Let’s resolve the 8th week of this year’s Summer of Plunder on the campaign map! The two teams have drawn solid battle lines over the past two weeks, but the map changed things up a bit this past week with additional locations in both the Caribbean and Northeast theaters.
In this update we’ll look at the campaign map where players on two grand alliances have made choices on where to deploy troops in an effort to control the New World. With all three theaters open, choices were overwhelming, but both teams are learning to predict the other’s movements as this campaign progresses.
This update will only look at the movements on the Campaign Map. A follow up post will feature more pictures, messages from commanders, and prize winners.
Updated Campaign Map – End of Week 8 of Summer of Plunder 2026
Here is the new updated map after all actions were accounted for.
Map Changes
Here are details of the attacks and defenses in the various theaters of the campaign map.
Final Outcomes of the Campaign Map for Week 8 of Summer of Plunder 2026
We just wrapped up the penultimate week of Summer of Plunder 2026, with fighting and battles over control of both theatres, as well as the new territories added this week.
NE – New England & New France
With the campaign entering its final stretch, the Bourbon Alliance committed the overwhelming majority of its strength to securing the Northern Theatre, sending 29 of their 34 army points to reinforce the front. Every member of the alliance contributed to the defense of Quebec, as French regulars, Spanish infantry, Native warriors, and their minor allies all converged to strengthen the city’s battered ramparts against yet another Dutch-led assault.
While Quebec remained the primary objective, fighting erupted elsewhere across the frontier. French and Spanish troops successfully repelled probing Dutch attacks against St. Johns, denying the British Alliance another northern foothold. Further west, the long-quiet frontier exploded into violence as Fort Detroit became an active battleground for the first time this campaign. British regulars pushed aggressively toward the isolated outpost, only to be met by equally determined Spanish soldados. Fierce musket volleys echoed through the forests surrounding the fort before the fighting devolved into desperate hand-to-hand combat around the palisades.
The Dutch led assaults in the North this week, performing prodding attacks on both St. Johns and Quebec, perhaps testing the waters for an assault in the final week. In both cases, Dutch Kapers pulled back their assaults after witnessing Bourbon reinforcements arrive. The British forces moved out from Boston, bypassing the battlegrounds at Albany, hoping to take Fort Detroit with little contest. Unfortunately for them, Spanish forces landed at the same time. The battle went back and forth through the night. Though the British came agonizingly close to breaking through, the Spanish barely eked out a victory, preserving the fortress after one of the closest engagements of the week.
Despite British attacks on Neutral territory, The British-Dutch-Pirate Alliance was unable to claim any additional territory in the theatre, earning 13 points this week. The Franco-Spanish-Native Alliance took the opportunity to reinforce their holdings, and added Fort Detroit to further solidify their control of the region, earning 30 pints this week.
Caribbean
While the Franco Alliance focused on the North this week, the Anti-Bourbon coalition continued their strategy of dominating the Caribbean.
The Caribbean once again became the focus of the British-Dutch-Pirate Alliance, who committed 26 of their 34 troop points to an ambitious offensive across the islands. At the center of the campaign stood an all-out assault on Havana, where British, Dutch, and Pirate forces united in an attempt to capture the valuable Spanish capital.
While Havana rang with the din of battle, Pirate captains ranged freely across the Caribbean in search of weaker prey. With enemy forces heavily concentrated in the fighting further North, they sailed into Santiago de Cuba, Santo Domingo, and Laguna de Términos, seizing each port without resistance and dramatically expanding the British Alliance’s control of the region.
The French-Spanish-Native Alliance, by contrast, committed just 5 troop points to the Caribbean, supplemented by 2 fresh reinforcements from Europe. Rather than contest every British landing, they focused on reinforcing territories targets by Protestant forces.
The fighting around Havana proved every bit as fierce as expected. British cannon battered the harbor while Dutch marines and Pirate boarding parties stormed ashore under heavy fire. The defenders answered with determined resistance from the city’s formidable fortifications, and by day’s end the smoke of battle still hung over the harbor. As the day drew to a close, it appeared the British would capture the Spanish Governor and force the remaining defenders to surrender – but a Frigates with French Sails appeared on the horizon. The French Admiral had escorted a convoy of French fusiliers to the beaches of Havana. Though they had not expected to arrive at a burning Havana, they were able to flank the Dutch, Pirates, and British, and save Havana from falling. The capital still stays in Bourbon hands, but will it last for one more week….
The Pirates and Dutch worked together to take 3 uncontested islands this week, furthering the alliances hold on the region, despite the failed assault on Havana – earning the alliance 34 points in the theatre this week. The Bourbon Alliance were able to maintain control of their previously held territories, and earned 15 points this week.
Campaign Victory Points for Week 8
Both alliances in recent weeks have been set in their strategies – with the Bourbons focusing on the North, and the Anti-Bourbons focusing on snatching islands in the Caribbean. the French-Spanish-Native Alliance earned 45 points this week, for a total of 345 to date. The British-Dutch-Pirate Alliance picked up 47 points this week, for a total of 319 points. The British Alliance gained some ground this last week, but the French Alliance holds a healthy margin of 26 points.
Details of Team & Commander Votes
If you’re interested in how all the votes played out, here’s the data from this week’s 168 logged games. (In some of these tables, you see negative numbers. Our spreadsheets use negative numbers for British team control and positive numbers for French team control.)
- The French concentrated on reinforcing Quebec, while supporting operations around Albany and St. Johns.
