"On the Seven Seas - first impressions" Topic

Much anticipated but somewhat disappointing. Lets look at the positives.

Nice illustrations, an innovative Morale and Motivation procedure, a simple and effective naval movement and combat section, some campaign guidelines and a number of pre listed factions covering not only classic pirates and buccaneers but their victims, allies and oriental equivalents.

Negatives – no play sheet, simply references in the Shooting and Hand Combat sections to use the weapon and range factors listed 15 or so pages back. Lots of flicking pages unless you use just a limited range of weapon types or have a good memory.

What stands out most. A possible typo in the Shooting instructions. Roll a D10, then add (or as is most common reduce the roll depending on weapon and range) and hit on a 10 or above. Almost impossible with a musket unless you can upgrade to Sharpshooter (not available to all lists) and if using a bow at anything other than close range or firing at any kind of covered target no chance at all. Should be D12 roll perhaps. Otherwise why spend the points upgrading to firearms. Novelty weapons such as the Blunderbuss and Volleygun seem particularly effective as they have positive dice modifiers. Otherwise short range firing and hope for a D10 and then certain figures and or target situations generate savings throws (a 4 in 10 chance). So killing that officer in armour who generates 2 saving rolls will be very very hard indeed. Conversely, getting stuck in with sword or halberd seems very effective. Just need to score 4 more than your opponent.

Overall, I might use the Morale and campaign aspects and convert the figures to the more granulated melee and firing system used in the Osprey companion rules Ronin. Interested in your views. REgards Alan

Overall.

Would the naval combat and movement section be useful for small naval battles? I am more interested in that than I am in pirate skirmishes.

Well I'm disappointed to hear that, but thanks for sharing. I had high hopes for this one, and I can't seem to find a rule set I like.

Steve

@alan in canberra,
Other Osprey rules usually have things like play sheets or quick reference sheets on their website shortly after publication.
One of the free things you can get from the Nickstarter was Marcel the Monkey with the purchase of the rules. Are there any rules for monkeys?

First thing tomorrow!

Interesting you say there is no play sheet. The Osprey site specifically mentions a Quick Reference Sheet.

It's out? Who has it for sale?

Got my copy at Wintercon last weekend. Definitely NO quick reference sheet. And, as far as I can see, no rules for monkeys…. Regards Alan

Does it have ship to ship rules, as advertised previously, and if so, how do they look?

There are some basis ship v ship fighting rules but gunnery seems a prologue to boarding and hand combat rather than a game in itself. Vessels can be boats, galleys, sloops or ships. All have crew and gun limits. Looks like a bit of recordkeeping will be required unless your ship models are very detailed with removeable sections, guns etc. Firing is simple. Guns are Heavy opr light. Swivel guns are anti crew only. Each gun roll a D10 needing 5 or better to hit at 2 inches, 7 or better up to 8 inches and 9 or better at longer range. Roll again for effect deducting 2 if light gun. At ranges over 8 inches you can nominate rigging as a special target. Damage ranges from 3 or less – ricochet, possible wood splinters to figures within 2 inches (roll a further 9 or 10), to 10 Magazine hit (roll again for combustion. Regards Alan

I haven't seen these rules, but hitting an isolated foe with a single smoothbore musket at some distance was indeed very difficult. You need more shooters firing together, and/or to fire at a group, to have a chance to inflict any casualty.

Though the rules do not allow for this nor provide any advantage in doing so. Alan

If the game covers soldiers/militia/marines, who should be capable of issuing volleys, that seems like a major omission.

Have not played these rules but if you are looking for a pirate skirmish game I have switched to Donnybrooke. It works well and I am not a sock puppet. I just like the game.

Cheers

Joe

Does Donnybrook have rules for ship to ship combat?

Received my copy of these rules in the post today and I was disappointed considering how good ospreys IHMN rules were.

Is there any websites with errata or similar set up? As Alan mentioned above it seems ranged rules are roll 10 on a d10 to hit (making it impossible to hit if you have any negative modifiers) I don't mind simple rules but these seem a bit too basic.

There was no QRS in my Nickstarter. I have just sent an email to North Star asking about it. It does clearly state on the Osprey site a QRS is included.

You only kill the target on a 10, but you cause a fall back on an 8 or 9. The fall back results is like a pin and stops the target doing anything.
I don't have a problem with ranged combat being indecisive; surely one wants pirates to be engaged with cutlass and boarding pike, not sniping away at one another?
The lack of a QRS or a one page rules summary sheet at the back, or even an index, is pretty annoying, though.

Here ya go:

TMP link

Dan

No scenarios either, nice to have some pre-set ideas. Also the campaign map when you move does a space count as a dash on the path from one area to another? I assume it must.

GG

I received mine from Amazon this week. I have not played them yet, but I think they will make a good game between small bands of pirates . The shooting is not devastating, but neither were real muskets – especially at sea (damp powder, spray, pitching decks, hurried shots, etc.). The game has lots of factions and you find Marines are in the "17th/18th century Navy" faction – if you go with these lads, you can upgrade all marines to "sharpshooters" which increases their musket range to 12" and provides that +1 to hit – effectively hitting twice as often. I am looking forward to trying them out.

Lost Pict

Thanks for pointing that one out Dexter,it took me 3 reads of shooting rules to realise that line about 8 & 9 was all shooting weapons, not just the cannon that was the subject of the previous line.

Layout leaves a lot to be desired

That makes missile weapons's more reasonable.

I had a not so helpful email from Northstar saying I should go to the Osprey website to find what I want, namely the QRS. I have looked again, but cannot see one. I have now emailed Osprey direct. Maybe they will be more helpful.

The Osprey website lists the contest of the book:
Introduction
The Battle Rules
Characters
Naval Encounters
Campaigns and Adventures
Army Lists
Quick Reference Sheet

There is no quick reference sheet. Time for an email to Osprey.

Osprey unfortunately less helpful than Northstar, they haven't even bothered to answer my email.

So why is it that I pre-ordered from Amazon on the 4th of Jan and they still haven't dispatched my copy???

Has anyone played it yet?

With a little help from Google, I found where Osprey hid the QRS: link

Thanks Lawn that's excellent.

I did get an reply from Osprey eventually with that link.
Why they don't put it on the page which has all the rules I don;t know.

Somebody must have screwed up. Anyways problem solved.

The key question: If the ruleset has this many problems already, why bother with it?

I think it's a nice set, I read it and liked it. Then again I am not the most critical guy in the world when it comes to rules.

Any idea where the OTSS QRS resides? They previous link is dedad. Thanks.

Try here:
link