Thanks for the thorough playthrough and final thoughts! Only two points of clarity: 1. You perform the Exploit action only after the treasure has been dug up (the last phase of the game). Until then, you don't have the option to Exploit - only Advance. 2. When you roll the doubloon icon on the attack die, you actually steal a doubloon from the player you attacked. Otherwise, I'm thrilled you mentioned almost every rule in the game! Yarr!!
Had the opportunity to play the game with the developer, was a really positive experience! After just a few rounds of getting a handle on the rules, the momentum builds and frenetic, savage piracy ensues! I know a lot of thought was put into hitting a balance of dynamic tactical decision making in each turn without it feeling stressful, and I really thought they nailed it. Also, while there are plenty of “take that” mechanics at play, each player will be given every opportunity to exact revenge for the entirety of the game. This lends itself to quite a bit of diplomacy, and forces the player to be judicious in delivering punishment.
When a ship receives enough damage to reduce them to 0 hull, they become a ghost ship. While a ghost ship, they cannot come about (turn around) - they only haunt the horizon by moving forward. They still play as a full character and can still win the game. They have a small advantage in that they can do extra damage, but they also have a disadvantage in that all their treasure is cursed, so they will not want to end the game as a ghost ship. The good news is they can redeem themselves and return to the land of the living, by recovering enough cursed doubloons and returning them to the island. I think that's about it! Obviously ghost ships cannot take damage or be repaired - they need to work to redeem themselves instead.
I had wondered if this one was a little too middling after seeing the Kickstarter. Really thought about backing it, as the components and theme looked great, but I could tell it would be a lot of money for a game that would get played like once and then never really thought about again.
Dear Tom and Sam, my congratulations for the great review. Please, in your opinion, what are the main differences between “Dead Man's Doubloons” and "Jamaica”? Thank you!
For me, Jamaica is slightly better looking and way more boring. It's a kids game really. Hardly any meaningful choices at all, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy a game of Jamaica with my family, especially with kids involved., but this is more of a gamer's game. Like Tom says in this video: "This is a step up from Jamaica" 21:48 Make no mistake thou, this is still a very light game.
As someone new to proper board games I'm shocked at the amount of rules in this game and others. Like this isn't even considered a complex game but you just ran through a solid 15mins of rules read at a quick pace
The base game CAN end quickly, as they mentioned. However, the advanced island (the reverse side of the game board) has a more epic finale that can go on a bit longer. The game was meant to feel fast and furious, so it definitely doesn't drag like others. But if you want that more epic feeling, play the advanced island!
Be sure to try all the optional modules and the advanced island... that's something Tom and team did not do, and I really think that impacted their overall reaction to the game. Most of the specific points he rose are directly addressed in those optional modules. I believe you will love it!
The coin on the die is not taken from the supply, it is taken from all the players you attack from that sector. And if you have 5 coins at the end of a round you must pay to become a normal ship if you are a ghost ships. And why is it wonky to activate one treasure map to let other people move. You can steal other treasure maps and stop them from advancing when you are advancing and you can activate a treasure map that a person closest to the treasure doesnt have. They are also worth points. You could have gone over in a clear and fast fashion the way you get points. I am missing a big chunk of the game. You also dont decide to become a ghost ship, like Tom said. If you sink another ship your reputation goes up so thats an incentive to attack other players. Reputation is worth points. It gives more ways to score points then Jamaica.
I think Tom just meant that you might favor attacking or hunting rather than repairing yourself, essentially "opting" to become a ghost ship. It *can* be a potentially strategic move, but in most cases you do not want to become a ghost ship - the downsides outweigh the upsides (intentionally).
Hey Zap - as the designer of the game and a lover of Black Fleet, I really need to assure you it's absolutely nothing like Black Fleet. There is no pick up and deliver in DMD, and there is no action programming in BF. DMD has boarding, stealing, pillaging, hunting for buried treasure, captain duels, set collection with relics, tribal ruins, water regions with effects, different types of attacks, multiple end-game scenarios, and so much more. I can say very honestly, since I do love Black Fleet (proud owner of a beautifully hand painted set), that aside from the fact they can both be played in about an hour, there's little else that bears resemblance.
Thanks for the thorough playthrough and final thoughts! Only two points of clarity: 1. You perform the Exploit action only after the treasure has been dug up (the last phase of the game). Until then, you don't have the option to Exploit - only Advance. 2. When you roll the doubloon icon on the attack die, you actually steal a doubloon from the player you attacked. Otherwise, I'm thrilled you mentioned almost every rule in the game! Yarr!!
Jason Miceli hey!! Do you have a summary of the rules???!! Thanks 😊
Deluxe added Metal Coins, Acrylic Gems with Bag, Kickstarter version also has Metal First player coin .
