author: Nicole J. LeBoeuf

Hullo! This is your weekly Puzzle Pirates report. If you are waiting on the weekly Friday Fictionette release announcement, that'll be showing up later on today because I kind of sucked at life yesterday. It is almost finished, it will be out in a few hours, everything will be fine. Meanwhile, we got blockades.

I also sucked at Seals, unfortunately--not a single one of my pirates achieved the January 2018 trophy. Better luck this month! The trophy trigger for February 2018 is completing 2 different expeditions (Imperial Outpost, Viking Defense, Buried Treasure Atoll, or Lost Shipwreck). Dunno about you, but I'm halfway done already, for one of my pirates anyway. Woot!

What else is new? Well, there's the January 29 client update. Looks like a lot of stuff related to faction bounties on Obsidian/Dark Seas, and some bug-fixes and seasonal content for all oceans. Click through for the full details.

And of course there are blockades! Full schedule below. Enjoy, have fun, pew-pew, etc.

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, February 3 ***

12:00 p.m. - Anegada Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (3)
Attacker: Pew Pew
Attacker: Lit
Undeclared: Black Flag

12:37 p.m. - Ashkelon Arch, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Pew Pew
Attacker: Spoon Republic

12:38 p.m. - Ambush Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Pew Pew
Attacker: Spoon Republic

12:39 p.m. - Tumult Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Pew Pew
Attacker: Spoon Republic

12:40 p.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Pew Pew
Attacker: Spoon Republic

12:40 p.m. - Pukru Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Pew Pew
Attacker: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Lit
Undeclared: Invicta

12:52 p.m. - Isla Ventress, Jade Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Sortilegio (1)
Attacker: T unit

3:04 p.m. - Jubilee Island, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Velt's Boiyz
Attacker: Who Gives A Sheet

6:21 p.m. - Polaris Point, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Velt's Boiyz
Attacker: Who Gives A Sheet

*** Sunday, February 4 ***

11:00 a.m. - Viridis Island, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Vanguard
Attacker: Dragon Lords

11:24 a.m. - Olive Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (1)
Attacker: Dragon Lords

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, February 3 ***

12:01 p.m. - Diastrophe Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (1)
Attacker: Pandamonium

12:09 p.m. - Terra Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Secrets of the Deep
Attacker: Tyranny

12:10 p.m. - Conglin Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Secrets of the Deep
Attacker: Tyranny

8:37 p.m. - Jorvik Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Secrets of the Deep

8:48 p.m. - Garden Cradle, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Secrets of the Deep
Attacker: Tyranny

So it's blockade time again, but I'm gonna be immersing myself in the pillaging game instead because I still want to earn the January Seal o' Piracy at least on some of my pirates. (Complete 10 each brigand and barbarian sea battles.) But you may have different priorities. Thus, the blockade schedule.

There are, at the current time, two islands that may be blockaded on the Dark Seas (Obsidian Ocean), and, by golly, they are being blockaded. Magpie Island, won last weekend by Consider It Sunk, is being attacked by Blame Brenda. The defense intent post proposes that you job for Consider It Sunk so that they may continue their island development plan, which includes fostering a monopoly on the frig market to prevent extraneous blockade attempts and the elitification of Obsidian. The blockade (attack) intent post simply promises to add island attractions and "rename all buildings to a less stupid theme."

Meanwhile, Loggerhead Island is coming under attack by Friendly Fire:

If we win, we will be dusting the shipyard for a bungalow (because the poor pirates need a place to live too). All other buildings will be replaced with weaveries so everyone can enjoy the best puzzle in the game.

Defenders are Amateur Hour.

Over on the Cerulean Ocean, the flag Tyranny has "scuttled" for BKs to attack a bunch of outpost islands. This is part of their strategy to protect large islands from BK attack--thus keeping blockades strictly PVP--by allowing BKs to own enough outpost islands that they don't spawn flotillas. I expect this means Tyranny won't be defending their outposts this weekend. Babylon isn't too pleased, accusing them of "self-serving interests" and of being "bullies and thieves," and have announced intent to blockade any Tyranny-owned islands next Sunday, February 4. So far popular opinion seems to be with Tyranny on this one, but we'll have to wait until next weekend to find out who gets more jobbers.

