Lydia vs Natividad - Part 2

Part 2, in which we see the thrilling conclusion of this epic battle.

Astute viewers will notice a major sea change overnight.  I changed from the mats to squares.  These are 1-foot artist canvasses I found on sale awhile ago.  Once I repaint them in a better sea color they will work well.  It's easy to move the occupied tiles and add new ones as the ships sail across the table.

Lydia round 2

Turn 7 (or whatever)
Natividad moves:  I had a problem judging the wind.  I tried a couple ways of using the wind gauge, I found laying it on top of the wind marker was the clearest. She makes a wide turn to port,
unmasking her port (unfired) broadside.

Is the wind on her quarter?

Now it is easier to figure out.

Natividad fires:  First shot with broadside, long range, both decks can fire!  6d6, needs 5 to hit.  Only 1, but it's a 6.  More damage to Lydia's rigging.
Lydia fires:  reserves card.
Getting choppy:  Yes!  Seas pick up, Natividad will fire at 1/2 effect.
Lydia moves:  she pivots in a tight circle (gotta love frigate's move) and plays her fire card.  3 hits to the hull and a special!  +2 DP and Natividad lost a boat. I think I did some calculations wrong before, because now Nat is down to 8 move.  (In the long run, it didn't matter)

Trading broadsides - not where Lydia wants to be

Turn 8
Natividad fires.  Should be 3 dice (reduced broadside +landlubber), but 1/2 because of heavy seas.  Round up to 2.  Another rigging hit!
Natividad moves.  8cm - 1d6.  Needs to quit sailing so close to the wind.  She turns away and presents her stern to the Lydia (not the smartest move).
Wind change!  Back to South East.
Lydia moves:  Now I have a question about the speed test.  Elite JJT, traveling at Astern (Basic +1d6), wants to slow.  What can they slow to?  In any case, they get the stern shot.

Yep, some fancy turns there

Lydia fires:  stern rake, at short range.  "For what we are about to receive..."  3d6, +2 for Elite JJT at short range, double for stern rake.

Mr Gerard, we must talk about your gunnery...

Result not terrible.  6 hits no special.  Strike test pending for Natividad, will see next turn.

Turn 9
Strike test:  first card.  35% chance again.  (40 base, +5 raked last turn, -10 determined).  52.  Still in the fight!
Natividad fires:  reserves fire.
Natividad move:  Wind still on the bow.  going to try to turn to starboard and engage again.  Not much happens (4cm)
Lydia fires:  2 more hits takes Natividad down to 50% health.  Another strike test coming up!
Lydia moves:  she tries a hot turn to port, but doesn't clear Nat's broadside.

Oops, thought I could turn faster than that...

Natividad fires: (reserved card)  but wait!  She's down to 2d6, -1 for landlubber, -1 for 1/2 speed (rigging obscuring the deck), -1/2 for rough seas.  She can no longer fire!  A point-blank shot and she is too busy clearing her decks.  By waiting that one moment she lost a shot.

Turn 10:
Natividad moves:  Must. Run. Away.
Lydia moves:  She's dead on to the wind.  Damage test.  On a 14 or higher she loses her foremast.

Trying to raise my blood pressure...

She makes it, barely.  Then to top it off, they only barely make their tack test.  "Elite sailors" indeed!
Strike test:  45% now.  She rolls 43!  Natividad must run away.  If she takes 5DP at once she will strike.
Natividad fires:  No shot, so she tries repairs.  Doesn't happen.
Lydia fires:  No stern rake this time.  Barely within medium range.  2 hits.

Mr. Gerard, this is your last warning! 

Turn 11
Lydia fires:  Thinks about trying to maneuver closer, but takes the shot before maneuvering.

That'll do, Mr. Gerard.  That'll do...

Now THAT'S a damage roll.  With the special, Natividad takes 7 DP and catches fire.

Natividad strikes immediately.

This is a great set of rules.  It plays fast, and really gives the flavor of the time.  The smaller, more nimble ship could sail rings around the big slow 2-decker.  But on those few occasions where the Natividad could fire a full broadside, the Lydia knew she had been hit.  This battle could easily have swung the other way.