- BGG rating
- 5.7
Buccaneer Bones: Expansion Set
- 1–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,689
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Buccaneer Bones
2013
Rules assistance for Buccaneer Bones
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.1/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Buccaneer Bones
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Buccaneer Bones is a board game released in 2013 for 1–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Kris Gould and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling.
Expansions
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About the game
Sail your fleet of galleons to the Murky Isles, hiding place for some of the greatest pirate treasures ever buried. Roll the Buccaneer Bones (landlubbers call them "dice") to send ships out to sea. When you reach the island, you get a special bonus just for being there. But the best part is the treasure! Find the treasure and bring it back to port, then set sail again. The first pirate to bring back three treasures claims the title of "Scourge of the Seven Seas"! Arrrr!!! Each player in Buccaneer Bones starts with six ships on the six numbered ports of his player mat; each ship is in a sailing lane that consists of a port, a sea space, and an island. On a turn, the player rolls four dice, then rerolls as many as he wants; if he now has a pair, he advances the ship matching the number rolled one space (from port to sea or from sea to island) and if he has a three-of-a-kind, he advances the appropriate ship two spaces (from port to island). When a player has a ship on an island, he receives a bonus: When on islands 1 or 6, he rolls one extra die; on islands 1 and 6, he rolls two extra dice. When on islands 2 or 5, he can add or subtract one from a rolled die; on islands 2 and 5, he can do this twice. When on islands 3 or 4, he can reroll any number of dice one extra time; on islands 3 and 4, he can reroll two extra times. When a player has a ship on an island, if he has a three-of-a-kind matching that island number, the ship grabs one treasure, then returns to port. If a player can't advance a ship, he can place his first mate (1) as a scout on an island to grant himself that power on his next turn, (2) as a thief on a treasure owned by a player with more treasure than him, giving him a chance to steal it next turn if he rolls any three-of-a-kind, or (3) as a defender to remove a thief on one of his treasures. The game ends the round that a player collects his third treasure. If he's the only one with three treasures, he wins; if multiple players have three, then the tied player who has more ships farther from his ports wins. Buccaneer Bones includes a couple of play variants, including rules for a solo game.
Questions and answers
Buccaneer Bones supports 1–4 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 Buccaneer Bones is 15 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 Buccaneer Bones for ages 8 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.
Buccaneer Bones has a complexity rating of 1.1 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.
Buccaneer Bones belongs to these categories: Dice and Pirates. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling. 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 Buccaneer Bones are: Kris Gould. 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 Buccaneer Bones 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.