Scroll down for the rest of the schedule. Good luck, have fun, shoot cannonballs, earn PoE!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 27 ***

3:58 p.m. - Prolix Purlieu, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Velt's Boiyz
Attacker: Who Gives A Sheet

4:17 p.m. - Loggerhead Island, Obsidian Ocean
Defender: Amateur Hour
Attacker: Friendly Fire

4:24 p.m. - Magpie Island, Obsidian Ocean
Defender: Consider it Sunk
Attacker: Blame Brenda

*** Sunday, January 28 ***

12:00 p.m. - Anegada Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Jinx (3)

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 27 ***

12:17 p.m. - Chaparral Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Because I Can

4:02 p.m. - Iris Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Because I Can

7:00 p.m. - Frond Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Jinx (1)

11:00 p.m. - Orca Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Jinx (1)

*** Sunday, January 28 ***

11:15 a.m. - Park Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: The All-Consuming Flame (2)
Attacker: Because I Can

12:00 p.m. - Spectre Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Black Veil (1)

We've reached the final date on Cronus's Obsidian Blockade Plan with the much-anticipated opening of Magpie Island. Admiral Finius will defend it against all comers, declared currently as Consider it Sunk and Lion's Bane. (Links go to flags' blockade intent and island plans posts in the forum. The post by Lion's Bane includes interesting trivia about magpies.)

Worth a mention: On the Opal Ocean, Das As Team are moving in on two flags with absentee owners; no defender is listed for either Tumult-Insel or McGuffins Insel. So those islands are theirs for the taking unless another player flag should declare their participation. It's a valiant attempt to introduce some activity to a too-quiet ocean. In the meantime, they are defending Doyle-Insel against a small attack by the forces of Admiral Finius. (Fish-face's fleet is getting a real multi-ocean workout today!)

In other news, Demeter announces the twice-annual competition for ownership of Ice Ocean's Fort Royal. The upcoming decision date will be February 15th; if you are interested in competing, your crew must register by January 31. Of those crews that correctly register, the crew with the highest fame at decision time will receive the transfer of Fort Royal.

That's a wrap! Good luck, have fun, puzzle hard, shoot many cannonballs, etc.

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 20 ***

10:30 a.m. - Doyle-Insel, Opal Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Das As Team
Attacker: Flotte ihrer schuppig-charmanten Hoheit (1)

12:00 p.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Pew Pew

12:00 p.m. - Tumult Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Pew Pew

12:01 p.m. - Magpie Island, Obsidian Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (4)
Attacker: Consider it Sunk
Attacker: Lion's Bane

12:22 p.m. - Tumult-Insel, Opal Ocean
Attacker: Das As Team

12:23 p.m. - McGuffins Insel, Opal Ocean
Attacker: Das As Team

4:00 p.m. - Scrimshaw Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Lit
Attacker: The All-Consuming Flame (6)

6:01 p.m. - Ashkelon Arch, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (3)
Attacker: Pew Pew

*** Sunday, January 21 ***

12:01 p.m. - Loggerhead Island, Obsidian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Amateur Hour
Attacker: The Jade Empire (10)

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 20 ***

12:00 p.m. - Ostreum Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (2)
Attacker: Because I Can

It's Saturday! I'm late with everything, I'm pressed for time because [see below], but I am still going to bring you the weekend blockade schedule because that's how much I love you. Here are some highlights scavenged from the Puzzle Pirates Forums; for the full schedule, keep on scrollin' like a bad parody of an REO Speedwagon song.

On the Obsidian Ocean, there's only one island that can be blockaded at this time--and yes, it is being blockaded. Blame Brenda won ownership last weekend, and today they are defending it against Amateur Hour.

On Cerulean, Queen Auraluna will lead the Forces of the Resistance, i.e. Defiantly Deviant, in an attempt to wrest control of Napi Peak from the ghastly forces of Barnabas the Pale.

