We’ve broken through the midpoint of the campaign. Week 5 marked an upshift in tempo and ill intent. Early experiments and the time for testing the water is over. Nations have calibrated, restructured, and now understand the terrain—and each other.
The tactical stage is changing. The time to secure ground and commit to a long-term strategy is here. Every decision from this point forward carries more weight, as territory gained or lost and raids begin to decide the final balance of power.
This phase is less about testing opponents and more about shaping outcomes. The conflicts have left their mark, and future moves will either reinforce dominance or open paths for reversal.
Table of contents
- Week 5 Campaign Announcements
- Week 5 Objectives – “Dangerous Waters”
- Week 5 Campaign Map Level Combat Results
- Campaign Map Update At the End of Week 5
- Current Location Ownership by Nation
- Raid Actions During Week 5
- Trade Actions During Week 4
- Current Standings at the End of Week 4
- Week 6 Weekly Objectives – ” Leaders of Men “
- Conclusion for the Week 5 Campaign Update
- Additional Recommended Reading
Let’s unpack the Week 5 results and see who is ahead—and who’s regrouping after a tough round.
Week 5 Campaign Announcements
We have just a single announcement this week:
Bonus Prize Event Winner Selected
Our bonus prize event has closed, and a winner has been selected at random from those who participated. We had 122 entries… but there were lots of duplicate entries! Filtering out the invalid entries, we had 79 unique players complete the objective.
Congrats to Danny Perkins for winning the Dutch-style house from TimberandSail.com. If you didn’t win and would still like to have your own copy, you can order the STL files along with some other great accessories for the game from the Timber & Sail 3D print store.
Danny’s selected entry was for the French! This means in Week 6, Danny will get to select one of the following bonuses for the French:
- Option 1: Add a +1 to an Attack on any Location
- Option 2: Add a +1 to the Defense on any Location
- Option 3: +3 Success Modifier to the roll on your Commander’s next Raid Action.
Week 5 Objectives – “Dangerous Waters”
The theme of this week (July 1st-7th) was “Dangerous Waters!“. The goal of this week was to have a challenging game with environmental hazards in the water rather than the typical open safe movement regions.
- Blood & Plunder: Play a Sea Game with 3+ Shoals OR play The Fickle Sea scenario.
- Oak & Iron: Play a game with 5 or more pieces of terrain on the board.
- Port Royal: The entire ground level of the table is partially flooded and treated as rough terrain. Randomly place 6 wild beasts or tokens on the board (sharks, alligators) before the start of the game.
Week 5 Campaign Map Level Combat Results
This week was nothing short of a battlefield frenzy! Nearly every nation launched into full-scale offensives, with a staggering 75% of player votes favoring Attack! The fallout? SIXTEEN locations ignited in conflict—exactly half the map. And with only two ties across the board, territorial shifts were rampant and relentless.
Campaign Map Combat Results
Here are the outcomes for the week:
- Antigua: Pirate saboteurs spread throughout the docks and city of Antigua, setting multiple small fires. Amid the chaos, the real plan was revealed – a storming party hit the southeast corner of town. The island’s governor was cornered in the administrative hall and taken captive. With leadership in disarray and fires spreading through the harbor, resistance collapsed. The English negotiated a ceasefire and withdrawal. ( English 1 – Pirates 2 ),
- Apalachee: A small contingent of Spanish marauders crept toward Apalachee, hoping to cripple the Native capital with fire and set the region in chaos. But the defenders were ready. Scouts spotted the intruders early, and warbands encircled the Spanish before they even reached the outer fields. The marauders were routed in a swift and humiliating defeat—Apalachee stood untouched, its council fires burned ever brighter beneath the stars in celebration of victory ( Natives 7 – Spanish 2 ),
- Aruba: English forces landed on Aruba with quiet efficiency, bypassing the island’s outer defenses and cutting off Spanish supply routes before a full alarm could be raised. The Spanish garrison, isolated and disoriented, found itself outmaneuvered at every turn. By the time resistance was organized, the English had already seized the high ground and key positions. Aruba slipped from Spanish hands, not in a blaze of battle, but in the shadow of a well-executed campaign. ( English 4 – Spanish 1 ),
- Bonaire: Pirate crews surged toward Bonaire, their sails dotting the horizon as they closed in on the Dutch-held island. The defenders mounted a brief resistance as cannon fire echoed across the salt flats. The Dutch command post fell before reinforcements could arrive—Bonaire was seized by the pirates, its quiet shores now ringing with the clamor of drunken revelry of the Flying Gang. ( Dutch 1 – Pirates 4 )
- Boston: Dutch forces stormed Boston, though held by the French, the city is worn down by weeks of conflict. The beleaguered garrison withdrew to reinforce New York. Boston fell to the Dutch, its battered streets now flying a new red, white, and blue banner. ( Dutch 4 – French 1 ),
- Cartegena: Spanish forces advanced on Cartagena, determined to reclaim the region from Native control yet again. The campaign was swift—Spanish troops landed in force. Native resistance was fierce but fragmented, and after several days of skirmishes, the region fell. Cartagena returned to Spanish hands, its fires extinguished beneath the weight of imperial banners. ( Natives 1 – Spanish 4 ),
