Description
- Prepare your fine array of 1/700th scale tall-ships for battle focusing on the golden age sail of military maritime warfare ships combating in the period 1770-1830, the \'carronade era\'. From superbly detailed plastic Frigates, Brigs or 3rd Rates (usable for all nations) through to the mighty 1st rates in finely detailed metal and resin, there are plenty of options to take to battle!
- Utilizing a unique and innovative initiative system based around the most important factor of sail powered combat: the wind. Additional rules enable you to fight in a \'line of battle,\' engage shore batteries, rake your enemies with withering initial broadsides or capture vessels in heroic boarding actions. All while avoiding such hazards to navigation as fog banks, fire ships and shipwrecks.
- The rules allow you to field fleets comprised of vessels ranging from the tiniest gunboats up to the true giants of the waves, the mighty 1st rate warships. Can be played on a 4\' x 3\' table or unobstructed floor space.
- Each ship in Black Seas is accompanied by a ship card which details its speed, weaponry and other key ratings to help strategically plan battles based on their advantages.
- Build, paint and play! The construction and painting of the models and watching them come to life are just as much fun as the game itself! Paint and glue are not included.
Description\n\nA 3rd rate ship, as defined by the British rating system, was a ship of the line which mounted between 64-80 guns. Usually, this would mean two gun decks. Despite their relative size and power compared to larger 1st and 2nd rates, it was considered that 3rd rates maintained an effective, perhaps even superior balance between sailing ability, firepower and cost. For a number of nations, 3rd rates were the most popular ship size. Cheaper to operate and easier to sail without the sacrifice of offensive capability, the only ships a 3rd rate could not single-handedly engage were larger three-decked ships. A large number of 3rd rates were built and employed on a variety of missions. The Kit - The 3rd Rates Squadron kit is generic, meaning you can use it to represent ships of any nation. The frame has options for you to customize your ships, in the form of differing figureheads and stern plates; enabling you to make your fleet truly unique. The 3rd Rates Squadron box contains all you need to get these vessels to the tabletop. These are suitable for navies of any nation. The kit includes a bobbin for rigging your vessels, sails and decals for every nation capable of building & sailing third rates, as well as all the gaming materials for using the vessels in your games of Black Seas. This box set contains: 3 plastic 3rd Rates, Printed sails, ship cards, Wake markers, Bobbin for rigging, Acetate Ratlines, Sheets of flags & pennants.