Extraordinary Adventures: Pirates! (2019) Board Game

Extraordinary Adventures: Pirates! is a nautical-themed board game designed by Jared Blando and Mark Page and published in in 2019. The game focuses on players embarking on exciting adventures as pirates, navigating the high seas, collecting treasures, and engaging in epic battles.

Game Components of Extraordinary Adventures: Pirates!

Game Board: A geographically and historically accurate board featuring the Caribbean with three tracks (black, red, and blue).

Cards: Starting decks, Merchant decks, and Port decks, each with standard, play-to-table, and remove-from-game cards.

Pirate Ships: Detailed pirate ships and unique meeple pirates.

Treasure Tiles: Used to collect points by trading resource cubes.

Resource Cubes: Used for trading and collecting treasure.

Crew Cards: Special power cards acquired from ports.

How To Setup Extraordinary Adventures: Pirates!

To set up the game, players first unfold the board, which can be adjusted based on the number of players (2-3 players use one track, 4-5 players use two tracks, and 6+ players use all three tracks). Each player starts with the same starting deck of low-powered cards. The Merchant and Port decks are shuffled and placed within reach. Players choose their pirate ships and place them at the starting point on the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Deck Building: Players improve their decks by picking up cards from port spaces and merchant ship spaces.

Hand Management: Players play 3 cards from their hand of 5 each turn to advance their ships.

Racing: Players move their ships on three separate tracks, aiming to reach Trinidad first.

Plundering: Players plunder merchant ships for cargo and add new crew cards to their deck.

Visiting Ports: Players sell cargo for treasures and recruit better crew members.

Objective: The goal is to reach Trinidad with the most victory points, earned through treasure tiles, certain cards, remaining resource cubes, and positions on each track.

Player Experience

Players experience a fun and engaging game with easy-to-learn mechanics but challenging strategies. The game is quick to play, lasting about 60 minutes, and offers different outcomes each time. It is praised for its high-quality components, including detailed pirate ships and a lush board. However, some players feel that the game is a bit simplified and lacks more player interaction and additional strategies.

Pros

High-Quality Components: Detailed pirate ships, unique meeple pirates, and a geographically accurate board.

Easy to Learn: Simple gameplay mechanics make it accessible to families and new players.

Challenging Strategies: Players must make tough decisions on card usage and track focus.

Fun and Engaging: Different outcomes and the thrill of racing to Trinidad keep the game exciting.

Cons

Simplified Gameplay: Some players find the game too straightforward and lacking in depth.

Limited Player Interaction: The game could benefit from more direct player interaction and additional strategies.

Limited Winning Strategies: The game primarily focuses on racing and deck building, with some players wanting more varied ways to win.

Personal Thoughts on Extraordinary Adventures: Pirates!

**Extraordinary Adventures: Pirates** is ideal for families and casual gamers who enjoy light-hearted, strategic games. While it may not offer the complexity some experienced gamers seek, it provides a fun and visually appealing experience. The game is perfect for those who love pirate-themed adventures and are looking for a game that balances simplicity with strategic depth. However, players seeking more intricate gameplay or additional strategies might find it lacking in comparison to other deck-building games.

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