- BGG rank
- BGG #12,420
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Black Seas: Master & Commander Starter Set
- 2 players
- 30–500 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2019
- BGG rating
- 8.6
Rules assistance for Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30–500 min
- 14+
Rules assistant for Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830) is an expansion for Black Seas: Rulebook released in 2019 for 2 players, 30–500 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Gabrio Tolentino and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Simulation.
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About the game
A 3rd rate ship, as defined by the British rating system, was a ship of the line which mounted between 64-80 guns. Usually, this would mean two gun decks. Despite their relative size and power compared to larger 1st and 2nd rates, it was considered that 3rd rates maintained an effective, perhaps even superior balance between sailing ability, firepower and cost. For a number of nations, 3rd rates were the most popular ship size. Cheaper to operate and easier to sail without the sacrifice of offensive capability, the only ships a 3rd rate could not single-handedly engage were larger three-decked ships. A large number of 3rd rates were built and employed on a variety of missions. —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Warlord Games
Questions and answers
Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830) supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830) is 30–500 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 Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830) for ages 14 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.
Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830) belongs to these categories: Wargame, Napoleonic, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Simulation. 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 Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830) are: Gabrio Tolentino. 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 Black Seas: 3rd Rates Squadron (1770 - 1830) as an expansion for Black Seas: Rulebook. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Black Seas: Rulebook to use it. Check that your edition of Black Seas: Rulebook is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.