Miniature Trading

Here is another go with the Americans in the Frozen North.

The USS Vermont as the main gunship is a bit odd, but her ability to use other nation's crew opens up the door for her in a set where the USA is starved for crew. This is the Vermont I had wanted in my other fleet, one maxed out on crew. She moves at L+S, moves and shoots, and has the possibility for some SAT action and has one cargo left. She won't be able to pick a fight with the best, but she should be effective against 3-, maybe even 4-, masters and should be able to engage a Longship. Alternatively, the Captain can be left at home (or put on the Cheyenne) and she can run gold with the best of them.

The USS Cheyenne is a fair ship. Her cannons are fair, her speed is fair, her cargo is wanting but her super explorer ability should help her gold game a bit. She should help hasten the Maryland's gold game as well. Perhaps she can sail around a bit and mark multiple islands as explored. And enemy ones as unexplored.

The USS Maryland can be expected to fill out many American fleets due to her low cost which can easily fill out a fleet, her ability to sail crewless and her all-around usefulness. Here she'll be running gold, but she can also make a nasty ram attack and could also take the Vermont's Captain to make good use of her nasty cannons. Her fair speed should help her out, whatever she does.

Basically, the Vermont will sail as a deterrent or to protect the other two. They should be able to get around a hair faster than the average (Frozen North) ship, and the Helmsman and Gunner will help the Vermont a lot. The Cheyenne and Maryland will try and find the best gold in the immediate area, but can also change tactics if need be.

The actions of the fleet depend partially on what the enemy fields. If they are heavily-loaded offensively, the Vermont won't be able to be too aggressive. This fleet does has some mast numbers going for it (and while I don't possesss one, I imagine icebreakers can be more intimidating than the average 3-master) and some good cannons, it can't afford to lose too much.

However, the Vermont's Helmsman and Gunner combo gives this fleet an advantage over others. This fleet can afford to be fairly aggressive, whether in fighting or gold running (the Cheyenne's gold ability can be used aggressively to smite others). It does fairly well at everything, but doesn't excel in raw firepower, masts, cargo, or speed, but it has some very unique perks to it. A good, interesting mix of abilities.

Alright, that's about it. Thanks for reading. Please vote and comment!

Fleet: 1013th fleet!