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Top 10 Age of Sail boardgames...

Wilson09

By Wilson09
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Wilson09 Lieutenant

Wilson09

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Having ended my "nasty" pirate life in NA for now (retired captain), I am surely not finished

with the Age of Sails.

 

So, having followed the history thread carefully (thanks to the great work there, I ordered some books),

I was tempted to put the topic in there, but maybe, it fits better in here.

 

Always been an "wargamer", both at PC and on the board, I must admit, I don´t own ANY Age of Sails boardgames.

This needs to change. Boargamegeek.com still being the best source...my questions are:

 

1. Does anyone of you guys have any experience with these games?

2. Is the boardgame-list covering the Age of Sails period final or did I miss out on anything?

3. Anyone interested sharing the experience? (I might start to look out for a group here, but not easy to find

players who especially want to play Naval games...)

 

I know the GMT games, they are good, so Flying Colors my favorite,

would like to test it right now...

 

 

a. Age of sail, 1984

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/39730/age-sail

 

b. 1805: Sea of Glory, 2009

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23685/1805-sea-glory

https://boardgamegeek.com/collection/items/boardgame/23685?comment=1

 

 

c. Flying Colors, 2005

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8730/flying-colors

https://boardgamegeek.com/collection/items/boardgame/8730?comment=1

 

 

pic804598_md.jpg

 

 

pic1920408_md.jpg

Edited by Wilson09
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Barbancourt Commander

Barbancourt

Posted
Posted

I've been trying to learn Flying Colors now and then.  I love the old school hex-and-counter war games.  I picked up the expansion based around the Russian fleet and battles with Turkish and Baltic neighbors.  Unfortunately it's hard to find other people as enthused by spending hours moving around little tagboard counters and battling like it's 1979.  ;)  The people I know want to play "x-wing" type stuff.  :/

surfimp Lieutenant

surfimp

Posted
Posted

You've somehow not heard of Sails of Glory?

 

http://www.aresgames.eu/games/sails-of-glory-line

 

Uses a nice card-based maneuver mechanic, similar to X-Wing's cardboard template (in fact, X-Wing based their template on the Wings of Glory / Sails of Glory model).

 

The ships look nice and come premade and ready to use out of the box. They are plastic, very durable, look good and are easy to fix.

 

The rules have a variety of levels of complexity from basic to standard to advanced, with additional optional rules which can be added to taste.

 

There are a variety of ships on offer from small Sloops of War (similar to NA's 5th and 6th rates) up to 1st rates, including the Victory, L'Ocean, etc.

 

Basic starter set comes with 4 ships and is a great way to get going. Lots of cool accessories available. Lots of fun to play, with easy learning curve. It's very much Naval Action on the tabletop.

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Wilson09 Lieutenant

Wilson09

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Posted (edited)

You've somehow not heard of Sails of Glory?

http://www.aresgames.eu/games/sails-of-glory-line

 

Uses a nice card-based maneuver mechanic, similar to X-Wing's cardboard template (in fact, X-Wing based their template on the Wings of Glory / Sails of Glory model).

 

 

Oh boy, this makes me crying. I played many, many battles of WINGS of GLORY with my best friend back in 2006/07.

I still have my British box, he played German, he both designed the boxes.

He died of cancer recently, only being aged 51.

 

That´s why I did not hear of it !

It is not easy to find players.

 

But many, many thx for telling me. I am 100% sure, I am to get the STARTER PACK !

 

Now, I need to look out for some gamers around Franfurt /Germany....

Edited by Wilson09
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Wilson09 Lieutenant

Wilson09

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I've been trying to learn Flying Colors now and then.  I love the old school hex-and-counter war games.  I picked up the expansion based around the Russian fleet and battles with Turkish and Baltic neighbors.  Unfortunately it's hard to find other people as enthused by spending hours moving around little tagboard counters and battling like it's 1979.  ;)  The people I know want to play "x-wing" type stuff.  :/

Expansion, this one?

Blue Cross, White Ensign: The Imperial Russian Navy during the Age of Sail ??

 

http://www.amazon.com/GMT-Games-Cross-White-Ensign/dp/B00SCEW39C/ref=pd_sim_sbs_21_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=518m3JllbsL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL320_SR240%2C320_&refRID=0D35RTRH5CAV4BH5REB1

 

Maybe, I first need to find player...

Wilson09 Lieutenant

Wilson09

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  • Author
Posted (edited)

Close Action   is a must for any age of sail enthusiast.  

 

Oh, thx. I put it on my Boardgamegeek wishlist.