And over in here in Longmont, Colorado, the Boulder County Bombers are hosting an event blockade... er, roller derby mix-up tournament, I should say, although same thing really once you get past the cosmetic differences... ANYWAY, the four houses of Hogwarts will be skating against each other for ALL THE GLORY. Your humble chronicler will be skating under the Ravenclaw banner. If you're in the area, we'd love to have you in the audience. Doors open at 5:00 PM (Mountain Time) at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. Admission is $15 for adults and free for ages 17 and under.

PS. Jazz raised $819 for St. Jude, y'all. Eight hundred nineteen dollars. Hearts and flowers and rainbows!

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 13 ***

12:31 p.m. - Loggerhead Island, Obsidian Ocean
Defender: Blame Brenda
Attacker: Amateur Hour

2:04 p.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Bandera Roja

*** Sunday, January 14 ***

11:09 a.m. - Terra Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (1)
Attacker: Dragon Lords

11:32 a.m. - Harmattan Island, Meridian Ocean
Event: 1 round, nonsinking
Hosted by: Dragon Lords

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 13 ***

6:00 p.m. - Napi Peak, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Chthonic Horde (2)
Attacker: Defiantly Deviant

*** Sunday, January 14 ***

10:00 a.m. - Remora Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: The Enlightened (1)
Attacker: Because I Can

Welp, today's the big day: Loggerhead Island on the Obsidian Ocean, a.k.a. "Dark Seas," will be blockaded at noon Pirate Time so as to determine its first player-flag owner. It's being held by Admiral Finius for the purposes of giving everyone someone to fight. A whoooooole bunch of flags have tossed their hats in the ring, or war chests on the shore, or something. A couple have posted blockade intents, which I herein link for your education and amusement:

Amateur Hour - "Well, I accidentally clicked the blockade button to find out what it did, and it turns out we dropped a war chest? Oops?" Cool story, mate, I LOL'd, but I'm guessing, given y'all have an intent video and a detailed island plan, that this in fact a premeditated action. There will be trivia, random PoE bonus, and prizes. "Just be warned, we probably don't have a clue what we're doing. This is Amateur Hour after all." Heh. (Thread includes bonus detailed discussion of abovementioned island plan beginning with some feedback from a veteran colonizer.)

Blame Brenda - "I'm going to keep this simple because you are all smart people and know how islands work." What follows is an admittedly vague list of island plans which "will drastically change depending on how this affects the ocean's population." Realism for the win! BB too will be paying random bonuses and giving random prizes.

And speaking of Obsidian, check out the "War" tab on the Notice Board. It's got bounties!

Today is also the day when Jazz embarks on a 24-hour Sailing for St. Jude voyage! He's already at sea--tune in, jump on the Discord, say hi! Jazz has updated the thread again, adding details, stunning new graphics, an hourly schedule of events, and a selection of prizes on offer. Jazz attempted to get some Ocean Master buy-in for the prizes; when they declined, several pirates stepped in and made it a reality. The grand prize will be... the black and gold sloop "Record Breaker" which Jazz will be sailing on swabbie transport for 24 hours straight. "This prize includes a portrait with Jazz himself, all expenses paid." Visit the thread for links to the twitch livestream, the donation drive page, and... well, I don't see a link to the Discord channel, but the 7 PM event is "Coach Me! (Discord)" so I assume there is one.

Moving on to other oceans: The blockade schedules on Meridian and Emerald both feature simultaneous drops by one flag on islands held by a particular other flag. The simu-drop by Pew Pew on islands held by Lit (Emerald Ocean) is a thing of particular beauty. Or ambition. Or something. Cerulean's got just one event blockade, 7 rounds, underway as we speak. Even Opal's got something going on.

Jade's the only ocean with no blockades. You may have noticed it's been all but abandoned for... well, months. Years, maybe. I stubbornly keep my Serenidad active there, but most times I've logged on I've been the only pirate logged on. In light of this dearth of population and therefore economy, Pirate Protemius has proposed that the developers support those few who still play on Jade by waiving the requirements for Fine Rum, Grog, and Swill on pillages/voyages. This would not affect blockades, which would still require rum etc. (Caveat lector: I am not an expert or experienced translator and I make mistakes; please view the thread for the original post in Spanish.) Ocean Master Clotho has responded, saying that she has passed this proposal on to the developers. We'll see if anything comes of it. If so, I expect I know where my new favorite source of doubloons will be.

