Sail Ho!: Napoleonic Ships Game

Sail Ho! Napoleonic Ships Game

These Rules have been written to provide a Fast-Play set in which the fun aspect is highlighted. A game can be single ship to ship combat, or larger Fleet actions, and can run from a half to a couple of hours depending on the size of the Fleets and experience of the players. Several Fleets and multiple players can easily be incorporated.

The Movement system is Hex based, eradicating those minor tweaks and disputes bought about by rulers and angle markers. Ship types are generalised into three levels of Rated and several non-rated types, and include Frigates, fire ships, Bomb ketches, merchantmen and fortifications. Playing counters and sample Fleets are provided.

Combat includes exchanging cannon fire and grappling the enemy to board with Marines!

The effects of wind direction, day or night actions and accumulated damage is represented by various simple mechanisms that are easy to learn, yet hold subtle variations that an experienced gamer can exploit.

There is little record keeping, other than moving counters on a board, so the main focus can be kept on the models on the playing table. It is an I-Go-Y-U-Go turn system that prevents individual ship orders and snarl-ups, but does mean you have to keep your wits about you!

The Rules are originally intended for Napoleonic period ship combat, but can easily be used for other periods in which projectiles are the main offensive weapons, as opposed to the ramming tactics of earlier navies.

—description from the publisher