And there i find....

1805: Seas of Glory

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23685/1805-sea-glory

http://www.amazon.com/GMT-Games-1805-Seas-Glory/dp/B003WZN43A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461110670&sr=8-1&keywords=1805%3A+sea+of+glory

 

Maybe, I should get all of them:

Sails of Glory starterpack,

Flying Colors,

Close Action &

1805: Seas of Glory

 

---------------

Funny, my boardgamegeek wishlist shows 92 boardgames I "wish to have" !

 

And I own only 5 !

Maria (2009)
 
And 3 of them are unopened... :wub:
 
Edited by Wilson09
Barbancourt Commander

Barbancourt

Posted
Posted

You've somehow not heard of Sails of Glory?

 

http://www.aresgames.eu/games/sails-of-glory-line

 

  I do know of that one, and gave it some thought, but with limited resources I have my money and time invested in the old school 1970's style games already.  Lots of nostalgia from playing those hex-and-counter games long ago.  All I need is a dimly lit basement with wood panelling, a vintage stereo and to finish my tiki bar...    ;) 

 

  Yeah, Blue Cross White Ensign is the Flying Colors Russian expansion.  I don't think I have the other expansions yet. 

  • Like 1
Wilson09 Lieutenant

Wilson09

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One day, I come over to your place, and play you off the table rownd... ;)

 

Oh, here is my loved "teaser" for 1805: Seas of Glory...enjoy !

 

ENGLAND expects that every man will do his duty !

 

surfimp Lieutenant

surfimp

Posted
Posted

I will add that I picked up Osprey's Fighting Sail and wasn't too impressed. It's more oriented to fleet actions, so maybe it shines there, but coming from a Sails of Glory / Naval Action perspective (focus on single or just a few ships per player), it just seems to make all the ships too much alike one another in performance / etc.

 

I've still never played WSIM or Close Action, both of those are classics and I'd like to play them if for no other reason that completeness's sake.

Wilson09 Lieutenant

Wilson09

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  • Author
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http://sailsofglory.org/showthread.php?3355-Overview-of-Osprey-s-quot-Fighting-Sail-Fleet-Actions-1775-1815-quot

http://www.amazon.de/Fighting-Sail-Actions-1775-1815-Wargames/dp/1472807707

 

So, I put this one on the list....

Sails of Glory starterpack,

Flying Colors,

Close Action 

1805: Seas of Glory &

Fighting Sail - Fleet Actions 1775-1815

 

Not a bad research and collection so far...good work guys...

Pagan Pete Lieutenant

Pagan Pete

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Posted

Lets never forget the Great battle of Bathtub Sea! Which took place between the Island of Right & Scabby Knee.

 

The bubble-fog was thick that day, and many a shipwrecked sailor were lost to the terrible plastic shark…  :o

  • Like 1
Rosebud Able seaman

Rosebud

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Posted

You and your friends gather at their parents house as the sun dies. There in the extra room, the table is covered in a board game. Chits are moves, rules are read, arguments ensue, moves are made, dice are thrown. Ahhhh how I miss those nights.

  • Like 4
DeRuyter Commander

DeRuyter

Posted
Posted

Here is the forum website for Sails of Glory:

 

www.sailsofglory.org

 

I have run some squadron actions at miniatures wargame conventions with it. I would point out that it is more of a miniatures game than board game as is Close Action and Fighting Sail from Osprey.

 

Sea of Glory is a strategy or operational level game. The author does have a set of rules for tactical fleet battles called "Fire As She Bears", again a miniatures game.

 

Good Luck with your search!  If you need funds for your collection of age of sail boardgames you could always sell your copy of "Napoleon's Triumph"!

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Raymond Woolstone Landsmen

Raymond Woolstone

Posted
Posted

well, i have not played these boardgames myself, but i know of two:

 

Merchants & Marauders  https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25292/merchants-marauders

Black Fleet  https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/157403/black-fleet

 

if, you dont mind a totaly unrealistic approach you might want to take a look at Dreadfleet  https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/108722/dreadfleet

now dread is a hate/love game. some likes it for what it is(stand alone skirmish game)others dont like it for the lack of support or greater replayability value.

i find it to be quite fun to play but then again, i am a casual wargamer, not a comp player.

  • 2 months later...
Jack MacNeill Landsmen

Jack MacNeill

Posted
Posted

If anyone wants to know anything about 1805: Sea of Glory, send me a PM.  I'm the Living Rules Editor (i.e. I wrote the latest rules) for it and have written a new scenario and variant rules, among other things.

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