
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,094
- BGG rating
- 6.7
The Pirate's Flag
- 3–6 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2018

1978
Rules assistance for Pirateer
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pirateer is a board game released in 1978 for 2–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Scott Peterson and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Pick-up and Deliver.
The object of the game is to steal the treasure with one of your ships and get it to your home port or to capture all your opponents 3 ships using movement restricted by dice rolls (two six-sided dice), obstacles, trade winds, and currents. The theme of the game is for each player to assume the role of a different band of three ships, with their own port and flag. Nine extra scenarios are included - from "Shipwreck" to "Nuke-A-Teer"(!) - including one for up to 8 players (requires two games).
Pirateer supports 2–4 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 Pirateer 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 Pirateer 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.
Pirateer has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Pirateer belongs to these categories: Nautical and Pirates. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Pirateer are: Scott Peterson. 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 Pirateer 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.