker was ready to fight with the French I’d gotten him for his birthday a few months before. I would be charging in late in the scenario with my primed (but unpainted) Spanish forces. My mission was to muck things up for all of them as much as possible. Robbing this plush Market place was a risk, but with a prize this plump, what seaborne scoundrel could resist it?
By Tom “Cap’n Chairborne” Mullane
A lot has been happening on the many battlegrounds of the Caribbean this past month. The folks at Firelock, and Blood and Pigment, have been helping to host a global campaign. Guy Rhueark and Joseph Forester as well as the many other commanders of the varied factions vying for supremacy have been busy.
This article will give you the rundown on where we stand, how to submit your own reports, What secret objectives may still be available for intrepid players, and also a full Battle Report from the frontlines. Read on to get the full story!
By Glenn Van Meter and Tom Mullane
We are about a week and a half into the Blood & Plunder Global Community Campaign (,) and things are getting heated between the various nations involved. Players all over the world are submitting games they’ve played to to help their favorite nation.
Last week we had an update from Guy over at Blood & Pigment via the Campaign Newsletter, and we found out that with 26 entries so far the French were in the lead with the Dutch and English tied just one game behind them. The Brethren of the Coast were lurking in 4th place. Spain was still getting her ships together and hanging out with the pack of minor nations such as the various Native Tribes, Portuguese, and the Swedes. Scotland had an especially strong showing, leading the rest of the minor powers (and Spain) by one game.
