Ben

Would the main boarding ability be in addition to any other possible boarding win options? Would the SoI be able to use that ability and then either take or eliminate a treasure and eliminate another crew?

No, it would be instead of, similar to how the Massacre ability works.

I’m not sue how often that second ability will come into play, since I d…

[Read more]

Slaughter of Innocents
Type: Ship
Faction Affiliation: Cursed
Rarity: LE
Point Value: 28
Number of Masts: 10
Cargo Space: 4
Base Move: S
Cannons: 6L-5L-4S-3S-2S-1S-1S-3L-5S-5S
Ability: Junk. Fear. If this ship wins a boarding party, eliminate all crew with a point cost of 4 or less. When this ship docks at an island, eliminate all non-Cursed crew…[Read more]

Sounds quite unique.  Nemo’s Plans makes that Nautilus very OP, so I’d be inclined to simply avoid her.

For a variety of reasons I may not be posting to this thread every day going forward. Part of the reason I started the “Hcustom of the day” series is so Xerecs and I would have enough historically accurate options for The Caribbean Game. That game has been completely inactive so there is little incentive to create more historical customs that may…[Read more]

It may not really work with this game, but I do like the idea of a variable turn order system.

I do like how it could make things less predictable, but I think it could give rise to some OP situations.  I’m thinking of a player going last on one round, then first in the next round to essentially have a double turn.  Imagine that with Saccing – 4 c…[Read more]

Time to double up.

Odin’s Mortar
Type: Ship
Faction Affiliation: Viking
Rarity: U or R
Point Value: 9
Number of Masts: 1
Cargo Space: 0
Base Move: T
Cannons: 3L-3L-3L-3L
Ability: Flotilla. Extended Range. This ship’s cannons cannot hit targets unless they are outside of the normal range of the cannon. When this ship hits an enemy ship, inflict…[Read more]

The episode has happened!

Pirates CSG Podcast #42: MIKE SELINKER, Pirates CSG Game Designer!!!!
You can listen to the audio via ShoutEngine!

You can also listen on Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/PiratesCSGPodcast42MikeSelinker

Mike Selinker is one of the original game designers of Pirates CSG.

His company, Lone S…[Read more]

Skull Valley
Type: Fort
Faction Affiliation: Pirate
Rarity: C
Gold Cost: 5 gold
Cannons: 4L-4L-4L-4L-4L
Ability: Extended Range. This fort ignores the first hit she takes each turn as long as she has all of her flags. This fort must be built on the center of its wild island.

Flavor text: A true pirate stronghold, the Skull Valley is located on an…[Read more]

LIVE: Pirates CSG Podcast #42: MIKE SELINKER, Pirates CSG Game Designer!!!!

Ben, what would you use the S boarding ability for? I’m not sure what the utility for it is, or if it’s important enough to warrant getting Le Gaule. Can it be used in conjunction to a normal board, so you can effectively board twice?

Yes indeed.  Check out the Pirate Code entry on page 18.  You can board twice in a turn.  Also: “-This ability…[Read more]

Indirectly, it would also limit the potential scope of the game because you’d be limited to the size of the sheet or board the grid was printed on. Playing across a huge table or even the floor would be difficult if not impossible without making your own custom grid.

Yet another reason I could never support a hex system for Pirates!  😀

Thanks fo…[Read more]

To be fair, L’Aube is definitely worse than the other two.  Lower max speed, worse cannons overall (basically 3L’s), and quite boring/nothing distinctive.  I don’t think Barbinais is any more effective on the Aube than on the other two, other than maybe the L range guns.

I also don’t think it really has a more useful ability.  Sure it’s te…[Read more]

I made this pair quite a while ago; it is time to reveal one of the biggest and craziest things in the set!!

Notion of Grandeur
Type: Ship
Faction Affiliation: Mercenary
Rarity: LE
Point Value: 46
Number of Masts: 10
Cargo Space: 7
Base Move: S+S
Cannons: 2S-2S-3L-3L-3L-4L-4L-4S-5S-5S
Ability: Mercenary. Junk. Treasure Ship. Dories.
Link: John…[Read more]

I ranked the Gaule ahead and although I stand by that, it’s very close actually.  Charlemagne is a little better as a hybrid (1 more cargo) while the Gaule is a little better as a gunship (1 more 2S vs 3S cannon).  I like S-boarding better than boring boarding bonuses, but it’s risky.  It slightly enhances the Gaule’s overall striking range (up…[Read more]

I think the Cursed make the game more interesting, I wasn’t a fan for a long time but I’ve just gotten used to them.  I just wish they had gone less crazy with the sea creatures and pokeships.

Banshee’s Cry moves L+L+S with a helmsman with 3 cargo spaces open for 5 points.  There are counters but she’s as OP as it gets.  One thing that fr…[Read more]