The Age of Sail Battle Game 1770 - 1830
Black Seas from Warlord Games is designed to be a complete system (rules, models, paints) for naval wargaming in the Age of Sail. The models are 1/700 scale with the initial release focusing on the British and French, with follow up sets for the Spanish and USA.
The sets available Christmas 2019 include those shown below.
| Product | Rules | Brigs | Frigates | 3rd Rates | Other | Cost (GBP / AUD) |
| Master and Commander Starter Set | 96 pages | 6 | 3 | Dice, rulers, mat | £50 / $124 | |
| Rulebook | 96 pages | PDF version is £10 | £20 / $60 | |||
| Royal Navy Fleet | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1st Rate, customisations | £75 / $187 | |
| French Navy Fleet | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1st Rate, customisations | £75 / $187 | |
| 3rd Rates Squadron | 3 | £30 / $75 | ||||
| Squadron Encounters | 96 pages | 6 | £80 | |||
| Frigates and Brigs Flotilla | 4 | 2 | £20 / $50 | |||
| Flotilla Action | 96 pages | 8 | 4 | £60 | ||
| 1st Rate | 1st rate | £22 |
The Squadron Encounters and Flotilla Action sets are just two box sets and the rule book, at the same price as buying them separately. In contrast the Fleet box sets work out at a savings of £7 compared to what the component ships are worth, and you get customisations for your frigates and 3rd rate ships to make them distinct.
The rules describe a small game as being 500 - 1000 points per side whilst a large game might have up to 2000 points per side.
| Ship Type | Broadside | Stern | Bow | Ship Points (ie HP) | Speed | Points cost |
| 1st Rate | 4H-3L-3C | 1H | 2H | 104 | 3 | 450 |
| Large 3rd Rate | 3H-2L-2C | 1L | 1H | 74 | 4 | 280 |
| Small 3rd Rate | 3H-2L-1C | - | 1H | 64 | 4 | 250 |
| Frigate (5th Rate) | 2H-1L-1C | - | 1L | 36 | 5 | 150 |
| Brig | 2H | - | - | 20 | 5 | 80 |
As can be seen above, a frigate has about twice the guns, about twice the ship points, and is about twice the points cost of a brig. A large 3rd rate (same models are used for "large" and "small") has about twice the guns, twice the ship points and is about twice the points cost of a frigate.
Details for guns are shown below
| Gun Type | Heavy Cannon | Light Cannon | Carronade |
| Range | 20" | 14" | 8" |
| Damage | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Shooting is based on rolling a D10 for each gun, needing a base of 5 or less to hit, with a roll of 1 being a critical hit.
Note that if target is over 10" away there is -2 to hit.
I received the "Master and Commander" starter set and the "Royal Navy Fleet" as gifts.
The plastic models are all very nice, and the resin 1st rate in the Royal Navy Fleet box was a beautiful model. However the metal components were a little underwhelming and the metal masts for the 1st rate were all bent in the box. For a feature model that is very disappointing. The Royal Navy Fleet box includes metal figureheads and backplates for famous Royal Navy Ships:
No Dice No Glory: Painting the British Fleet
No Dice No Glory: How to paint your French ships
Warlord Games: Royal Navy Paint Set
Warlord Games: French Navy Paint Set
Warlord Games: Spanish Navy Paint Set
Three Decks - Warships in the Age of Sail
JJ's Wargames Blog - New British Builds