As Week 3 of the Summer of Plunder concludes, the Natives maintain their lead, holding key positions despite growing pressure. Meanwhile, several commanders have begun reorganizing their command structures, adjusting strategies to balance voting and improve coordination. This reorganization has proved fruitful for Spain as they post their strongest week yet, making significant gains and narrowing the gap. With players and commanders settling into a groove, the campaign remains dynamic as each faction refines its approach to control the Americas.
Table of contents
- Week 3 Campaign Announcements
- Week 3 Objectives – “Lady Fortune”
- Week 3 Campaign Map Level Combat Results
- Campaign Map Update At the End of Week 3
- Current Location Ownership by Nation
- Raid Actions During Week 3
- Trade Actions During Week 3
- Current Standings at the End of Week 3
- Summer of Plunder Week 4 Weekly Objectives
- Conclusion for the Week 3 Campaign Update
- Additional Recommended Reading
Let’s take a dive into the results for Week 3 and see how this week’s key clashes unfolded and what they mean for the future.
Week 3 Campaign Announcements
But first, we have three quick announcements:
#1 Bonus Prize Event is Live!
We have a bonus prize event running now through Sunday, July 6th, 2025 @ 10 PM Eastern time (GMT-5). Participants will have the chance to win a Dutch-style house from TimberandSail.com based on a historical site on the island of Bonaire. Click for details on how to enter.
#2: Names and Emails
Please try to consistently use the same email address and name in your submissions. While it’s fun to change to cute nicknames in every entry, it causes issues with some of our reporting. It doesn’t affect the voting/map outcomes, but it confuses commanders because it leads to incorrect player counts. No one reads the names on the entries but us, so please just stick to changing your names and ranks in Discord if you want to embrace the roleplaying or random “fun” of a new name every week.
And more importantly, please be consistent in your email accounts and keep them as 1 per player. Some prizes are limited to 1 entry per player, and sharing an email reduces your odds of winning.
#3: Weekly Update / Event Hub Page
If you’ve missed a weekly update or want to check up on some data/info, be sure to check the 2025 Summer of Plunder HUB page.
Week 3 Objectives – “Lady Fortune”
Week 3 is one of the two weeks where the objectives vary by the nation you wish to play for, as they are chosen by each of the National Commanders.
Objectives by Nation
| Logo | Nation | Objective |
|---|---|---|
 | Dutch | “Head Hunter”: Kill the enemy Commander |
 | English | “Blood on the Homefront”: Play a game of any point size using the New England Village Garrison. (Note: you can use any mini to proxy as civilian villagers) |
 | French | Use the Marksmen special rule. |
 | Natives | “The Old Ways are Best”: Create a force without using firearms – only bows and melee weapons, consider the power of Poison Arrows. |
 | Pirates | “Show us your ARRR! Face” – Include a photo of yourself playing your game of choice to be entered into a random drawing for a prize. Costume is encouraged, but not required. |
 | Spanish | Battle Cry of the Iberian Peninsula: Inspire your forces by using a Mission Priest and yell, “Santiago!” Make Your Voices Heard – Record a video of yourself yelling Santiago! while playing in a game store, amongst your friends/opponents. Send the recording (with your name) to jshivak@gmail.com, and we will splice them together as a chorus of victorious Spaniards! |
We have had a total of 797 games played in the first 3 weeks of the campaign! This week saw an uptick in the number of Oak & Iron games, pushing it closer to 10% of the overall. Port Royal continues to stay strong with close to 25% of the content, which is impressive for its first year in the campaign and being less than 6 months old.
| Game System | # of Games Played to Date |
|---|---|
| Blood & Plunder | 536 |
| Oak & Iron | 73 |
| Port Royal | 188 |
| TOTAL 797 |
Week 3 Campaign Map Level Combat Results
There were 12 locations that saw conflict this week. There were multiple ties and successful defenses.
