Master and Commander boardgame

[Michael Ward]

Has anyone played the new Master and Commander movie tie-in boardgame? The
publishers website http://www.frontporchclassics.com/master/ only speaks
about the movie photo on the outside of the box. But I did finally see a
photo of the insides at Barnes & Noble's website
http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/03111311011/images.barnesandnoble.com/
images/7080000/7087874.jpg
The pieces look impressive (I guess that's one reason it costs $90). I just
skimmed through the rules at the publishers website (I didn't recall seeing
them there last week). I saw nothing that directly ties the game to the
movie. This appears to be a generic naval game. Not that there's anything
wrong with that. But if the public expects the game to mirror the movie due
to the photo on the box lid, they're being mislead. Some of the mechanics
reminded me a bit of the old (1963?) American Heritage game Broadside. But
that game paid no attention to the wind; this one does. Anyway, it looked
interesting, but I balk at the price tag. I wonder what it would have cost
with plastic ships and a cardboard box, instead of metal and wood
respectively.

-
Michael Ward
Fort Worth, Texas

[Justin Green]

Post by Michael Ward
Has anyone played the new Master and Commander movie tie-in boardgame? The
publishers website http://www.frontporchclassics.com/master/ only speaks
about the movie photo on the outside of the box. But I did finally see a
photo of the insides at Barnes & Noble's website
http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/03111311011/images.barnesandnoble.com/
images/7080000/7087874.jpg
The pieces look impressive (I guess that's one reason it costs $90). I just
skimmed through the rules at the publishers website (I didn't recall seeing
them there last week). I saw nothing that directly ties the game to the
movie. This appears to be a generic naval game. Not that there's anything
wrong with that. But if the public expects the game to mirror the movie due
to the photo on the box lid, they're being mislead. Some of the mechanics
reminded me a bit of the old (1963?) American Heritage game Broadside. But
that game paid no attention to the wind; this one does. Anyway, it looked
interesting, but I balk at the price tag.

Well, the same company's "Dread Pirate" has gotten very bad ratings on
the 'geek (although only a few have tried it). Maybe they have
learned from experience, but I've got to think this is a
quintessential try-before-you-buy game.

[Peter Clinch]

Post by Justin Green
Well, the same company's "Dread Pirate" has gotten very bad ratings on
the 'geek (although only a few have tried it). Maybe they have
learned from experience, but I've got to think this is a
quintessential try-before-you-buy game.

And/or an excuse to dig Wooden Ships and Iron Men out of the cupboard!

Pete.

[Tom]

I've played some wind powered naval miniature games in the past, fairly
fun...especially when the guy teaching the game figures he'll trash the
noob...except the 'noob' knows how to sail...

I've even got a box of small scale (1" to 3") long ships for that game
gathering dust somewhere..

Tom

Post by Peter Clinch

Post by Justin Green
Well, the same company's "Dread Pirate" has gotten very bad ratings on
the 'geek (although only a few have tried it). Maybe they have
learned from experience, but I've got to think this is a
quintessential try-before-you-buy game.

And/or an excuse to dig Wooden Ships and Iron Men out of the cupboard!
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel [phone] ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax [phone] Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK

[Chris Camfield]

On 20 Nov 2003 05:54:57 -0800, ***@yahoo.com (Justin Green) wrote:
[snip]

Post by Justin Green
Well, the same company's "Dread Pirate" has gotten very bad ratings on
the 'geek (although only a few have tried it). Maybe they have
learned from experience, but I've got to think this is a
quintessential try-before-you-buy game.

Well, some discussion forwarded from a Patrick O'Brien forum to rpg.net's
non-RPG games forum convinced me that the game probably IS better than "Dread
Pirate". Unfortunately rpg.net is down... but I recall - aside from some actual
wind rules - that there are various cards with events from the books etc. One
card was chain shot, as I recall.

There are only a limited number of these being made, FWIW.

Chris

[The Maverick]

Post by Chris Camfield
but I recall - aside from some actual
wind rules - that there are various cards with events from the books etc. One
card was chain shot, as I recall.

Wind rules and event cards do not a good game make... no matter what
the inspiration. The rules aren't that inspiring:

http://www.frontporchclassics.com/master/02027-MCRulebook.pdf

But hey - ramming attacks [pg 14], anyone!?!? ;-)

the Mav

[Kevin J. Maroney]

Post by Justin Green
Well, the same company's "Dread Pirate" has gotten very bad ratings on
the 'geek (although only a few have tried it). Maybe they have
learned from experience, but I've got to think this is a
quintessential try-before-you-buy game.

I've played Dread Pirate. It was dire--too complex and long for a
kids' game, incredibly random and tedious for an adult game.

[The Maverick]

Post by Michael Ward
The pieces look impressive (I guess that's one reason it costs $90).

Actually, the pieces look cheap for $90... Is this by that company that
makes those other games (i.e. the pirate one in the wooden box) that are
overpriced, and not very good?

the Mav