Had the opportunity to play the game with the developer, was a really positive experience! After just a few rounds of getting a handle on the rules, the momentum builds and frenetic, savage piracy ensues! I know a lot of thought was put into hitting a balance of dynamic tactical decision making in each turn without it feeling stressful, and I really thought they nailed it.
Also, while there are plenty of “take that” mechanics at play, each player will be given every opportunity to exact revenge for the entirety of the game. This lends itself to quite a bit of diplomacy, and forces the player to be judicious in delivering punishment.
I might have missed, but i think that Sam forgot to explain how you become a ghost ship and what it means in the game
When a ship receives enough damage to reduce them to 0 hull, they become a ghost ship. While a ghost ship, they cannot come about (turn around) - they only haunt the horizon by moving forward. They still play as a full character and can still win the game. They have a small advantage in that they can do extra damage, but they also have a disadvantage in that all their treasure is cursed, so they will not want to end the game as a ghost ship. The good news is they can redeem themselves and return to the land of the living, by recovering enough cursed doubloons and returning them to the island. I think that's about it! Obviously ghost ships cannot take damage or be repaired - they need to work to redeem themselves instead.
This feels like it needs a little streamlining (like Second Tide). So much potential here.
I had wondered if this one was a little too middling after seeing the Kickstarter. Really thought about backing it, as the components and theme looked great, but I could tell it would be a lot of money for a game that would get played like once and then never really thought about again.
You’re more often than not, not going to be able to do nothing, you’re going to be able to do something. Thanks for clearing that up Sam! Lol!
Dear Tom and Sam, my congratulations for the great review. Please, in your opinion, what are the main differences between “Dead Man's Doubloons” and "Jamaica”? Thank you!
For me, Jamaica is slightly better looking and way more boring. It's a kids game really. Hardly any meaningful choices at all, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy a game of Jamaica with my family, especially with kids involved., but this is more of a gamer's game. Like Tom says in this video: "This is a step up from Jamaica" 21:48
Make no mistake thou, this is still a very light game.
finally something interesting will be watching this oout whats the release date and MSRP?
It will be available in March, 2018, with an MSRP of 50 Euros. Cheers!
As someone new to proper board games I'm shocked at the amount of rules in this game and others. Like this isn't even considered a complex game but you just ran through a solid 15mins of rules read at a quick pace
This is very normal for designer games. This is a whole new world.
Nothing's like Black Fleet :)
Does is screech to a halt though
The base game CAN end quickly, as they mentioned. However, the advanced island (the reverse side of the game board) has a more epic finale that can go on a bit longer. The game was meant to feel fast and furious, so it definitely doesn't drag like others. But if you want that more epic feeling, play the advanced island!
Definitely looks like something I would probably like, but I'm not sure that I want to try it more than I want to try Jamaica, though.
Try them both? XD
Jamaica is super fun. Very light though.
I expected a better review of this game. I hope it's not going to be a half let-down.
Be sure to try all the optional modules and the advanced island... that's something Tom and team did not do, and I really think that impacted their overall reaction to the game. Most of the specific points he rose are directly addressed in those optional modules. I believe you will love it!
Tom Paulussen so did you love it?
The coin on the die is not taken from the supply, it is taken from all the players you attack from that sector. And if you have 5 coins at the end of a round you must pay to become a normal ship if you are a ghost ships. And why is it wonky to activate one treasure map to let other people move. You can steal other treasure maps and stop them from advancing when you are advancing and you can activate a treasure map that a person closest to the treasure doesnt have. They are also worth points. You could have gone over in a clear and fast fashion the way you get points. I am missing a big chunk of the game. You also dont decide to become a ghost ship, like Tom said. If you sink another ship your reputation goes up so thats an incentive to attack other players. Reputation is worth points. It gives more ways to score points then Jamaica.
I think Tom just meant that you might favor attacking or hunting rather than repairing yourself, essentially "opting" to become a ghost ship. It *can* be a potentially strategic move, but in most cases you do not want to become a ghost ship - the downsides outweigh the upsides (intentionally).
One hook up? Glad I didn't pull the trigger on this one.
Seems kind of like Black Fleet to me.
Hey Zap - as the designer of the game and a lover of Black Fleet, I really need to assure you it's absolutely nothing like Black Fleet. There is no pick up and deliver in DMD, and there is no action programming in BF. DMD has boarding, stealing, pillaging, hunting for buried treasure, captain duels, set collection with relics, tribal ruins, water regions with effects, different types of attacks, multiple end-game scenarios, and so much more. I can say very honestly, since I do love Black Fleet (proud owner of a beautifully hand painted set), that aside from the fact they can both be played in about an hour, there's little else that bears resemblance.