Ironclads (board game)

Ironclads is a board game published by Yaquinto Publications in 1979.

Production history

Ironclads was one of the eight inaugural games published by Yaquinto Games in 1979. Players and reviewers quickly pointed out many errors in the rules, and a revised set of rules was immediately produced.[1]

Gameplay

Ironclads is a game that simulates naval warfare between ironclads during the American Civil War, such as to the 1862 Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack.[1] Each ship in the game has its own unique blend of armament and armor. During combat, guns on a ship are fired individually, and the result of each is resolved before the next gun is fired.

Most scenarios are presented as a two-ship combat, although one scenario is a solitaire game, and several present multiplayer fleet engagements. Most two-player games last about an hour.[1]

Reception

In the December 1979 edition of Dragon (Issue #32), Tim Kask called the game "an exciting, accurate simulation of naval warfare during the American Civil War" but commented at length on the problems with the rules: "In terms of coherence, cohesion, completeness and clarity, the rules are the pits. It is obvious that... corners were cut [that] involved editing and proofreading. Ironclad’s rules are rife with misspellings, typos, [and] mistakes... This doesn’t really become apparent until you try to play out the introductory scenario. If you follow their lead, you will promptly proceed to run aground." However, Kask believed "the fact it manages transcend these problems is tribute to the soundness of design." Kask highly recommended Ironclads, branding it "one of the best releases of the year."[1]

Awards

Ironclads was awarded the Charles S. Roberts Award for "Best Initial Release of 1979".[2]

Reviews
gollark: I can play on multiple servers.
gollark: No.
gollark: velocity
gollark: L A T E S T
gollark: Or bothered to make much armour, really.

References
  1. Kask, Tim (December 1979). "The Dragon's Augury". Dragon. TSR, Inc. (32): 38.
  2. "1979 Origins Awards Winners". Archived from the original on December 16, 2012.
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