Tortuga 1667 (2017) Board Game

Tortuga 1667 is a board game designed by Travis Hancock and published by Facade Games in in 2017. The game is set in the Caribbean during the golden age of piracy, where players take on the roles of pirates, merchants, and sailors vying for control of the island of Tortuga.

Game Components of Tortuga 1667

Game Box: Designed to look like an old book with a magnetic opening and closing mechanism.

Game Board: Printed on neoprene material, which rolls up for easy storage.

Player Cards: Representing secret nationalities (British or French).

Ship Positions: Captain, First Mate, Cabin Boy, and two additional spots.

Event Cards: Five cards available at any time, with various positive or negative effects.

Treasure Chests: Located on the ships and on Tortuga island.

Pawns and Vote Cards: For tracking player movements and resolving conflicts.

How To Setup Tortuga 1667

Players are randomly assigned a secret nationality card (British or French) and placed on one of two ships. The game board is set up with the Spanish Galleon, the two ships, and the island of Tortuga in between. The five Event cards are laid out next to the board. Each player learns their role and the game begins.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Actions: Each turn, players can perform one action such as attacking the Spanish Galleon, moving treasure, or interacting with Event cards.

Event Cards: Players can view two cards, reveal and resolve one card, or force another player to reveal one of two cards.

Mutiny and Brawl: Players on a ship can call for a mutiny to change the captain, and players on Tortuga can start a brawl to decide the treasure allocation.

Treasure Movement: Players can move treasure between holds on the ships or to Tortuga.

Game End: The game ends when the Spanish Armada card is revealed, and the team with the most treasure in their holds wins.

Player Experience

Tortuga 1667 is a game that thrives on teamwork and strategy, especially with a higher player count. Players must deduce who is on their team and work together to accumulate the most treasure. The game involves a lot of social interaction, planning, and sometimes deception. It’s recommended to play with at least five players to fully enjoy the teamwork aspect.

Pros

High Player Count: Supports up to nine players without sacrificing gameplay.

Beautiful Components: The game features sleek and durable components, including a neoprene game board and a magnetic box.

Variety and Strategy: Offers many different actions and Event cards, ensuring each game is unique.

Social Interaction: Encourages teamwork and social deduction.

Cons

Complex Rules: The game has several rules, which can be overwhelming for some players.

Quick Deduction: Players can deduce team alignments relatively quickly.

Odd Player Count: Games with an odd number of players include a lone Dutch player who wins only in the event of a tie.

Personal Thoughts on Tortuga 1667

Tortuga 1667 is ideal for those who enjoy social deduction games and have a large gaming group. It offers a fun and strategic experience with a unique pirate theme. The game’s beautiful components and engaging gameplay make it a standout in its category. However, it may not be the best fit for smaller groups or those who prefer simpler rules. If you’re looking for a game that combines teamwork, strategy, and a bit of deceit, Tortuga 1667 is definitely worth considering.

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