Port Royal Faction Overview: Jamaican Pirates

This article is a general discussion of the Jamaican Pirates faction in Port Royal. Content will cover their stats, strengths, easily built archetypes, and an example of an initial Company you can use for a campaign build.

Jamaica became the “Richest and wickedest city on Earth” thanks to these men. Until recently, they would have operated as privateers with legal commissions to harass Spanish shipping and towns. The immense riches they looted from the Spanish poured into Port Royal, enriching the city while simultaneously keeping it safe. Unfortunately for these buccaneers, they were too successful. The Spanish relented their stubbornness and gave trade opportunities to the English Crown, turning the Jamaican privateers into Jamaican pirates when they refused to give up their plundering. Many left for the French ports of Hispaniola where to ply their trade legitimately remained. Others, simply carried on in their piracies or set off to cut logwood. In the wake, and even in the midst of the great earthquake, they have found an opportunity to enrich themselves from Port Royal once again.

The Captain

The leader of your crew, The Captain is about as baseline as they come and for a hefty price. With an Experience of 5, Fight/Shoot Skill sets of 6, and a Resolve value of 5, the captain isn’t particularly good at anything – but he isn’t bad at anything either — fitting in your Crew as a rather flexible Character that fits with the general theme of the Pirates – a mix of melee and shooting.

Quartermaster (1)

Out of the Officer options available, the Quartermaster is an easy pickup for any Pirate crew. For 4 Pieces you get a Character who is Offensively well-balanced and with the Brawler keyword making him more likely to crit while in melee combat. Naturally, you will want to get your Quartermaster up into combat, but don’t be afraid to shoot a Pistol on your way in. With the Well-Armed Special rule, it is easy to load this Character up with two melee weapons for the dual wield bonus and a pistol. In games that I have played, I separate my Captain and Quartermaster with my Crew split for some extra flavor – what if my Quartermaster betrays my Captain?!

Boatswain (2)

Typically in charge of training and whipping the Crew into shape, I am surprised the Boatswain picked up the keyword, Marksmen. However, this does offer a counter pick of an officer to the Quartermaster. Rather than favor melee combat, the Boatswain provides the option to lean into ranged combat, spending two actions to shoot with a base value of 5, rather than 6 – the best shooter the Pirates can muster outside of their veteran unit, the Old Buccaneer. However, with a free weapon and faster advancement rate, the Boatswain is a more palatable Character to recruit. Lastly, it should be noted that Marksmen does not limit you to muskets, as you could apply your Marksman bonus to a Blunderbuss (and pickup that Accurate keyword for another -1 and a base shoot of 4), for instance.

Cabin Boy (2) and Landsman

The Pirate Cabin Boy and Landsman have the exact same poor quality stateline – in fact, they are the exact same character, essentially. Given this, the Cabin Boy is always the better pick for the faster advancement rate, unless you need to buff your crew numbers because you already have too many Officers. In this case, however, both the Freebooter and Seadog are only 1 more piece of eight and bring much more to the table.

Freebooters and Sea Dogs

The Freebooters and Sea Dogs of the Jamaican pirates are you two main core units. The choice between them, however, is made easier by the fact that they have the same stat line for the same affordable cost – 3 pieces. Where they differ, however, is in what keyword they begin with – either Marksman for the Freebooter or Brawler for the Sea Dog. Which keyword you lean into depends on your Crew construction. The Pirates aren’t winning any shooting awards at a base shoot of 7, but with Marksman and the Accurate trait on a Blunderbuss, you can get down to a base of 5. If you plan on getting into melee, Brawler is a much stronger keyword, allowing for a doubled chance to critically hit, which can turn the tide of battle instantly. For most Crews, I’d recommend at least 1 of each, so that you can begin earning Experience for both Crew groups from Campaign start.

Old Buccaneer (3)

The Old Buccaneer is the Veteran Pirate character. For 5 pieces you (2 more than the Freebooter or the Sea Dog) you boast an Experience of 4, an improved Shoot skill of 6 and bring both Keywords (Marksman and Brawler) to the table. While the Old Buccaneer is expensive, it is your most versatile unit: possessing strength in both melee and ranged combat with the ability to weave in and out of both. I would highly recommend an Old Buccaneer in most Pirate Crews, certainly heavily equipped with weapons that speak to their versatility. Lastly, I would be remiss not to mention the Marksman and Blunder-accurate combo would get you to a sweet base Shoot skill of 4.