- BGG rating
- 8.1
Swords & Sails: Mercenaries & Privateers
- 2–13 players
- 90–240 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,623
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Swords & Sails
2019
Rules assistance for Swords & Sails
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–7 players
- 90–240 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.8/5
Rules assistant for Swords & Sails
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Swords & Sails is a board game released in 2019 for 2–7 players, 90–240 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Jason R. Williams and its main mechanics are Area Movement, Area Majority / Influence, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
Expansions
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About the game
The year is 1000 C.E., the middle of the medieval period. The European continent is constantly at war as competing political factions try to control Europe through military might and political intrigue. In Swords & Sails, players control one of these factions in a bid to conquer Europe. Build armies and fleets, build more cities, make and break alliances, spy on your opponents, and go to war to conquer all of Europe. Players have up to five armies and fleets to move and attack with on a large 38x28 inch map of Europe which accurately depicts Europe in 1000 C.E. Each army can contain six types of combat units: Knights, Heavy Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Heavy Infantry, Light Infantry or Peasant troops. Fleets can contain warships, Raider ships, or Transports for moving your armies. Every season you can build more units into your armies or fleets to have a better chance of capturing more territories. More cities can also be built to increase income without the need to capture territory. Combat occurs between armies by using a unique combat system that gives a feel of your troops lining up on the battle field and facing off. The system uses 2d6 to determine outcomes. Will the Byzantine Empire rise again and give rebirth to the glory and ancestors of Ancient Rome? Can the upstart Kievan Rus Empire bring a new golden age of Slavic Culture and power? Or will the Fatimid Caliphate push further into Europe and create an even greater Muslim Empire?
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- VRGames / VR-Soft.com
Questions and answers
Swords & Sails supports 2–7 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 Swords & Sails is 90–240 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 Swords & Sails 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.
Swords & Sails has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Swords & Sails belongs to these categories: Wargame, Medieval, and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Area Movement, Area Majority / Influence, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Swords & Sails are: Jason R. Williams. 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 Swords & Sails 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.