Campaign Map Combat Results
Here are the outcomes for the week:
- Antigua = A small French fleet engaged English vessels near Antigua, each side maneuvering for advantage in the shifting winds. The French, lighter and faster, pressed the attack with precise volleys, but the English crews held firm, their disciplined gunnery keeping the enemy at bay. After an hour of brutal exchanges, the French, unable to break the English will and unwilling to board, disengaged, leaving the waters in English hands. [English 2 : French 2]
- Aruba = For a third time, Aruba has seen conflict. This time, French troops landed on the southern coast and advanced inland, engaging English defenders who put up a fighting retreat. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the English fell back repeatedly before striking their colors and surrendering the island, leaving Aruba under French control. [English 1 : French 2]
- Cartegena = Under the cover of darkness, Native warriors slipped past Spanish sentries, silently dispatching guards before spreading through Santa Cruz de Mompox streets. By the time the alarm was raised, the attackers had already seized key positions, forcing the Spaniards into chaotic, close-quarters fighting. Outnumbered and caught off guard, the defenders fell one by one, and by dawn, the city was firmly in Native hands. Just days later, the force marched north and west to the coast, driving the ill-equipped Spanish further and further back. Cartegena has fallen back into Native control. [Natives 4 : Spanish 1]
- Costa de Mosquitos = Spanish troops advanced cautiously through the dense jungle of the Costa de Mosquitos. As they neared a river crossing, Miskito warriors struck with precision, ambushing the column from the undergrowth. The Spanish, caught unawares, at first struggled to form ranks. Within moments, their training paid off, and though battered, the Spanish stood proud and drove off the attackers. The brutal exchange only momentarily delayed the inevitable. The Spanish continued to share the good news in the region, enlightening the locals about the path to civility. [Natives 1 : Spanish 3]
- Fort Noorhooka = A combined arms force of Spanish hostigadores, lanceros, and cavalry struck swiftly at Fort Noorhooka, breaking Native resistance with disciplined charges. The defenders scattered into the wilderness, leaving behind the region and turning it over to Spanish control. [Natives 1 : Spanish 2]
- Nassau = As Kaper van Florida led a fleet of Zeelanders toward Nassau, expecting to crush the pirate stronghold, crimson sails emerged from hidden coves. The pirates, lying in wait, sprang their ambush, catching the Dutch in a deadly pincer maneuver. Trapped between reefs and relentless broadsides, Kaper’s formation buckled under the assault and he was forced to retreat as the pirates kept their hold of Nassau. [Dutch 5 : Pirates 6]
- Norridgewock = The English launched a nighttime assault on Norridgewock, catching the French-aligned and their local allies off guard. Fierce musket fire tore through the settlement as defenders scrambled to resist, but the English pressed forward, killing Father Sébastien Râle and forcing survivors to flee. By dawn, the village was in English hands, marking a turning point in the conflict. [English 3 : French 1]
- Petit Goave = Master Robert Beetlebug led his fleet of sloops named after games of chance to suppress piracy off Petit-Goâve, expecting a swift victory. His ships patrolled the waters searching for prizes in the region. His search came to an end as the illustrious Scarlit Widow and her pirate crews of pocket laden pantaloons poured from the shallows to outmaneuver the English. After a brutal exchange, Beetlebug’s formation collapsed, forcing him to retreat as the pirates secured the waters of Petit Goave once more. [English 3 : Pirates 3]
- Rhode Island = Seeking revenge for past raids, Dutch warships tracked the pirates to their Rhode Island refuge. Striking at dawn, they stormed the harbor, cutting off escape routes as musket fire tore through the defenders. Overwhelmed, the pirates fled or fell, several of their ships left burning in the docks as the Dutch cleansed the waters of the marauders. [Dutch 3 : Pirates 1]
- Santo Domingo = As Native warriors moved to seize Santo Domingo from the English, Spanish cavalry thundered into the fight, catching both sides off guard. Muskets cracked and blades clashed as the battle turned into a chaotic three-way struggle. Outmaneuvering their foes, the Spanish pressed the attack, forcing the English into retreat and scattering the Native forces. Santo Domingo is once again under Spanish control. [English 1 : Natives 2 : Spanish 4]
- St Augustine, FL = After capturing St. Augustine, the Dutch found the war-ravaged settlement difficult to hold. When Native warriors moved to reclaim the region, the Dutch, unwilling to fight a costly battle, chose to withdraw. Rather than risk further losses, they left the city behind, hoping to secure future trade opportunities instead. [Dutch 1 : Natives 2]
- St Thomas = St. Thomas authorities report increasing pirate activity in the region. A Dutch brig, loaded with sugar and tobacco, never reached its destination, its cargo seized by corsairs. Officials warn that continued disruptions could threaten commerce. Efforts to secure shipping lanes remain ongoing as the Dutch increase their patrols to maintain the security of their assets. [Dutch 2 : Pirates 2]
Campaign Map Update At the End of Week 3
The updated map following the fighting:
Current Location Ownership by Nation
There has been some shuffling of terrain locations, and half of the Unaligned locations have been grabbed.