- Charleston, SC: French forces launched a surprise assault on Charleston, aiming to wrest the city from Dutch control. The Dutch garrison, though seasoned from prior campaigns, was stretched thin and unable to repel the coordinated strikes. Skirmishes erupted along the waterfront and in the narrow alleys of the old quarter, but the French pressed their advantage. Charleston fell to the French, its defenses buckling under the weight of renewed imperial ambition. ( Dutch 1 – French 2 ),
- Costa de Mosquitos: Spanish mission garisons along the Costa de Mosquitos were rocked by a sudden uprising as enslaved Native Americans revolted. Armed with stolen tools and weapons, they struck swiftly—burning watchtowers, freeing captives, and sabotaging supply reserves. Though the Spanish tried to regroup, they withdrew to rally. The region fell under Native control, its jungles echoing with the sound of defiance. ( Natives 2 – Spanish 1 )
- Fort Noorhooka: Yet another battle for Fort Noorhooka erupted, this time in a chaotic three-way clash, with English troops, Native warriors, and Spanish defenders all vying for control. Skirmishes flared across palisades and surrounding fields, but no faction could gain the upper hand. The Spanish garrison, already stretched thin, faltered under pressure and withdrew, while the English and Natives fought each other as fiercely as they did the defenders. Battered and leaderless—the region of Fort Noorhooka slipped into a state of unaligned control, its forests echoing the confusion and turmoil of yet another season of war. ( English 2 – Natives 2 – Spanish 1 )
- Natchez: English buccaneers launched a strike on the French-held Natchez, drawn by tales of fertile lands and a wealth of timber. But the French garrison, with their deep knowledge of the region’s terrain, stood firm. The attackers faltered near the ceremonial mounds, where the Great Sun’s legacy still loomed large. The final bloody skirmishes broke out near an orchard storehouse, where the French fiercely held their ground under withering English musketry. Natchez remained under French control, its sacred bluffs unshaken by British ambition. ( English 2 – French 2 )
- Petit Goave French forces returned to Petit Goâve with overwhelming strength, determined to reclaim the port that once served as a haven for buccaneers and privateers. The English defenders, few in number and lacking local support, were quickly outflanked. Skirmishes broke out near the old pirate docks, but resistance crumbled as French troops surged inland. Petit Goâve fell back into French hands, its harbor once again echoing with the language of its former masters. ( English 1 – French 4 ),
- Port Royal: Dutch forces descended on the heart of French Acadia striking Port Royal, with a fleet and firepower that left little room for resistance. The French garrison, though steeped in the success, was outmatched. Skirmishes flared across multiple aging fortifications as the Dutch pressed ever forward. Port Royal fell to the sea trading republic, its long-held French command broken beneath the weight of a new Dutch northern campaign. ( Dutch 3 – French 1 )
- Saint Eustatius: The Flying Gang Pirates forging uneasy alliances with merchants and offering protection in exchange for trade. But as rivalries deepened and promises frayed, their grip weakened. When Dutch forces returned with a disciplined fleet, the fractured pirate crews were unable to mount a unified defense. A bloody battle southwest of the port saw multiple sea rover sloops sink beneath the waves under the concentrated firepower of the Dutch. Skirmishes flared near the old warehouse district, but resistance soon faded. Saint Eustatius fell to the Dutch, reclaimed through resolve and a quiet unraveling of pirate unity. ( Dutch 3 – Pirates 2 ),
- Santo Domingo: Spanish forces defending Santo Domingo faced a coordinated uprising as Native factions, emboldened by recent revolts, launched a sweeping campaign. Attacks surged from the jungle to the city’s outskirts, echoing the legacy of Enriquillo and the defiance of earlier slave rebellions. Spanish defenses crumbled under the pressure—outposts burned, hosts of its citizens slain, and morale shattered. Santo Domingo fell to Native control, its colonial walls now shadowed by the resurgence of indigenous resistance. ( Natives 4 – Spanish 1 ),
- Tortuga: Rising to the tavern tales of the Brethren of the Coast and odes to the success of likes of Laurens de Graaf, the Pirates surged onto Tortuga, seeking to reclaim their old stronghold from the Dutch garrison. Now, four pirate crews united, striking near the rocky harbor and battered fort. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Dutch embraced the need for a strategic withdrawal. Tortuga returned to pirate rule, its coves once more under the shadow of a fluttering black banner. ( Dutch 1 – Pirates 4 )
- Vera Cruz: Vera Cruz, a bastion of freedom and independence, was recently left reeling from a deadly plague. Settlers recently opened their gates to Spanish missionaries, who brought medicine, food, and prayers for healing. Their arrival brought not only relief but renewed purpose. As the sick were tended and the dead mourned, the settlement began to embrace a new hope. Plans for a grand cathedral dedicated to Saint Sebastian, long revered as a protector against plague, were drawn. The foundation stones were laid with solemn rites, and the region stirred with the promise of rebirth beneath the saint’s watchful gaze. Vera Cruz has joined the Spanish Empire. ( Spanish 3 – Unaligned 2 )
Campaign Map Update At the End of Week 5
The updated map following the fighting:
Current Location Ownership by Nation
This week was extremely chaotic. I’m dealing with the chaos of this past week by simply posting the tables of the ownership from the start of Week 5 and the incoming state for Week 6 below.
