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Valley Hoopers: The Series
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All Hands on Deck!
2016
Rules assistance for All Hands on Deck!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 15–30 min
- 13+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for All Hands on Deck!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
All Hands on Deck! is a board game released in 2016 for 2–6 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Josh Fry and Chad Scott and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Pattern Building.
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About the game
A Card Game of Pirate Crewbuilding. Players take on the role of Pirate Captains who have returned from their latest campaign on the high seas looking to replenish their supplies, make repairs to their ship and take on new crew members. They visit a bustling pirate tavern to seek out able bodied sailors to join their crew and fill their ragged ranks. But Avast! Other Captains who survived the battle have made port as well and are also looking to hire on crewmembers of their own. Players must bid on sailors looking to sign to a new ship, carefully build out their crew, undermine the efforts of their fellow Captains, and avoid getting plundered themselves as they attempt to get their ship manned and ready to set sail. 'All Hands on Deck!' is card game centered around an auction/trick taking mechanic. Players blind bid to attempt to win sailors that are turned over on the top of the deck, using the numbered value of different cards they already have in their hand as bidding capital. There are ten different pirate ranks in each of three 'suits' that represent pirates from three crews that returned to port without their Captain. Players leverage the cards in their hand they don't need to try and win cards at auction that will help them build a winning hand. They must be careful, however, as other players will use the many different action cards in the deck to try to influence the bidding process to their own ends, offering rum bribes, drowning available pirates, or even luring them to their demise with the deadly song of a mermaid! The first player to build a winning pirate crew shouts 'ALL HANDS ON DECK!' and proves themselves the craftiest Captain in these waters. The game contains 108 cards, a Rulebook, and loads of pirate attitude.
Designers
Publishers
- Salamander Games
Questions and answers
All Hands on Deck! supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for All Hands on Deck! is 15–30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists All Hands on Deck! for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
All Hands on Deck! has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
All Hands on Deck! belongs to these categories: Card Game and Pirates. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Pattern Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of All Hands on Deck! are: Josh Fry and Chad Scott. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists All Hands on Deck! as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.