I would sudmit, the idea of creating in game biographical drafts, shot collections of notes and information concerning, our in game creations, at least for our primary character. Both Sawyer and I have had similiar thoughts about the matter, and I enclose a tentative draft of my own, primary game avatar/character to demonstrate, the concept we are advocating. We both hope it will add a bit of flavour and history to the La Marine Royale, and people will have fun creating their own "period" pieces.
NAME: Philip Martel
DATE OF BIRTH: May 31st, 1684 AD
PLACE OF BIRTH: Brest, Duchy of Brittany, Kingdom of France
OCCUPATION: Naval Officer - French Royal Navy
HIGHEST CAREER RANK HELD: Rear-Admiral (with seniority from 7/9/1720 AD)
PERSONAL HISTORY: Philip Martel, was born into a minor aristocratic, seafaring family in the port of Brest, France. A middle son, not much was expected of him, as his oldest brother would according to tradition inherit the family lands and title, while his next older brother was to be prepared for a career in the French Royal Army. Philip was abruptly motivated to take direct action and control of his affairs for the first time in his life to escape the unpleasant prospects of a possible and likely enforced religious career, which was not a life choice, the young Philip relished in any great degree.
Philip Martel, promptly ran away to sea, at age 16. Serving with several merchant captains and several different types of merchant vessels plying their trades from France to various foreign ports, from 1700 - 1704, Philip made the best of his way to the Carribbean Sea, where he volunteered for service with the French Royal Navy in 1705, when his the current ship made landfall at Pointe-a-Pitre. Philip, at the age of 21 was considerable older then most junior officer cadets, the majority started their careers at the tender age of 14 or 15, as volunteer midshipmen, until they were formally commissioned to serve aboard one ship or another of the French Royal Navy. However, Philip, being both fit and able, and possessing considerable sailing experience, gained "before the mast" rapidly progressed through the ranks.
Philip was considered by both his peers and his superiors to be a talented, competent and comradely officer and well-rounded administrator. In judgement and conduct he was noted for being contentious, sober and cautious. His wry sense of humour, and often blunt plain spoken honesty, was a particular hallmark, which delighted and often won the respect of his subordinates and crews, although sometimes ruffled the feathers of some of his peers and certainly those of some of his superiors. His naval service was largely, from 1705 until 1720, confinded within the corvettes, brigs, xebecs, polearces, and frigates of the French Royal Navy, in which he established a decided reputation for courage and capable ship handling, as well as a sound grasp of naval tactics. Only following his promotion in 1720, to junior flag rank, did Philip finally assume command of regular French Ships-of-the-Line, largely 4th Rate vessels, and less commonly 3rd Rate and 1st Rate vessels.
Currently, Philip Martel is primarily stationed in the French Floridian port of Tampa, although he has ships docked at Orleans, Grenville, St Augustine, and Brigdetown, and directs the activities of one of the numerous independent naval commands of the French Carribbean Sea Fleet.
