Bring Naval Battles to Life With Pirates of the Spanish Main

The world of miniatures is not restricted to dollhouses and railroad sets. Collectors with a fancy for high seas adventure will find exactly what they're looking for with Pirates of the Spanish Main. This unusual strategy game combines the best of miniatures collecting with game playing.

Launched by Seattle-based Wiz Kids Inc., Pirates of the Spanish Main is a is a tabletop game that players must partially construct to take part in. The game is sold in kits that include two three-dimensional ships, a terrain or island card, a treasure or crew card, rules and a die. Players must construct their ships prior to starting the game.

How The Game Is Played

Once players have at least one kit created, they can jump into the fun of this game. The rules included with each set explain how the cards and die rolls work for engaging in naval battles. The style and stakes of the game can change as more ships and cards are added to a collector's set.

As players grow their fleets by purchasing more kits, actual game play can become a bit more complicated. While the basic style of play is meant for two people, it is possible to add more players when multiple sets are picked up.

The series has more than 60 different ships and more than 50 cards for treasure and crews. As British, Spanish and pirate ship fleets are constructed by players, however, it is often necessary to turn to the company's Web site at http://www.wizkidsgames.com/PIRATES/ for detailed instructions on multi-ship battles. The company does offer a number of different games in the Spanish Main style. Collectors can also engage in battles as Pirates of the Crimson Coast, the Revolution, the Barbary Coast and more.

Finding The Pieces

Kits for playing Pirates of the Spanish Main are available in a number of locations. Most major stores, including Toys R Us, Kmart and Target carry kits. For collectors who want harder-to-find pieces, hobby shops are often able to accommodate. Pieces for the game, including cards and ships, are also traded among players. There are even Web sites established to help players trade or purchase rarer items from each other.

Alternative Play Options

While the traditional Pirates of the Spanish Main is meant to be a card and die-roll based game, there is an alternative for players who don't want to collect or build their own fleets. Sony Online Entertainment has created its own version of the title for online players. Designed as a MMORPG, or massively multiplayer online role playing game, Pirates of the Burning Sea enables players to join one of four main loyalties - Spanish, French, English or Pirate. Once established in the game, players can join others in battles for control over more than 80 different Caribbean ports. They can also go on missions, try to build, capture or customize 158 different ships and more.

Designed as a MMORPG, or massively multiplayer online role playing game, Pirates of the Burning Sea enables players to join one of four main loyalties - Spanish, French, English or Pirate. Once established in the game, players can join others in battles for control over more than 80 different Caribbean ports. They can also go on missions, try to build, capture or customize 158 different ships and more.