Silken Jack

I play French nation, but enjoy privateering. The Freetraders currently have the best buffs, though.

As I recall (I am not currently subscribed to the game) "civilian" ships purchased through the auction house ship deed trader have slightly different stats than those posted by players on the auction house. You need to buy the deed of the same stats as the one you have, which I believe is the latter. You can sink a lot of money into this, without real necessity. I had a lighter ship in the game, which I used for getting around quick more than getting into trouble, but had a 13 durability rating. I never came close to using any of that. That was money wasted that I could have put into something else. When you get to the higher rated ships, even the player- made ones have a fairly low durability rating, and are just horrifically expensive to replace. Which is a good approach to actual period conditions. To lose a " Prince" class first-rate is a disaster that everyone on your side will feel, and feel for you. But first-rates are only done by nations, and you might be playing the Pirate side. I played it as a French privateer, primarily. I should also say the play of the game up to level 50 and play at level 50 are two different things, almost 2 different games. When I departed, I actually had three characters: my privateer, with which I had much fun; my naval officer, who I developed to be an aid to my nation in port battles pretty exclusively; and my free trader, who handled most of my economic work. I had actually got my privateer into shipbuilding, but was gradually transferring things to the free trader as my free trader rose in level. Multiple characters enabled me to do different things. My privateer eventually ended up hated by number of national navies as well as the Brethren of the Coast, which inhibited his ability to use the auction houses of foreign countries. My free trader, who had an indifferent relationship with everybody, was in a different situation. Multiple characters also increase the number of ships available to you for special purposes. A very useful thing also is membership in a player Society; but research carefully before you join. Some of them are organized for the particular purposes of their members; some for national protection in the organization or large port battles; some for economics; some for PVP battling. The level of maturity of the players matters too ; one idiot 13-year-old or emotionally immature 25-year-old can make life in the society very unpleasant. But a healthy society often helps you maximize your economic development and shipbuilding at a rate much less expensive than the auction houses. And one really can't do all one's necessary economics by oneself. and their advice is priceless, as well as the opportunities for gaming... Nothing like systematiclly making life for the British miserable by blockading Guyana or PvPing the Dons as one of a fleet of six! And killing Pirates, I have to admit, was also a joyous activity. One could also simply play the missions in the game for fun - there are soooo many; and one adventure after another! You can see why I had to leave! Just too much fun!

You increase durability by purchase of a similar ship deed to the sloop you have. Then go to the harbormaster and the drydock to add the durability of the deed to the ship you currently have. if you still have 4 durability I would not worry too much. by the time you get to 1 dur you might want a different ship. add modifications to your sloop to make her more resistant to damage, and more seaworthy , and dangerous. It's a great game, but a real time suck if you are not careful. And I HAVE a real life.

Bread porridge. Very stale bread chopped to bits (or substitute ships biscuit), onions diced and sweated a little oil, chicken broth, tomatoes, basil, garlic, cayenne, black pepper, and salt. If you don't have tomatoes use more onions. Simmer for half an hour. Economical and tasty.

I have not yet had the pleasure of attending the PIP event. I cannot see myself in anything but a feathered and cocked hat. Not all funny.. but staid and dignified, as is appropriate to the captain of a well run ship. Mind you, the round "Pennsylvania" hats with the short brim I have heard are all the rage this season in Paris, but I for one do not wear Macaroni. I shall leave that to younger men with less dignity and more attention to the ephermalities of that which is currently de la mode than I. Time for an ale....

I can't seem to get anything in the way of a chat box, or a way to register. Do you need to register in the general board first?

All bottle conditioned beer has some yeast sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Including expensive store bought beers such as Chimay. The trick to avoiding cloudy beer is to pour slowly and leave the last tablespoon in the bottle. Without a doubt the best book on brewing on your own beer. I sent several copies of this book to Iran last month. I second the suggestion of using Papazian. A great book for beginning brewing. I think that I will go into the cabin now and have a lovely bottle of Scotch ale has been sitting waiting for my attentions. There is nothing like brewing your own stuff -it's cheaper and can brew exactly what you like.

