Today, at Phil's suggestion, we got Galleys and Galleons out again...its been a while and we struggled to relearn the rules! - still, we had a couple of fun games and I think we have the rules sorted in our minds again!
Our first game...to relearn the rules...was the Treasure Hunt scenario, where we each had a Xebec and a galley, we had 6 turns (not enough!) to land on each of the sandy islands and the winner would be the player with the most treasure!
Our typical force (These were mine)
The 'Terrain'
Phil started opposite me.
...and Lawrence to my right!
I started detaching my galley to check 'Castle Island'.
Phil was quickly at his first island.
His landing party returned with a boat full of Luvverly treasure!
My Galley sent a boatload of greedy sailors ashore...
but they ended up as lunch for the locals!
Phil, with a favourable wind landed on the big island...
Lawrence, having difficulty navigating up wind passed my ships, who helpfully warned them about the natives!!! - in the distance you can see Lawrence's galley finding no more treasure...just a sandy beach!
Phil's Galley landed a party...
...and again they returned loaded with treasure!
My boats raced for the same big island.
...but the game ended just before I got a landing party ashore from my Xebec!
Phil was the big winner, Lawrence was as empty handed as me, but at least he hadn't got any crew eaten by cannibals!
I started with 2 Merchantmen, the 'Troy' and the 'Toulouse', I had to get to the far corner of the table to escape.
Phil had a Xebec to my left...and Lawrence to my right.
After heading down the direct route across the table, (and thus baiting the pirates with a favourable wind to advance to cut me off.) - I cut to port, getting a better wind for my ships, and confusing the pirates, hopefully.
Lawrence's Xebec was making good progress, paralleling my ships.
Phil had to reduce sail to avoid overshooting my new trajectory.
You can see the situation at this point in this picture.
As the wind changed, it slowed me and sped up the pirates, curses!
My command failed, and Phil's pirates got a crashing broadside into the Troy!
He was quickly past, but Lawrence was now rounding on my battered ship.
I swung Troy ahead of the pirates, while Toulouse shot up the chasing Xebec.
Phil had raced round to intercept Troy, which had recovered some damage, but another command failure meant the Troy rammed him! Fortunately, some good shooting from Toulouse disrupted Lawrence's Xebec, which sailed out of control off the table!
Sadly, Phil grappled the Troy, and his bloodthirsty crew forced my crew to Strike their Colours.
Fortunately, the Toulouse was left with a clear run to the escape corner, and amazingly, due to the damage caused to the Xebecs, my lone surviving Merchantman was declared the winner...just!
Fun games!!!
