Broadsides and Boarding Parties
Encyclopedia
Broadsides and Boarding Parties is a board game
published by Milton Bradley
in 1984 as part of their Gamemaster
series. It was the 3rd in the series of games that are all designed by Larry Harris
. It is the only game of that series to feature a two player game (all of the games in the Gamemaster series were for two or more players), Broadsides and Boarding Parties is a duel between a Spanish
galleon
and a pirate ship. Players take turns moving their ship and firing at the other ship to sink her. If the ships collide then players may take boarding
parties onto the other ship to try to win.
The original version of this game, published by The Citadel in 1982, used a paper map and cardboard pieces and did not have the plastic ships, cannons, and other playing pieces. When Hasbro
bought the publishing rights, they added these components to bring the physical components in line with the other games in the series. However, many players found that the large ship models were difficult to disassemble, making the storage of this game awkward.
A more serious problem was that the gameplay was not considered up to the level of the other games in the series. There was relatively little strategy and more luck involved than the other games. As part of a series, Broadsides and Boarding Parties was unfavorably compared to the other games and was less popular.
Broadsides and Boarding Parties was discontinued several years after its introduction.
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
published by Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley Company
The Milton Bradley Company is an American game company established by Milton Bradley in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1860. In 1920, it absorbed the game production of McLoughlin Brothers, formerly the largest game manufacturer in the United States, and in 1987, it purchased Selchow and Righter,...
in 1984 as part of their Gamemaster
Gamemaster (board game series)
The Gamemaster Series of board games consists of five war simulation games created by the game company Milton Bradley, beginning in 1984 with the introduction of the popular Axis & Allies board game...
series. It was the 3rd in the series of games that are all designed by Larry Harris
Larry Harris (game designer)
Larry Harris, Jr., is a game designer most famous for creating the board game Axis & Allies, as well as all of its sequels. His other significant games include Conquest of the Empire, Broadsides and Boarding Parties, LionHeart and more. He has also assisted in the further development of Trivial...
. It is the only game of that series to feature a two player game (all of the games in the Gamemaster series were for two or more players), Broadsides and Boarding Parties is a duel between a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
and a pirate ship. Players take turns moving their ship and firing at the other ship to sink her. If the ships collide then players may take boarding
Boarding (attack)
Boarding, in its simplest sense, refers to the insertion on to a ship's deck of individuals. However, when it is classified as an attack, in most contexts, it refers to the forcible insertion of personnel that are not members of the crew by another party without the consent of the captain or crew...
parties onto the other ship to try to win.
The original version of this game, published by The Citadel in 1982, used a paper map and cardboard pieces and did not have the plastic ships, cannons, and other playing pieces. When Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
bought the publishing rights, they added these components to bring the physical components in line with the other games in the series. However, many players found that the large ship models were difficult to disassemble, making the storage of this game awkward.
A more serious problem was that the gameplay was not considered up to the level of the other games in the series. There was relatively little strategy and more luck involved than the other games. As part of a series, Broadsides and Boarding Parties was unfavorably compared to the other games and was less popular.
Broadsides and Boarding Parties was discontinued several years after its introduction.