So we are playing D&D? That is, Dutchman and DogLocks?

No doubt because English-speakers are foul heretics and soulless murderers, as a rule. Or I suppose it could be a family curse. But that is certainly no reason to lack good cheer in the enjoyment of pleasant company. Come, Captain, mayI buy you a brandy? And I'd be happy to assist your sibilant sycophant with snifter of the same. Anyone for a game of Dix Mille? ( Rattles dice.)

Hey this was my line. . . or something similar. I know that the private, religious and public schools I attended all did such a disservice to the subject - sucking the life and interest from it. I had little or no interest until my early/mid-20s when I stumbled into various subjects accidentally - when I realized things were down an out lied about, glossed over or ignored. History has been defined as the lies we tell about the dead. I'm not quite that cynical, but I do believe that the same story can be told from different viewpoints. But the so-called Enlightenment is finally winning over basic human values. We don't need educated hands -just people who can build the technology for their masters. Voltaire would be thrilled, the swine.

Aye, Captain - but even the best of bodyguards must sleep. And those who don't can be made to sleep with a sufficient application of silver. It is all in what a man deems to be true treasure, and worth seeking. Sleep well!

Lovely sword. This is a truly beautiful piece - and one more reason why Captain Sterling needs to keep looking over his shoulder!

I suggest that there should be a distinction made between rums intended to be drunk neat and those intended to be mixed, for they are different creatures entirely. I suggest that the mixing rums be tried as part of a standard Planters Punch: one part sour, two parts sweet, three parts strong, and for parts weak: that is, fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, rum, and water (including ice). I will be happy to provide an opinion, if that opinion is needed.

Not at all, milady! I confess to having slipped out to travel a little, and did not have regular access to an Infernal Machine during that time; but I Have Returned!

Ah, I am desolated. Such numbers of replies to my small appearance! I am most honored by the attention! I regret I was distracted a bit by the needs of.. well.. another life, but now I can give a fuller attention. I am happy to report that I have been undertaking a serious study of naval tactics, as well as new gaming opportunities; I think I have Dix Mille and Passe-Dix mastered, and am eager to try my luck with the dice in other tests of luck and skill. I already have obtained two fine knives with my dice, and hope to add a few more things to my portmanteau in this manner. Now if I can just find someone willing to wager a cutlass for a fusil....!

Barkeep, a bottle of the 25 year old Tawny Port for the good Captain here. You may leave the rum bottle as well. I assure ye, Captain, I was not sailing down on ye, and so in my own mind I have no backing down to do. But it is a fine thing to meet a literary man in a place like this.. "Marplot" ... yes.. brings me back; I remember seeing Mrs. Centlivre's comedy The Busy Body some years ago when ported in Dublin, I remember enjoying it very much. I myself would make a distinction between Privateering and Pyrate-hunting, at least in my taste for the two. Privateering is profitable for the privateer, but he needs a state of war to pursue his career; I find the idea of Pyrate-hunting a far less profitable enterprise, tho' indade it can be pursued in times of peace as well as war. But what's the profit, unless a bounty be paid on the heads of the more notorious of that brotherhood? Their ships are small, the fighting desperate; and the skills required of a pyrate-hunter being what they are, I would see it not an uncommon thing for those who had shared a single deck and a common life in wartime to be set against each other in times of peace by poverty, fortune and the desires of the wealthy and powerful to preserve their commerce. I would myself rather travel the world round seeking letters of marque and adventure - and a living - for there is no end to wars, if you look for them. Isn't it odd that the same skills and actions when done by the leave of human governments are wicked crimes when accomplished against the policy of those same states? And some fools say we live in the "Age of Reason!" Faugh! (Sips rum pensively)

Now, good Captain Sterling, sure I am speaking of the Royal Navy and it's ilk, and of the foreign German monarchs who sit on England's throne, and not of hardworking seafarers such as yourself. And remember, not all of us who have served in the fleets of King Louis were born in his dominions. Some - perhaps some here- still wear a white cockade and hope for better things for those islands in the northwest of the European Continent, especially if we were born there.. hypothetically speaking. If I have given offense to you personally, Captain Sterling, it was unintentional. May I purchase you a drink of your choice? Otherwise, if you have other desire for satisfaction, I would gladly hear it. But I meant no harm, and am surprised to find support here for the officers of that Crown.

