"Blood Bilge and Iron Balls rules review" Topic

Hi everyone.

I recently played a game of Blood Bilge and Iron Balls and liked it enough to write a review of it on the blood for other AoS fans to ponder over. Check it out why not at:

link

BBiB is a good AoS ruleset that provides a fun game overall. Most of the mechanics are streamlined and easy to pick up, and provides just enough historical flavor in the way that the ship operates, takes damage, makes repairs, and used the crew to make me feel like it's about sailing ships. What it gains in streamlining it looses other aspects that are typically in AoS rule sets; all ships of a type are the same, there are no rules for elite or poor crews, sailing is generic etc.. But these can be added with some simple house rules that I also discuss.
Overall, a recommended rule set for playing multiplayer games with each player controlling 3-5 ships.

-Stew

Stew,
For some reason your in-game pictures are not showing up on the blog.

thanks for your review. beauty is in the eye of the beholder. there were so many house rules needed I just went with Post Captain myself

Joe

Thanks BW, I hopefully fixed the images. Try again if so inclined.

@Joe; I have played PC and like it a lot, and it's by far a more detailed and better rule set. However I feel that PC tops out at about 3 ships a player, max and if you know what you're doing. It's also a pain to teach. I'm looking at BBIB more for conventions and such. 😀

Stew,
Oh, I've already been back again. It's just that I like gamer porn as much as the next guy, and your ships deliver that.

I've got BB&IB, but never did anything with them. You gave them a good review, and I'll have to go back and look at them again. I've never found the exact balance in fleet-level rules; there seems to be a desire to play as an Admiral while keeping enough detail to be a gun captain. Kind of like the old Empire rules, where you were a division commander who was worried about skirmisher placement.

Stewart
for conventions of casual gamers I agree they would do the trick. I also concur that PC tops out at 5 ships per player

thanks for the review and discussion

Joe

Thanks BW. I'm finding in my AoS gaming that more and more I like commanding a squadron for the issues that you highlight; you want some command and control but also some details of what's going on with each ship, and it's hard to find that sweet spot.

The other rules I am interested in trying out soon is Fire As She Bears, and maybe I'll get a chance to do so with all this quarantine… : )

@Joe, yes, I'd rather teach BBIB than PC at a convention. Pc has a lot of great stuff going for it but I find that the crew management aspects of each ship start acting like a rabbit hole the more I look at it. But it's been awhile since I played PC so maybe it's time to give it another go.

Stew

Thank you for a great review. Some reviews don't really convey a clear idea of how a set of rules play and what the strengths and weakneeses are. Your clear and thoughtful review does. :-)

Blood Bilge & Iron Balls seems similar to Kiss Me Hardy, but I don't know whether it really is or not. I should get myself a set for this extended period of quarantine we are all in.

I look forward to your review of Fire As She Bears. :-)

Thanks Admiral!

BBIB is a little similar to KMH in that it uses card activation, but that's mainly where it stops. I own and played KMH twice and was not overly fond of it. BBIB is certainly better written. Some big differences off the top of my head: KMH uses variable movement while BBIB the movement is fixed (ie, a ship with all it's rigging, at battle sail, and the wind coming from aft WILL move 6"). KMH uses turning circles and BBIB pivots on the spot. BBIB has generic crews while KMH English crews are better at everything.

My biggiest problem with KMH is the boarding rules. English crews are so good that the best tactic is to board the enemy right away and nevermind all this sailing and cannons. : )