- The Spanish divided their efforts between defending Fort Detroit and Quebec, while reinforcing St. Johns and Albany.
- The Natives supported the defense of Quebec, reinforced Albany, while also launching expeditions toward Cape Canaveral, and St. Eustatius.
- The French Minor Powers committed their support to Quebec.
- The British focused overwhelmingly on the assault against Havana, while also supporting the attack on Fort Detroit and operations against Santo Domingo.
- The Dutch joined the offensive against Havana, while launching raids against Quebec, St. Johns, and Laguna de Términos.
- The Pirates spearheaded the assault on Havana, while also capturing Santiago de Cuba, supporting attacks on Santo Domingo, and sailing on Laguna de Términos.
- The British Minor Powers added their support to the attack on Havana.
Above, you can see each of the locations voted highest by each national team. While the Bourbon Alliance stood firmly on the defensive in the North, the British Alliance wagered nearly everything on a decisive Caribbean offensive—setting the stage for one of the most dramatic weeks of the campaign.
Here we see the Commander and Admiral Actions – great unity of action from the British Alliance- nearly flipping Havana neutral – had it not been for the timely European reinforcements from the French Admiral foiling the assault.
And you can see the starting control of each location, the armies sent out from each alliance, and the control results in the tables above.
Oak & Iron Sea Routes
The Oak & Iron games in this campaign influence several sea lanes on the campaign map that grant alliances flexibility in redeploying troops and might even bring new troops in from Europe. The votes were very close in this contest, exactly canceling each other out in a couple of cases.
A running battle unfolded through the Windward Passage as French warships and Pirate vessels chased one another among the islands, exchanging heavy fire throughout the day. Though several ships limped away scarred from the encounter, neither fleet could claim mastery of the sea lane. Elsewhere – British and Dutch Ships patrolled the New England Coast, while Spanish frigates escorted trading vessels along the Florida Straits.
We’ve seen in multiple weeks the significant impact the Oak and Iron elements have had throughout the campaign. For the final week, sea-lanes will provide additional victory points detailed below, rather than bonuses on the map.
Control of a sea-lane at the end of week 9 rewards 2 campaign victory points. Control of both sea-lanes in a theatre rewards an additional 2 campaign victory points. For example- an alliance controls both Sea Lanes in the Carribbean at the end of week 9- they earn 6 victory points for their alliance (4 points for controlling 2 sea lanes, 2 additional points for controlling both lanes in the theatre)
Final Thoughts for Week 8 Summer of Plunder 2026
We’re headed into the final week of this year’s campaign! The British alliance did a good job narrowing the gap this week. But the French have been making smart decisions at every turn. It’s possible, but it will be a challenge for the British, Pirate and Dutch team to overtake the French, Native and Spanish defensive line.
Onward to the finale! Enjoy the last week of the campaign!
There will be another campaign update including prize winners, more pictures, and messages from National Commanders coming out in the next day or two.
But the entry form has been updated to reflect to the new possible targets for each alliance, the map has been updated, and we’re ready to roll the FINAL WEEK! Check in with your commanders, or better yet, start a conversation with your team and commanders in your Discord channel. Where should your team deploy their troops this week?
With about 170 entries, we are at about 1800 entries for the campaign so far. Let’s push it past 2000!
Bonus Campaign Rules Summary
If this whole campaign map system is still kind of mysterious/opaque to you, you can read the campaign system rules system here, or you can read Jason’s excellent short summary below:
Blood & Plunder and Port Royal Games
- Each point you earn from an entry includes the option to count as votes on the map.Votes determine where your Nation attacks or defends on the campaign map each week.They are the mechanism that converts player activity into map movement.Everyone in your faction is dropping votes all week long. Your Commander might say: “Everyone hit Charles Town this week!” or “We need to defend the Albany!”
If lots of players follow that plan, those locations rise to the top.Each Nation gets exactly 10 “Army Points” to spend each week, regardless of whether players logged 5 games or 500 games, but where the 10 Army Points are distributed is based on how the players voted. At the end of the week, the top 4 most popular locations determine the outcomes. - It’s a popularity-driven tier system. So for instance, the Dutch are awarding their 10 points as follows:
- 1st place – 4pts
- 2nd place – 3pts
- 3rd place – 2pts
- 4th place – 1pts
- There are 32 locations on the map at the start of the game (I think), but there are only 15 locations to possibly attack/defend out of the gate…
- To make votes effective, players must coordinate to ensure their chosen location places in the top tier, as votes for low-popularity areas receive no points.
- At the end of the week, new troops are placed by each of the 6 nations based on their top 4 votes (Dutch get 4, 3, 2, 1).
- Locations with troops from both alliances resolve combat (just add the numbers… British 12 troops vs 8 French… Brits win. 4 are left)
- Points are earned by what you control. Most points at the end = winning alliance.
Oak & Iron Games
- There are 2 “shipping lanes” per theater (4 now)
- 1st place – 2pts
- 2nd place – 1ptsAlliance Admiral Choice: 1 PointHigh score wins the lane. Ties give nothing.
- Control of Shipping Lanes offers the following benefits
- 1 Lane (In one Theater): The Alliance may move 5 armies within that theater (even if they aren’t directly connected to the ocean)
- 2 Lanes (In one Theater):
- Move 5 armies within the Theater
- gain 2 reinforcement armies from Europe
- It functions as a blockade limiting enemy movement in that theater.
- Own at least 1 lane in 2 Theatres:
- Move 5 armies between the theaters.
Or read his full article on tactics and strategy on the campaign map here.