- BGG rank
- BGG #2,219
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Wooden Ships & Iron Men
- 2 players
- 60–300 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 1974
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,947
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Enemy in Sight
1988
Rules assistance for Enemy in Sight
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 120 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Enemy in Sight
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Enemy in Sight is a board game released in 1988 for 2–8 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Neal Schlaffer and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
Enemy in Sight, originally called Cutthroats and Cannons, was two years in the making. It is a fast paced card wargame with a good mix of strategy and luck of the draw. Each player starts with a fleet of six ships and six cards. As your ships are destroyed your hand size diminishes as well. One of the most unique characteristics of the game is the walking disasters. The red cards in EIS move around the table from player to player until resolved.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- The Avalon Hill Game Co
- Lost Battalion Games
Questions and answers
Enemy in Sight supports 2–8 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 Enemy in Sight is 120 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 Enemy in Sight for ages 10 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.
Enemy in Sight has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Enemy in Sight belongs to these categories: Card Game, Wargame, and Napoleonic. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and 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 Enemy in Sight are: Neal Schlaffer. 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 Enemy in Sight 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.