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A Sailor’s Life for Me

“ALL ABOARD! Shift yourself, sailor, sorry, able seaman – we are about to set sail. We may have sunk one of the King of England’s ship on our last cruise, but there are plenty more that need the same treatment.”

Days at Sea: 150

Station: Gun Captain

Daily Schedule: Day #1

Forenoon Watch 8:00 AM to noon

Breakfast

Gun Drill “Gun Captain Duty Drill”: “Are you ready for the challenge able seaman? For this gun lacks a captain. Before they take aim at the enemy, the gun crew needs some practice under your command, firing at drifting barrells. Go on, have a go! You need careful aim, and to hit the target you have to fire at the right moment.”

“Your gun captain now, in charge of aiming and firing the cannon. Daily drills – firing at barrell targets – are essential for good performance during battle. Practice until you run out of shot.”

Drill charts:

  • Hits
  • Misses
  • Hull Damage (%)
  • Sail Damage (%)
  • Total Sunk

“ROUND SHOT punches holes in the enemy’s hull. BAR SHOTS rip holes in the sails and rigging. Click on the type of shot to load it.”

“Move your mouse left and right across the gunport to take aim. Click and fire… Time your shot to adjust the range (how far a hot flies). Fire on the ship’s uproll to increase range. Fire on the downroll to decrease range.”

Did bad “You rascally, useless sailor! If all our gun captains are as bad as you, our proud republic will soon be a British colony once more. Next time you must do better.”

Points: +2 promotion points, -1 Health & Happiness, -1 popularity

Afternoon Watch noon – 4:00

Dinner

Quarterdeck: Who is steering the ship? Not the captain, nor the sailing master, nor the Lieutenant. Steering is the job shared by Constitutions 150 able seaman. Every “able” hand can “hand, reef, and steer,” handle sails, and guide the ship in the right direction.

Steer the Ship: “Yo man! Yes you. The able seaman with the jaunty walk. Have you taken the wheel before? No? Well, now is your chance to find out how well you can steer this mighty frigate of ours. Take the helm and get us clear of the harbor and out to sea.”

“Head on over to Apple Island to pick up some supplies before heading out to sea… To steer the ship, click drag to turn the wheel or use your keyboard arrows.” (Be sure to read the wind.)

“You just picked up some supplies for the long journey ahead. You’re ready to head out to sea.”

“You ran into some shallows try again.” Follow the lines.

“Congratulations! You successfully steered the ship to your destination.”

“Excellent! Congratulations, sailor. Rarely have I seen such skill at the wheel. I shall commend your skills at the helm to the captain.”

Points: +5 promotion points, +1 Health & Happiness, +2 popularity

1st Dog Watch 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Day #1 Supper

Leisure time Options: Begin telling tales / Begin painting ditty bag / Begin playing dice / tell tall tales / continue

Me / Dick

1st round 17 15

2nd round 17 10

3rd round 16 17

Total 50 42

Points: 0 promotion points, +2 Health & Happiness, +2 popularity

Lt. Hoffman: “Don’t try to hide those dice, sailor! You’ll get a couple stripes across your back for gambling. Because you were caught gambling you will lose 3 promotion points.”

Points: -3 promotion points, 0 Health & Happiness, 0 popularity

Taking Grog $0.50

Points: +2 Popularity

Share / Don’t Share

Points: +3 Health & Happiness

Rats in the Hold: “Your here at last – I can do with some help. There are so many of these darned rats. They will eat the whole ship if we let them. Take this club and help me whack them. Don’t whack the cats or dogs they are on our side (remember you might be looking for the terrier). And don’t whack the ends of the barrels, either.”

Level #3 (45 seconds 11 rats)

“You have scared the rats away for now, but they will be back tomorrow.”

“Phew! You worked up a sweat doing that. That should keep them away for now. Rats are sly and clever, though. so I will need your help again tomorrow.”

Points: +5 promotion points, 0 Health & Happiness, +2 popularity

Lt. Hoffman confronts you after you witness another sailor break the rules: “The master-at-arms tells me one of you was falling over drunk last night. You will all pay the price unless you identify the scoundrel.”

It was Master Willams or I do not know who did such a thing

Lt. Hoffman: “Well done! By naming that man, you have spared yourself and your companions from punishment. I dare say that they would have preferred you hold your tongue, but the captain will reward your honesty with a higher rank.”

Points: 6 promotion points, 0 Health & Happiness, -10 popularity

Last Dog Watch 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Leisure Time Options: Begin telling tales / Begin playing dice / begin painting ditty bag / go to purser to buy goods / continue

Share or Do not share

Points: 0 promotion points, +1 Health & Happiness, +6 popularity

First Watch: 8:00 PM – Midnight Sleep

Middle Watch: Midnight – 4:00 Sleep

Another month passes, and as an Able Seaman you earned $36 in wages. You now have $57.39 in your savings. Your game progress has been saved.

Daily Schedule Day #2

Forenoon Watch 8:00 AM to noon

Breakfast

Gun Drill “Gun Captain Duty Drill”: “Are you ready for the challenge able seaman? For this gun lacks a captain. Before they take aim at the enemy, the gun crew needs some practice under your command, firing at drifting barrells. Go on, have a go! You need careful aim, and to hit the target you have to fire at the right moment.”

Did bad “You rascally, useless sailor! If all our gun captains are as bad as you, our proud republic will soon be a British colony once more. Next time you must do better.”

Points: +2 promotion points, -1 Health & Happiness, -1 popularity

 

Afternoon Watch noon – 4:00

Dinner

 

Steer the Ship: “You are no stranger to the quarterdeck, are you, fellow? Here take the helm again. I need you to set course for yonder harbor. Take it carefully, there are shoals and sandbanks, but the lookout in the foretop will warn you of them.”