Lastly, Prometheus would like to remind pirates everywhere that before they try to login to the forums they should ensure they actually are on the forums.

We are aware of a link going around that redirects players to a web page that is an exact copy of the forum log-in page. In filling out this form, rather than logging into the forums, one is in fact unwittingly handing over their account name and password to a scammer. We have taken steps to identify and lock out those accounts that have been already been compromised to prevent any further damage to them. If you are the owner of one of these accounts please do e-mail our support department using the e-mail support form (http://www.puzzlepirates.com/support) immediately to confirm ownership of your account.

Always verify the URL of the website you're about to type your password into. Before clicking a link, verify in your browser's status bar where it's actually going. And be skeptical of unusual or unfamiliar browser activity, like unexpected popups prompting you for "authorization." If you see such a popup while traversing the forum, do not fill in the form. Instead, submit a petition in-game to the on-duty Ocean Master. "Petitioning an Ocean Master is always the best first step for this or any other forum problem."

Be sure to review http://yppedia.puzzlepirates.com/Account_security for more information on keeping your account secure.

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 6 ***

11:00 a.m. - Edgars Wahl, Opal Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Das As Team
Attacker: Flotte ihrer schuppig-charmanten Hoheit (2)

12:00 p.m. - Loggerhead Island, Obsidian Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (4)
Attacker: Amateur Hour
Attacker: Blame Brenda
Attacker: Illusion
Attacker: Consider it Sunk
Attacker: Friendly Fire
Attacker: Focus

12:00 p.m. - Pukru Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: The Enlightened (4)
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:00 p.m. - Sayers Rock, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:00 p.m. - Alkaid Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:00 p.m. - Scrimshaw Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:00 p.m. - Admiral Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:00 p.m. - Gallows Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:02 p.m. - Ilha da Aguia, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:02 p.m. - Ambush Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:02 p.m. - The Lowland Hundred, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:02 p.m. - Doyle Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Pew Pew

2:12 p.m. - Basset Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Sudden Revenge
Attacker: Poe In My Purse

7:00 p.m. - Napi Peak, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Puzzleholics Anonymous
Attacker: Trap House

7:00 p.m. - Windward Vale, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Puzzleholics Anonymous
Attacker: Trap House

7:00 p.m. - Havoc Island, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Puzzleholics Anonymous
Attacker: Trap House

7:00 p.m. - Surtsey Island, Meridian Ocean
Defender: Puzzleholics Anonymous
Attacker: Trap House

*** Sunday, January 7 ***

10:00 a.m. - Amity Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Black Flag
Attacker: The All-Consuming Flame (3)

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, January 6 ***

10:25 a.m. - Fintan Island, Cerulean Ocean
Event: 7 rounds, nonsinking
Hosted by: Tyranny

Ahoy! As you will recall, there are no blockades this weekend. Though brigand king scuttling is an explicit exception to the holiday blockade closure, no one appears to have taken advantage of it. Meanwhile, some event blockades have been scheduled for the next couple-three days, but those go beyond my remit to chronicle.

But there are other things to bother you with! Like this:

Remember Jazz the Twitch Streamer and the 24-hour Sailing For St. Jude event? Coming up on January the 6th? Well. The event notice has been updated with PRIZES on offer for...

• Top Donator
• Best Coach
• Best Cheerleader

Actual prizes still to be announced, but Jazz assures us there will be some. Check out the original post for details on how to qualify.

In other news, Lanlaiely has announced the winners of Midnight Yacht Club's jobber raffle, held during last weekend's successful attack on Admiral Finius at Hephaestus' Forge. Follow that link to see if your name is on the lucky list. If it is, you have until January 1 to claim your prize.

I think that's all--at least, that's all the news I can find on the forums. If you want more news than that, you better ought to make some yourself. Have fun this weekend and give the brigands a cannonball to the broadsides for me!