Ladies and gents, Again, thank you for all your kind words. Good ladies, I would hope I should be not else than a gentleman in your benign presences. Your moral compasses are safe in my hands. I do hope that is an acceptable arrangement? I do hope I have little resemblance to any British captain. Those heretical sons of dogs deserve only a watery grave with sharks for their mourners. They murdered their rightful kings and ensconced usurpers. It is a thing opposed to all natural justice. One of the great pleasures of my life is to see an English uniform decorated with the silver bead of my fusil. And I seldom miss my target.

Bienvenue, mam'selle! (Bows formally, sweeping hat to the ground) A pleasure to make your aquaintance! I am newly come here myself.

And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this gracious and warm reception! (Lifting his hat from his head, he bows to the company, sweeping the hat formally before him.) A couple of the ladies present have asked about my name. The sobriquet "Silken" was given to me by a lady. As to her meaning, I did not inquire as to what exactly she meant. The quality of my clothing, the fineness of my hair, my tongue and manner of speech, and my preference for the finer things of life -what man truly knows the heart of a lady or the subtleties of her conversation? But the name she gave is happily memorable and unconnected with any crimes I may have been accused of committing - so it suits me to use it. I'm happy to see that a least a couple of the ladies present enjoy the idea of the glass of Madeira. I do enjoy rum, but for a courtly conversation, the wine is gentler and enables one's talk and passions to be better controlled. Also, I find my time more enjoyably spent with human beings who retain their humanity; believe it or not, I've actually met people for whom rum brings out the inner beast, and so makes witty and polite conversation impossible. I do favor betimes as well a glass of hyppocras, well warmed, to balance the blood at the end of a large meal. ( I am so I'm sorry I missed the lamb! T'is one of my favorite foods.) I'm currently master of the sloop Abenakis,- she is large for her class, and sports a mounting of 16 guns; I have refitted her a bit from the needs of her former owner. I have increased her cargo space, while maintaining berths enough for a large crew . I suppose I could carry as many as 150 souls at need; although in that event we, should be restricted to cargoes that are compact, shiny, and portable in small chests. Another round for the House! Dice, anyone? And no, I did not ask for a Parley.. we be at peace ashore, non?

(A large and well-appointed filibustier enters the tavern. He wears a black wool coat and breeches, with brass buttons, a red damask waistcoat, a ruffled shirt and cravat, an elegant high tricorn with silver trim, white silk stockings, and leather shoes with chiseled brass buckles. He has a cane in his right hand and an elegant smallsword at his left hip.) His Peruke is curled in the latest Paris fashion, with the tail of his queue enclosed by a small black silk bag and ribbon. If he bears a pistol, it is not visible. Are you a betting man?) Blessings and salutations, gentlemen and ladies adventurer one and all! Je suis hereux du faire votre connaissance. Joyeux Noël a tout le monde! I have the great pleasure to be known as Silken Jack. My family name is unimportant, at least at this stage of my life. I learned the ways of the sea, and its battles, while in the service de la Marine of his Most Christian Majesty. I have since ported out of such various places as La Rochelle, Boston, Tortuga and Hispaniola, Malta and Madagascar. I will meet any man with my sword, and any lady with a bottle of fine Madeira. I am a serious player of Baccarat and Dix Mille, and I'm willing to find, shall he say, - opportunistic employment? - -when letters of marque be scarce or unavailable. On land, nothing pleases me more than the life of le Boucanier – right down to smoking and enjoying the meat! I prefer the more modern guns to the classic boucanier gun,, something more in the range of a barrel of length – how is it you say? – 44 inches and 20 balls to a pound of lead. Barkeep, a tot of your best rum, neat, s'il vous plait!! And a round for the house!