There has been fair amount of shuffling of terrain locations, and the final Unaligned location was finally settled by the Spanish… but the fighting in the region of Fort Noorhooka left the region uncontrolled so we still have 1 Unaligned region remaining in Week 6!
Raid Actions During Week 5
Raids are a unique dynamic available to National commanders. While they pose some risk of danger to the attacker, they have a different benefit from a standard attack. Rather than transfer ownership of a territory, they transfer victory points between nations. While conquering a region gains 1 VP it leaves the location at risk for attack. A Raid can net a positive return, but it also reduces the current VP of the target nation. This results in a typical result of a 2 point swing in position between the target and attacker.
Raid Results for Week 5
There were four Raids this week – everyone but the Natives and Pirates engaged in a raid.
| Nation | Target Nation | Location | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dutch | French | Norridgewock | Roll 6 = +1 Dutch, -1 French |
 | English | French | Rhode Island | Roll 7 = +1 English, -1 French |
 | French | Dutch | Charleston, SC | Roll 7 = +1 French, -1 Dutch |
 | Natives | None | – | – |
 | Pirates | None | – | – |
 | Spanish | Natives | Campeche | Roll 4 = +1 Spanish -1 Natives |
Raid Status: No Changes
Last week, we mentioned possibly updating the Raid Outcome Table to buff it slightly. However, after review and discussion, we’ve opted to keep the results table as-is—adjustments at this stage could potentially disrupt the campaign balance. In Week 5, 4 of 6 nations chose Raid as a Command Action this round, reinforcing that it’s still a viable option. We will continue to monitor the situation and consider future changes.
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 4
I am a little shocked, but we saw once again all 6 Nations put economic prosperity ahead of war and conflict. All 6 nations continued to maintain their current Trade arrangements in Week 5. Each nation earns 2 Victory Points. Will these partnerships last, or will there be a cabal to shift the economic tides in the final 4 weeks? We shall see!
Trading Partners
- 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 4
- France has managed to maintain their lead for a second week.
- The Pirates are right on their heels only a single point behind.
- The Natives regained some ground after getting hammered in Week 4 and but slipped to 4th after Spain had a good showing and pulled ahead by 1 pt.
- Spain had another solid week, posting 9 points (tied for 2nd on a weekly basis), and rising to 3rd place, narrowing the gap to the top of the podium.
- The Dutch had a respectable week, finishing just barely under the average score, but they will need to step it up a bit more to make it to the top (it is still possible!)
- England has once again faltered. Their attacks were thwarted, and more of their territories were seized. With only two regions left in their control, they have to play a near-perfect game in the final 4 weeks to secure the win. But with nothing to lose, they may now be the most dangerous force in the game!
Week 6 Weekly Objectives – “Leaders of Men“
The goal for this week is to include a character of renown as your leader. The challenge this week is to use one of the more expensive leaders during your games. This may require you to up your game size to make the more expensive leaders viable. Specifically, for Blood & Plunder, some local groups have agreed in the past to make the commander free within a point range (e.g. any commander between 30-40pts). Then you can still keep the point in the forces low, and have a heftier commander on the table.
- Blood & Plunder: Play a game using a Historical or Legendary Commander worth 21 points or more.
- Oak & Iron: Your force MUST include a level 2 or 3 named Admiral (e.g., no generic or Level 1 Admirals).
- Port Royal: The leader of each company gains the rules from the Legend Archetype on pg.86 for this game.
Conclusion for the Week 5 Campaign Update
Wow. This is turning into an interesting campaign. The level of interest by players in the chats and the solid leadership from our volunteers is palpable. This phase of the campaign is when it really starts to get “fun” for me as one of the organizers. I’m not sure about you, but for me, this year the suspense and excitement about how it turns out is even greater than normal. I’m looking forward to a solid race all the way to the end (even for the English who continue to be pounded relentlessly).
If the Fatigue is building up, I suggest you Rally… or else I’ll get Strict and start Inspiring myself to take Ruthless action. You may feel Indomitable, but don’t get to the point of Shaken. Let’s be Cold Blooded—with the objectives, not each other. So be Unwavering, and lean into the final turns. After all, fatigue isn’t a warning—it’s a challenge. And challenges are just quests with better plunder.
… it’s way too late and the puns are too bad… the Fatigue is building so I’m signing off.
Keep your dice at the ready, and the wind at your back. Yarr harr!
Article by Jason Klotz
Additional Recommended Reading
- 2025 Summer of Plunder Updates Hub – all of the updates from previous weeks.
- Rules and Info for the 2025 Summer of Plunder Event
- 2025 Summer of Plunder Entry Form
- 2025 Summer of Plunder – Campaign Map
- Weekly Objective List for 2025 Summer of Plunder
- Prize List for 2025 Summer of Plunder
- Newly announced Objectives and Prizes for Unaligned players