 

“Head on over to Castillo Port to take on fresh water and firewood. It will take some skill to navigate through Porto de Naos on your way to Castillo Port. ” (Be sure to read the wind.)

 

“Congratulations! You successfully steered the ship to your destination.”

 

“Excellent! Congratulations, sailor. Rarely have I seen such skill at the wheel. I shall commend your skills at the helm to the captain.”

 

Points: +5 promotion points, +1 Health & Happiness, +2 popularity

 

Lt. Hoffman: “Never mind what your orders are, man. I have a more important task. Find my terrier. I’ll make it worth your while. Explore the ship during your leisure time – you won’t get in trouble if you are looking for my dog.”

 

Points: -3 promotion points, 0 Health & Happiness, 0 popularity

 

 

1st Dog Watch 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Day #1 Supper

Leisure Time Options: Begin telling tales / Begin playing dice / begin painting ditty bag / go to purser to buy goods / continue

Share or Do not share

Points: 0 promotion points, +1 Health & Happiness, +6 popularity

Lt. Hoffman: “Don’t try to hide those dice, sailor! You’ll get a couple stripes across your back for gambling. Because you were caught gambling you will lose 3 promotion points.”

Points: -3 promotion points, 0 Health & Happiness, 0 popularity

Taking Grog $0.50

Points: +2 Popularity

Share / Don’t Share

Points: +3 Health & Happiness

Rats in the Hold: “Your here at last – I can do with some help. There are so many of these darned rats. They will eat the whole ship if we let them. Take this club and help me whack them. Don’t whack the cats or dogs they are on our side (remember you might be looking for the terrier). And don’t whack the ends of the barrels, either.”

Level #3 (45 seconds 11 rats)

“You have scared the rats away for now, but they will be back tomorrow.”

“Phew! You worked up a sweat doing that. That should keep them away for now. Rats are sly and clever, though. so I will need your help again tomorrow.”

Points: +5 promotion points, 0 Health & Happiness, +2 popularity

Lt. Hoffman: “Man both larboard and starboard guns! We soon will do battle with TWO ships. We have been closing in our our enemy for an hour and it looks like night will fall before they are in range. No matter: both ships are smaller than Constitution and we are in perfect position to attack them. Bring up powder and more gun shot.”

“The battle’s on now and you’re Gun Captain! Load, aim, and fire this cannon at enemy ships.”

“This time you have to prove your mettle, able seaman. There are two British ships out there and it’s your job to blast them into matchsticks.”

“All those drills were in preparation for this day. You’ll need to stay focused during the chaos of battle if you are to win the day!”

“Warships take much more damage than your practice targets. To sink a ship, you must hit the sails four times and the hull six times. Try double-shotting with round shot. That causes maximum damage.”

“Huzza you have crippled one of the British ships!”

“Huzza! We’ve bested both ships! Victory is ours!”

“You’ve done your part in battle.”

Points: +5 promotion points, +4 Health & Happiness, +3 popularity

Midst Battle: “Constitution’s powerful guns make it an uneven fight. For much of the battle we pound the enemy while staying out of range of their weaker cannons. Even when their cannon-balls strike our hull, they do little damage. ”

Midst Battle: “An hour after sunset, the larger ship, HMS Cayne, surrenders. Defeating her companion Levant takes another four hours. Eventually, though her captain realizes he cannot escape, and hauls down the red ensign.”

Midst Battle: “Third Lieutenant William Shubruck rows over to accept the surrender of the Levant at the end of the battle. He finds a grisly scene, as a midshipman who is with him later describes “The mast was for several feet covered with brains and blood; teeth, pieces of bone, fingers and large pieces of flesh were picked up from the deck.”

After  Battle: “There are few of Constitution’s crew in the makeshift hospital in the cockpit. Just 14 Americans have been wounded and four lost their lives in the battle. Three times as many British have been wounded, and the surgeon treats them as they come aboard from the two crippled vessels. Most have been injured by cannon fire, for darkness prevented marines from taking aim with their muskets.”

“You man! Take the wheel. We’re returning to Boston – with another victory under our belts. And you shall steer us into port.”

“Head back to Boston.”

“You’ve sailed the victorious Constitution back to Boston. Now come ashore and join the celebration.”

The War is Over: Huzza! The captain and crew of Constitution are heroes! When you step ashore, the whole city greets you. Flags fly. Cannons fire deafening salutes. And flowers rain down as the captain leads his officers down Long Wharf, to a party at the city’s finest building, the Exchange Coffee House.”

“Will you look at that crowd! Half of Boston has turned out to welcome us home, and the artillery battery is firing a salute in our honor. WE were only doing our patriotic duty when we sank those ships, but now we are… heroes. What a welcome! I don’t think I will forget this as long as I live.”

“Well congratulations sailor. You have completed your third and final cruise. With Constitution, and risen to the rank of Boy to Able Seaman. You should be proud of yourself. You have helped with three battles and capture four enemy ships. And of course you get more than fine words for that, for you have just earned some prize money. Just sign the purser’s book, and you can have your share and go ashore. Farewell and good luck!

Epilogue

“Your rise to the rank of Able Seaman so encourages that you that when your cruise on Constitution ends, you resolve to make a career on the sea. You quickly sign up with a crew of a merchant ship aiming to explore the mighty Amazon River. The trip is a disaster – but not for you personally. When a tropical disease kills half the crew, you are the best surviving sailor. You take command and are cheered as a hero when you successfully return the ship to its home port. The grateful (and wealthy) explorer rewards you handsomely for saving his life and priceless plant specimens. You invest the money shrewdly, and become a prosperous and respected gentleman.