Ahoy! As scheduled some time ago, this weekend will feature the second blockade ever on the Obsidian Ocean. It'll be at noon on Triplet's Treasure--see below. (I finally updated my database this morning, so Obsidian blockades will show up in the schedule with all the other ones!) The faction of the winning flag will determine which island will be the first to open to player governance with January 6's blockade. If a flag belonging to the Defiant Armada wins, then it'll be Loggerhead Island. If a flag affiliated with Shadow Fleet wins, it'll be Magpie Island.

The winning flag will get no personal gain, mind you, other than a home field advantage in attacking the island at stake on Jan. 6 and, if they win it, defending it in future. At least one player has declared themselves less than impressed with the scenario: "It's sinking, and the results basically don't matter, so why even show up." However, as you'll see below, a respectable handful of flags have indeed showed up. Jobbing pay is currently between 1000 and 1500 PoE/Seg.

On the Cerulean Ocean, Babylon are attacking Fintan Island and Winter Solstice at 8:35 PM Pirate Time. At the same time, Tyranny, the defenders, had already agreed to transfer Winter Solstice to the flog Defiantly Deviant as part of their Christmas Island Giveaway Event. I suppose the transfer will only happen if Tyranny successfully defend.

Also on Cerulean, Midnight Yacht Club intend to take Hephaestus' Forge back from Admiral Finius. All Brigand King blockades are sinking; therefore MYC offers free healing of any unwanted injuries to their jobbers. They will also be holding a raffle.

Please note: All islands will be CLOSED to blockades over the holiday weekends of December 23 and 30. "You will still be able to scuttle brigand kings," Demeter says. If no one does and there is nothing to report, I may not bother posting. (Which will be entirely different from when I fail to post because life and schedules and argh, of course.)

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, December 16 ***

12:00 p.m. - Pukru Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Heavenly Waters
Attacker: The Enlightened (5)
Undeclared: Spoon Republic

12:00 p.m. - Drogeo Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Imperial Coalition
Attacker: The All-Consuming Flame (2)

12:00 p.m. - Triplet's Treasure, Obsidian Ocean
Event: 3 rounds, sinking!
Hosted by: Vilya
Participating: Amateur Hour
Participating: Art of War
Participating: Fanatical SOULS
Participating: Blame Brenda

5:58 p.m. - Kiwara Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Black Flag
Attacker: Revenge Is Sweet

6:02 p.m. - Duat Island, Meridian Ocean
Attacker: Poseidon's Guards

9:02 p.m. - Anegada Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Heavenly Waters
Attacker: Spoon Republic

9:35 p.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Illuminatti
Attacker: Spoon Republic

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, December 16 ***

12:00 p.m. - Napi Peak, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Chthonic Horde (1)

12:01 p.m. - Islay of Luthien, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Carpe Noctem
Undeclared: Tyranny

12:05 p.m. - Namath Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Red Ribbon Army

8:28 p.m. - Winter Solstice, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Babylon

8:34 p.m. - Fintan Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Babylon
Attacker: Blackstar

*** Sunday, December 17 ***

10:00 a.m. - Hephaestus' Forge, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Midnight Yacht Club

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, December 16 ***

12:00 p.m. - Pukru Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Heavenly Waters
Attacker: The Enlightened (5)
Undeclared: Spoon Republic

12:00 p.m. - Drogeo Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Imperial Coalition
Attacker: The All-Consuming Flame (2)

12:00 p.m. - Triplet's Treasure, Obsidian Ocean
Event: 3 rounds, sinking!
Hosted by: Vilya
Participating: Amateur Hour
Participating: Art of War
Participating: Fanatical SOULS
Participating: Blame Brenda

5:58 p.m. - Kiwara Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Black Flag
Attacker: Revenge Is Sweet

6:02 p.m. - Duat Island, Meridian Ocean
Attacker: Poseidon's Guards

9:02 p.m. - Anegada Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Heavenly Waters
Attacker: Spoon Republic

9:35 p.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Illuminatti
Attacker: Spoon Republic

