- BGG rating
- 8.1
Rebel Seas: The British Navy at Bay Part I
- 2–35 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,994
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1
1997
Rules assistance for Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–30 players
- 240 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 is a board game released in 1997 for 2–30 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Mark A. Campbell and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Grid Movement.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Monsoon Seas: Naval Warfare in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, 1777-1783
- 2–28 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2007
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Close Action 3rd Edition: Master Log Pack
- 2–30 players
- 240–360 min
- 2022
Close Action 3rd Edition: Scenario Starter Pack
- 2–7 players
- 240 min
- 2022
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About the game
The Age of Fighting sail vol 1 In the end, Napoleon lost his war with England. Triumphant against all the thrones of Europe, never could he penetrate the walls of oak that surrounded Albion to land an army and deliver the knockout blow. Discover the secrets of Britain's superior ship handling in the age of sail with Close Action. Some 25 scenarios, ranging from ship vs. ship (training exercises) to fleet actions (the Nile Campaign) cover a variety of British, French, Russian, Turkish, and Spanish ships throughout the period. In addition to the Napoleonic Wars, there are selected actions from the American War of Independence and the War of 1812. Developed for over 10 years by Mark Campbell, Close Action features 70 1"x ½" ship counters, 140 markers and accommodates from two to sixteen players on its two 34"x22" maps. If your interest runs to miniatures, the rules and charts need no changes to adapt to the "big mat." Can you do better than Nelson? Or, will you do what no one ever did and defeat him in a fleet action? Sail alongside, for it's sure to be a Close Action. (source: Clash fo Arms website) Close Action is all about teamwork and out-maneuvering one's enemy by coordinating the movements of a fleet of wooden ships. You plot movement for your ships, send signals to your friendly captains, and assign crew to various tasks such as changing sails or firing the great guns. Played on a hex grid, the ships move fairly accurately and historic battles can be recreated with lots of realism. This games scales extremely well, playing as well if not better with 20 players as with 3, 4 or 5. (source: user's description)
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Clash of Arms Games
Questions and answers
Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 supports 2–30 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 Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 is 240 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 Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 for ages 12 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.
Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Napoleonic, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Grid Movement. 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 Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 are: Mark A. Campbell. 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 Close Action: The Age of Fighting Sail Vol. 1 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.