I just sat down and played a solo game of Blackbeard, a recent reprint/redesign from GMT of an old AH title.
It's fun, somewhat random, and would have been more appropriate a couple of days ago. On the other hand, I just managed to get Blackbeard to completely scoop the game, amassing 175 VPs (that's a lot). The poor system pirates really didn't do very well comparatively (about 30 VPs in total).
The redesign is a card-driven game, with little cardboard counters for your pirates, the merchants you prey upon, the warships and King's Commissioners who try to stop you, and other nice things (like hostages). It's played on a map of the Caribbean, Americas, Gold Coast and India.
The game handles 1-5 players, each who controls one or more pirates as they search for fame and fortune.
Have you played the AH version? I really enjoy it but the amount of rule fiddliness makes it a major undertaking to finish even a 2 player game in under 4-6 hours. Thats just a little much in todays age. I was wondering if the new rules streamlined things enough. I have downloaded the rulebook but without actually playing it is hard to tell.
Have you played the AH version? I really enjoy it but the amount of rule fiddliness makes it a major undertaking to finish even a 2 player game in under 4-6 hours. Thats just a little much in todays age. I was wondering if the new rules streamlined things enough. I have downloaded the rulebook but without actually playing it is hard to tell.
DS
Although I haven't played the AH version, I can assure you that it's been much, much, much streamlined. For starters, the map no longer uses hexes!
A multiplayer game should be possible in under two hours under the new system.
Thanks for the update Merric. I'm curious, I noticed a bit of grousing on BGG that it wasn't up to par, so I was wondering whether you thought it was what you expected it to be?
Thanks for the update Merric. I'm curious, I noticed a bit of grousing on BGG that it wasn't up to par, so I was wondering whether you thought it was what you expected it to be?
Hmm... difficult question. I think the initial release of the revised Blackbeard was mostly fine, but then the designers started actually reading the rules they'd published and going "huh?"
The new rules have just been published on the GMT site (and will be shipped with the reprint) and fix up a bunch of problems I had with the game. It's difficult for a pirate to actually be successful, but we've always had a lot of fun playing the game (and you control more than one pirate in any case).
Hmm... difficult question. I think the initial release of the revised Blackbeard was mostly fine, but then the designers started actually reading the rules they'd published and going "huh?"
The new rules have just been published on the GMT site (and will be shipped with the reprint) and fix up a bunch of problems I had with the game. It's difficult for a pirate to actually be successful, but we've always had a lot of fun playing the game (and you control more than one pirate in any case).
Cheers!
We have yet t ofinish this game. The setup and rules are massive. We have begun setting it up twice and it was too daunting to finish. Sad because it looks fun.
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