"Black Seas Questions" Topic

I have been looking at the Black seas line. I got the PDF Rule book and the rules look simple enough but with enough flavor for what I have in mind. What I want is some frigate actions with some unrated ships thrown in, I see I can get three sets with frigates and brigs, wish there were some sloop of wars and cutters too but maybe they will come later. The question is: are all the frigate cards the same or are there some named ones with better stats? I would like to get the feel of a 28 gun frigate up against a 36 gun.
the other though I had was to order the frigates and brigs and a USS constitution so can up two 5th rates and two brigs against the heavy frigate and a couple of brigs. Any thoughts

From my playing of the game I think that all particular ships of a class are generic with the exception of named ships (e.g. L'Orient, Royal Sovereign. Victory, Constitution et al.) which tend to have individual cards. Some others are named within the rule book; for example I think there is a Spanish frigate with particular traits.

However there is nothing to stop you knocking a dice or so off each ship gun deck if you wish or making a house modification.

As for the scenario, we did that with the Constitution and a brig against 2 frigates; messy up close….

In all seriousness it still depends on how well you position yourself to get a decent shot in without exposing your own ship too much. Its a good game for those of us who are new to sail with no knowledge of the intricacies.

cheers
Jon.

I was thinking that they kind of put themselves in a corner by calling the standard game frigate a 5th rate when compared to the brig it is more like a 28 gun 6th rate. like a french 8 pounder or RN 9 pounder. then they could use the "over gunned american frigates from the American navy as the 5th rates like the 32/36 gun 12 and 18 pounders.

DW,
They are all generic. I am working on coming up with my own stats. For now I am using 1 die for every 4 or 5 guns. Try that and see how it works.
For small ships Hagen miniatures seems to make some nice ones. I can't order any because they only do paypal Need to find someone who can order me a couple some time to check them out.

Cheers

Joe

1 dice per 4 or 5 guns is right, and I'm also doing cards for specific ships. I also think there needs to be a distinction between 18/24 pdrs and 32 pdrs. The latter should cause 3 damage, like carronades (and are only carried by ships of the line). That would make 3rd rates and 1st rates as devastating against frigates as they were historically.

Another Question: Some of the descriptions of the 3rd rate set indicate that there may be 2 card or two versions of 3rd rate, a large one and small. Is this true or is there only one set of stats for the 3rd rate SOL?

On the rule book, page 71, there are minor differences between a small and large 3rd rate. I think that is the only difference?
They are both 'L', but there is a difference in guns (no stern, 1C per side), damage points (64 not 74) and break points (22 not 24).

cheers
Jon