- The Dutch gained and lost a single territory by combat. They are also the first Nation to receive a territory through a Cede action, receiving back their formerly owned region of Bonaire.
- The English lost Santo Domingo, but gained Norridgewock, treading water on progress.
- The French also broke even, gaining Aruba but lost Norridgewock.
- The Natives lost ground to the Spanish. in Costa de Mosquitos and Fort Noorhooka, but captured Cartegena. They also gained St Augustine from the Dutch. They still lead the pack in terms of territories owned.
- The Pirates lost Rhode Island and ceded Bonaire to the Dutch, but repelled the attacks elsewhere.
- The Spanish lost Cartegena to the Natives, but also claimed 2 Territories from the Natives – Costa de Mosquitos and Fort Noorhooka.
- Vera Cruz remains the last bastion of the Unaligned
Raid Actions During Week 3
Raid options are under review and may be updated in Week 5. If the table is modified will be sure to update you with time to spare. The change to the outcomes will be minor, but hopefully enough to make them lean slightly more to the favorable outcome side for the greater risk they pose this year.
Raid Results for Week 3
There were two Raids this week – the Spanish and French.
| Nation | Target Nation | Location | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch | none | – | – |
| English | none | – | – |
| French | Dutch | Curaçao | Roll 5 -2 for Defense = 3; No change |
| Natives | none | – | |
| Pirates | none | – | – |
| Spanish | Natives | Costa de Mosquitos | Roll 8 = +1 Spanish -1 Natives |
- The French launched a daring raid on the Dutch capital city. The Dutch were well prepared and drove the raiders away empty-handed.
- Seeking retribution for multiple attacks, the Spanish raided the Natives again, seizing back stolen goods.
Raid Outcome Table
| Roll | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 0 or less* | -2 from the Attacker +2 Defender |
| 1 | -1 from the Attacker +1 Defender |
| 2-3 | No Change |
| 4-9 | +1 Attacker, -1 Defender |
| 10 | +2 Attacker, -2 Defender |
Trade Actions During Week 3
Despite some border squabbles between nations, Trade partnerships were maintained in another 3 perfectly paired trades for Week 3:
- Dutch – English
- French – Spanish
- Natives – Pirates
This means all 6 Nations will again gain 2 Victory Points each.
Current Standings at the End of Week 3
The Natives have maintained their lead, staying ahead of the Pirates by 1 point, with the French nipping at their heels, only a single point behind the Pirates. The Dutch and Spanish are off to a bit of a slow start, with both weeks falling below the national average. But the more terrain a nation conquers, the harder it is to maintain, so it is still anyone’s game.
Summer of Plunder Week 4 Weekly Objectives
The theme of this week (June 24th – 30th) is “Veteran Crews“. The goal of this week is to take a break from any “horde” or cheap meat shield units and use more elite models and upgrades in your force.
- Blood & Plunder: Use a Force with no model costing less than 5pts.
- This doesn’t mean the units have to be Veteran expeience, just that they have to be better trained and equipped models than the generic “grunts” of your Nation.
- The 5pt requirement means units can be upgraded models or “premium units”.
- This is a great time to try out some Soldiers/Grenadiers if you haven’t yet or add some extra gear like Grenadoes.
You can also choose to upgrade units to Veteran
- Oak & Iron: Take some version of a crew/personnel upgrade on every ship in your fleet (e.g. Additional Crew, Marines, Buccaneers, etc.)
- Port Royal: During this week’s game, resolve all Experience tests as if characters have a -1 to their Exp skill (this ignores human limits). This makes Reactions easier/more common.
Conclusion for the Week 3 Campaign Update
The quality of participation remains exceptional—your game photos, battle reports, and strategic insights bring the campaign to life with every submission. These moments are more than simple records of play—they’re the living narrative of gameplay from around the world. This is one of the things I love about the Summer of Plunder — seeing players from all scopes of life enjoying the games I love.
As we head into the next stretch of the campaign, don’t forget to take a shot at the Bonus Prize Event. And do me a favor and say thank you to your local game store and local quartermaster or game organizer (if you have one). And if YOU are that person, let me say “thank you” for all you do for your players.
Hi-ho, happy plundering we shall go!
Article by Jason Klotz
