We propose here for those interested a very simple and funny simulation for Boardings, based on a game of skittles. Of course, any ninepin set can do but we cannot resist the pleasure to present you the wooden set from Ulysse, Couleurs d'Enfance: those six - unfortunately not yet nine or ten - pins have such good faces as a Pirate Crew… We had to buy one more to refrain from taking the children's one!

As to the rules, do not come complaining now, they are simplistic in the case of two opposing Ships and Crews and we let you adapt for the case of more:

  • Let us consider, in a first round, the Cannons of each of the Ships: if both Ships are more or less equally armoured and weaponed, each of the opponents is granted one throw to knock over as many skittles as possible. One also chooses either to use Shot or Cannonballs. In the former case, Damages are inflicted to the ennemy Crew, in the latter, to the Ship. If all the skittles are knocked over, the ennemy Crew is wiped out, respectively the Ship is wrecked. If both opponents knock all skittles over, let remain a single survivor in each Crew… And let them fight a Duel to settle it! Well that potentially happens on two sinking Ships…
  • If one of the two Ships is more heavily weaponed / armoured than the other, its Player is granted the right to throw twice to knock over the pins… The other Player throws only once as above!
  • In a second round, if Shot has been used before, the remaining pins represent the surviving fraction of the Crew; if Cannonballs have been used, the Crew is still practically complete since only the Ship suffered Damage. The concerned Player will thus be allowed to align a complete pin set anew. The second round represents the actual Boarding. One has to fix (roughly and under the authority of the Game Master) which of both Crews is the strongest. If they are of more or less equal strengths (taking into account the Damages already incured), each Player will be granted to throw once at the skittles.
  • If one of the Crews is significantly stronger than the other, its Player is granted the right to throw twice at the skittles… The other Player throws only once as above!
  • During the second round as well, each of the opponents can decide to fire a new, single, Broadside, only using normal Cannonballs, like in the first item above. (While Boarding, Shot makes no more sense and if you're not convinced, draw a simple sketch of it!)
  • For all the throwings considered in those rules, if the two Captains or Crews are approximately at the same Level of Command or of organisation, each of the Players will throw on the pins from a same distance. If however one of them is significantly better than the other, the concerned Player will be allowed to throw from a position closer to the pins!

All in all, that should solve the problem quickly, especially if you have several pin sets to spare on placing them again each time… No, no! That's no commercial ad! In any case, even with that simple system, one can come to very funny situations and even if only for that, it is worth trying once!

Back