This game was played on 2/6/2016. It was a 60 point game, notable for being possibly the last physical game I’ll play with the first person I ever taught Pirates to (but maybe not the last!). Also, as part of the upcoming 10th anniversary of South China Seas, I’ve got quite a lot of South China Seas in my current traveling collection.
Jade Rebellion:
Grand Mountain + Dragon Eyes, helmsman, oarsman
Sea Wind + captain
Hansan Island + captain, helmsman, fire shot
Mixed:
HMS Victor + captain, oarsman
Templar + helmsman
HMS Clear Wind + helmsman
Scorpion + explorer
El Duque + helmsman, explorer
The setup featured the shipwreck cove, as well as three places to get gold. There were two coins placed on a beach on the same island where the home beaches were located. A few more coins were on an island near the main wild island, which lay in the cove.
Almost 10 years since the release of South China Seas, and the junks look as good as ever!
After the relative monotony of VASSAL pictures, it was refreshing and almost stunning to see this quality return!
The Duque grabs the nearby gold, while all the other ships make for the far islands.
Here the Sea Wind’s colors actually blend in well with the ocean.
The fleets converge on the main wild island:
The Sea Wind explores as the Hansan Island and Grand Mountain split up. All three Jade ships have captains.
The Jade Rebellion declares war! The Hansan Island sets the Victor ablaze, while the Sea Wind sprints for home and hits 2/2 on the Duque in passing.
The Victor repaired at sea, only to have the Hansan Island connect again with another fire shot! The Grand Mountain dismasted the Templar, and the Jades were doing well.
Dragon Eyes got busy capturing crew, but the Clear Wind rammed the Hansan Island derelict, ending that threat.
The Sea Wind returns for more gold, but loses a mast trying to go the shorter way over the treacherous reefs.
The Clear Wind has captured the Hansan Island!
The Victor hits the Grand Mountain, and the momentum is shifting!
The Grand Mountain fights back and captures the Victor’s captain!
As the Hansan Island is towed away, the Jade Rebellion is becoming surrounded.
The Sea Wind re-engages the Duque but fails to inflict damage and loses another mast to the reef! The Grand Mountain and Victor are locked in battle.
A great shot of the failed ram and board, and a good shot of the wrecked Flying Dutchman with her stern in the air.
As the battle rages, the Grand Mountain loses her oarsman.
The Duque rams the Sea Wind derelict! The Scorpion tries to sink the junk but misses.
The Duque captures the Sea Wind, while the Clear Wind drops the Hansan Island to help the Victor against the Grand Mountain.
The Jade Rebellion has only one ship left, and it’s doubtful that she’ll make it home safely. However, at this point she has 8 points of captured crew aboard in addition to 2 gold!
The Victor has fully repaired while the Grand Mountain slowly sails home.
As expected, the Grand Mountain has been cornered by the Mixed fleet. Note the unintentional (weak) line of battle sailing to the Mixed HI! They now control 7 of the 8 ships in the game.
Just a turn from her HI, the Grand Mountain is rammed and blocked!
The Grand Mountain shot a mast off the Scorpion, but the galley’s block meant she couldn’t get home…
After all that carnage, the Mixed fleet rammed the Grand Mountain derelict to end the game!
1. Mixed fleet: 19 gold
2. Jade Rebellion: 13
(If the Grand Mountain had just an extra turn to return home, it would have been 23-13 in favor of the Rebellion! Another great game!)