I just got into pirates, and already broke two masts building my ships. So I ask, do you take off the masts or have some other method to indicate removal of masts.

I was thinking pen and paper.

At my venue, we tilt the masts in place to indicate the removed masts. This can be a bit difficult with the junks and smaller schooners though. We also have found that turning our baseplates sideways is an easy way to mark a ship as derelict. I read one time about a group who used the tiny dice that come with the game to mark off the cannons on the baseplate card to show which masts had been removed.

Where are you pulling the masts from? I've taken apart and put together hundreds of ships, and the only mast that ever got broken was one that my wife put together when she didn't know what she was doing. If you hold them near the bottom of the mast and put it in on a diagonal, you shouldn't break them. Any way you keep track of it is going to be a ton harder than just removing them.

The first couple of masts I broke were my first ships I put together. I really don't want to brake any more of them. so thats way I'm looking into alternate weays to show a removed mast. :)

You could try using those really small/thin post it notes that come in a variety of bright colors.

As a WizKids Privateer when I host the events I've had this come up a couple of time. The issue is that the mast hast to be removed from the ship. In a WK Supported event I'd have to stand by that.

Hope that helps

- RF

Is there a reason that you have to take off you mast in a tourny? Or is it just a rule by WK, which it that case, can't you house rule it so you show it removed by other means? (ie pen/paper, small dice, tipping the masts, etc?)

I just saw a post about this at the WK board.

Posted by WEIRDWOLF
"Foam clothes pins. I think these are perfect. Buy the thin colored non sticky back foam at Hobby Lobby. Cut into small rectangles and add a slit. Color code them for each Faction. This is the fastest most non invasive method I have come up with to mark ships and easily recognized.
We were cutting out sticker material but that always had to have the backing peeled and I bite my nails so.... http://www.weirdwolf.net/markers/index.htm

Check them out and if you want to get real creative you could cut them in the shape of fire or an explosion"

This look like the perfect solution, but I'll have to try it first.

I aggree with alot of the people here in that it is very easy to break off the masts, on many different ship types. In my game group, we do remove the mast, as it is the best and clearest way to tell which ships have what amount of damage to them. And yes, sometimes if ones not careful they can break the masts. I think that you should try to remove them in a side-to-side motion, and install them in a diaginal postion. This will help to keep that breakage to a minimum. Plus the aesthetic look is awesome to see when you do hit yor opponents ship(s) hard.

another way I have heard of is this...

remember those lovely Rubber Bands we all used (some of you youngins still do) for braces... visit your local Othordondist and say "my kid need a few packs of rubber bands"

oplace those of the top of the mast to indicate...

When I get a new ship that I intend to keep, long before playing a game with it I punch out all the pieces and test-fit everything at least once. If any slots are tight I'll use a hobby knife to clean them out until the pieces do fit.

Then, unless I'm about to play a game using that particular ship, all the pieces go back into the card until they're needed. When it comes time to use it, I can be assured that everything will fit like it should without having to worry about breaking anything.