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, December 16 ***

12:00 p.m. - Napi Peak, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Chthonic Horde (1)

12:01 p.m. - Islay of Luthien, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Carpe Noctem
Undeclared: Tyranny

12:05 p.m. - Namath Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Red Ribbon Army

8:28 p.m. - Winter Solstice, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Babylon

8:34 p.m. - Fintan Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Tyranny
Attacker: Babylon
Attacker: Blackstar

*** Sunday, December 17 ***

10:00 a.m. - Hephaestus' Forge, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Midnight Yacht Club

Ahoy and happy Saturday! Time to job some pirates, staff some stations, and fire some canons, 'cuz we got blockades. Click that link or just scroll down to see the full schedule.

Well, the full schedule minus Obsidian. And on that note, I should remind you that the next test of the blockade system on the Dark Seas will be next week: an Event Blockade on the island of Triplet's Treasure, hosted by the Oceanmasters' flag of Vilya, consisting of three (3) rounds beginning at noon (pirate time) on Saturday, December 16. Canons effective, maneuvers in use, alliances ignored, obstacles normal, and all ship types allowed. I think those are all the details... Anyway, you'll want to put that on your calendar.

Again, this is an Event Blockade. You're not gonna win an island here. Instead, the prize is determining which island will open to player-flag ownership for a January 6 blockade. If a flag belonging to the Defiant Armada faction wins, it'll be Loggerhead Island. If a Shadow Fleet flag wins, it'll be Magpie Island.

Also on January 6: Livestreaming for a cause! Jazz, Twitch Streamer extraordinaire on the Obsidian Ocean, will in fact be streaming for two causes.

First cause: to go on record as holding the longest puzzling session on record. Jazz will hop on sails at 3:00 AM pirate time and not dismiss the puzzle until 3:00 AM pirate time the next morning. (Exceptions: bathroom break, rechart the ship, that sort of thing.)

So that's the cause of bragging rights. The second and more important cause is for charity. This 24-hour puzzling session will be a fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital. Jazz hopes to raise $500 for that worthy cause.

Wanna help? Here's the donation drive link, and here is Jazz's Twitch stream.

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, December 9 ***

12:00 p.m. - Fugu Island, Meridian Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Argosy
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (2)

12:00 p.m. - Scrimshaw Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Lit
Attacker: Black Veil (6)

5:00 p.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Illuminatti

5:00 p.m. - Paihia Island, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Illuminatti

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, December 9 ***

12:00 p.m. - Kirin Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Tyranny

*** Sunday, December 10 ***

10:00 a.m. - Hephaestus' Forge, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (2)

10:00 a.m. - Islay of Luthien, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (2)

The Emerald Ocean is carrying almost the entire weight of this weekend's blockade activity, as it seems to do most weekends. The Meridian blockade schedule is as dead as Jade's, Obsidian's blockade scene hasn't properly been born yet, Cerulean's just got the one blockade (a defense against Admiral Finius), and what few scuffles there were on Opal's agenda have already ended. (To be fair, what few blockades wind up on Opal's agenda are usually already over by the time I wind up blogging. It's a time-zone thing.)

The majority of Emerald's blockades are attempts to wrest control of an island away from the Brigand Kings and back into player flag hands. They all involve fairly weak BK forces, each having just one unit of fleet might. Don't expect any of these to last long. If you're looking to haul sunken BK treasure, better job quick before all your opportunities are gone.

In other events, Cerulean flag Midnight Yacht Club would like to know what kind of events you're interested in. They plan to host several contests in the new year, and it would help to know what sorts of activities the rest o' you scallywags would be tempted to participate in. Meanwhile, they're holding a whisking event tomorrow for those pirates in need of dots on their maps. Though there will probably not be enough people from MYC online to staff a ship at every island, Lanlaiely proposes to be online and "hopping from island to island" from 2 to 4 PM Pirate Time on Sunday, November 26.

