Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I'm surprised I'm the first to review this item: it's a very enjoyable game. Since I'm first, I'll be thorough (though I won't explain all the rules, just give a flavor of the game play).
Pirate's Cove is a game by Days of Wonder, a company that also makes Ticket to Ride (a very fun game). Pirate's Cove appears complex at first glance but actually is not. The basic idea is to try to get the most Fame points (e.g. be the most famous pirate) by balancing upgrading your ship, choosing the best moves to make and avoiding confrontation with other players. Players act together, so while there are different steps in a round, there are no "turns" per se. The game is quick, about 60 minutes with a full house of 5, and moves quickly as well (unlike, say, Risk). It is fun for all ages but probably too complex for those under 10.
The Longer Version
Each player (pirate) in this game has a ship consisting of four areas: Sails, Crew, Cannons and Hull. Sails affect who goes first in a fight (more later on this), crew and cannon determine how potent you are in a fight and hull affects how much treasure you can carry. Players travel to different "islands" on the board, fight any other players who also went to that island and then plunder whatever that island has to offer.
Each turn starts with players choosing, in secret, the island they are going to. Then everyone reveals their island choice at once using an included island-choosing cut-out. Any combat between players is resolved by playing combat cards (that have temporary effects) and the winning player reaps the benefits of that island. The benefits of each island vary and are determined by flipping over island cards (which you can see before you choose your island, thus influencing your choice). Islands grant different benefits: gold, fame points, treasure or cards (such as battle cards and other special cards), each in varying amounts depending on the island.
Players may then upgrade their ship by paying gold. Upgrading is controlled by what island you have choosen to visit (there are islands corresponding to each ship section, sails, crew, cannons and hull, and you may only upgarde that section at that island). After upgrading, the turn ends, new island cards are flipped and a new round begins (with players again choosing what island to go to).
Strategy and Challenge
The challenge of this game is figuring out what island to go to and when. If you choose an island another pirate has gone to, you have to fight or flee (and fleeing has its own risks). But if you let other players take all the best islands (as I mentioned, the island cards vary and some give much more than others) you'll fall behind in the game. You also must balance when to collect treasure (which can later be exchanged for fame points) and when to focus on upgrading, etc.
Summary
The most interesting thing about this game is that the details disappear when playing. Everything works naturally and smoothly and, after just a game or two, you'll find yourself very comfortable with the rules, upgrading, etc. The game has more flavor then I have presented here (for example, I did not discuss the Legendary Pirate that travels from island to island automatically nor did I discuss the different types of battle and special cards) and is good, clean fun. It's definitely not a game you can say to your Monopoly-loving family "hey, check out this board game" and is more suited for people who enjoy Risk, Settlers of Catan or other such games. I would rank this game higher except that some of the pieces are made of essentially laminated, glossy paper. This is very odd since the pirate ship pieces are very detailed and high-quality and the board is beautifully-made. And the names of the legendary pirates are even historically accurate! But still, the game is easily worth its 4 star rating.
This is a great game. If you're not sure this is your type of game, I suggest you try Ticket to Ride- Europe first, also made by Days of Wonder, or go to the Days of Wonder website and read more about Pirate's Cove. But if you like games like Risk 2210, or the others I mentioned above, I suspect you'll enjoy this.
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In Pirate's Cove, players take on the role of ship captains as they battle for the rights to plunder and become the most famed and feared Pirate the world has ever seen. To do so, they will need to navigate shrewdly, fight recklessly, and pillage mercilessly. Gain fame by winning battles, burying gold and treasure, and bragging about your exploits at the Tavern, and at the end of twelve months, the pirate with the most fame will be declared the most fearsome Pirate of the High Seas! A swashbuckling board game for 2-5 fortune-hunters, ages 10 and up.
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