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, November 25 ***

12:00 p.m. - Bowditch Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Illusion
Attacker: Black Veil (4)

2:38 p.m. - Tumult Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (1)
Attacker: Spoon Republic

5:40 p.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Spoon Republic

9:06 p.m. - Cryo Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (1)
Attacker: Shadows of Sage

*** Sunday, November 26 ***

10:00 a.m. - Albatross Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Jinx (1)
Attacker: Symonds Says

11:03 a.m. - Manu Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Right Meow

11:47 a.m. - Ashkelon Arch, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King holds the island!
Defender: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)
Attacker: Heavenly Waters

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, November 25 ***

12:04 p.m. - Labyrinth Moors, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Red Ribbon Army
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)

This just in: The first blockade on the Obsidian Ocean is LIVE. Or will be at noon game time. CLOSE ENOUGH.

The location is Triplet's Treasure, but the island's ownership is not actually at stake nor will be any time soon. Instead, each of the three flags that come out on top will receive a prize: a nice new flag hall with a charm item out front.

This is a non-sinking, three-round event. All ship types welcome. Canons are real; alliances are not.

With less than an hour to go, the flags who have declared their participation and who are now accepting jobbers include... Amateur Hour, Lion's Bane, Blame Brenda, Fanatical SOULS, Art of War, Organized Crime, and For Fox's Sake (gasp! language! I see what you did there). More have probably joined in the time it took me to type that out. I don't know if there's an official pay cap, but right now I'm seeing no offers higher than 1,000 PoE/segment. Correction: Organized Crime has raised their job offer to 2,000 since I wrote this, and Consequence Free have joined in with an offer of 1,111. Clearly there is no pay cap. May the highest bidder get the most jobbers!

This is not reflected in the schedule below because I haven't actually added Dark Seas to my homebrew jury-rigged klugemonster of a PHP/MySQL interface that I use to collect blockade data and spit it out in a neat little list every week. So that'll be my homework for the week.

Anyway, be aware that this is indeed the first blockade ever on the Dark Seas, and as such IT IS A TEST. Things may go wrong! Technical issues may arise! Set your expectations accordingly and let the developers know what you think.

Back in the classic Puzzle Pirates world, the Meridian Ocean is silent thus far. Cerulean is chugging along just fine with a nice handful of varied blockade activity. Emerald's blockade schedule consists almost entirely of Spoon Republic scuttling around. Which is to say, they're running multiple and mostly simultaneous defenses against brigand kings up and down all the archipelagos. They're also getting attacked by Frank Town who exist, according to their public statement, in opposition to "the toxic members of the ocean."

Don't be a toxic member of the ocean, mmkay?

Standard reminders: Schedule is given in Pirate Time, or U.S. Pacific. Player flags link to Yoweb information pages; Brigand King Flags link to Yppedia Brigand King pages. BK amassed power given in parenthetical numbers, like so: (14). For more info about jobbing contacts, jobber pay, and Event Blockade battle board configuration, check the Blockade tab of your ocean's Notice Board. To get hired, apply under the Voyages tab.

Doubloon Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, November 18 ***

12:00 p.m. - Kakraphoon Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (3)

12:00 p.m. - Ventress Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (3)

12:00 p.m. - Cryo Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Jinx (3)

12:00 p.m. - Manu Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (3)

12:00 p.m. - Tumult Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Jinx (3)

12:00 p.m. - Albatross Island, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Jinx (3)

9:00 p.m. - Ashkelon Arch, Emerald Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (3)

*** Sunday, November 19 ***

10:01 a.m. - Ix Chel, Emerald Ocean
Defender: Spoon Republic
Attacker: Frank Town

Subscription Ocean Blockades

*** Saturday, November 18 ***

12:00 p.m. - Papaya Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (2)

12:00 p.m. - Diastrophe Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Blackstar
Attacker: Jinx (1)

5:18 p.m. - Eta Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Blackstar
Attacker: Babylon

5:20 p.m. - Fintan Island, Cerulean Ocean
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Tyranny

*** Sunday, November 19 ***

12:00 p.m. - Chaparral Island, Cerulean Ocean
Brigand King attack!
Defender: Babylon
Attacker: Fleet of his Imperial Scaled Highness (1)