What is it!?
Cruel Seas Starter Set is an introductory 1/300th scale tabletop World War 2 naval wargame, focussing predominantly on motor torpedo and other small boat action. Cruel Seas Starter Set provides all you need to play, with numerous rule and unit expansions available should you decide to delve deeper. The turn based action edges more towards fun and playability than realism, with a fairly even 50:50 skill to luck ratio. You’re rewarded for sound strategies but dice rolling throws uncertainty into the mix, which you could argue is a true depiction of the fairly new and unpredictable technologies available in 1939-1944. It’s important to note that whilst Cruel Seas Starter Set is advertised as 2 player, you could play with more friends using house rules, assigning each player specific boats and agreeing an alternative turn sequence (I won’t get into that here, but just be aware it’s an option). The rulebook includes several scenarios but you can also create your own skirmishes, allowing for almost limitless replayability.
What’s in the box?
A4 Softback Rulebook
A4 Quick Start Guide with Painting Guides and Flags
6 Vosper Motor Torpedo Boats
4 E-boats
1 Set of Torpedo Markers
1 Set of Plume Markers
1 A0 Double-sided Battle Mat
3 Die-cut Punchboards (Islands, Sandbars, Rulers, Mine Markers, Tokens, Lighthouse, Aircraft, etc)
Ship Data-cards for Vosper MTBs, E-boats and a Merchant Ship
Wake Markers
Fleet Order Chits (Royal Navy and Kriegsmarine)
Set of Game Dice (D10 & D6)
What’s the objective?
The reason I’ve rated Cruel Seas Starter Set so highly in replayability is the fact that the objectives can vary. You can play hit and run, evade and escape or a full-on fight to the death and more. The rules allow a sandbox style game where you can customise your battles to suit the units you have or the type of game players want to play.
What is it!?
Cruel Seas Starter Set is an introductory 1/300th scale tabletop World War 2 naval wargame, focussing predominantly on motor torpedo and other small boat action. Cruel Seas Starter Set provides all you need to play, with numerous rule and unit expansions available should you decide to delve deeper. The turn based action edges more towards fun and playability than realism, with a fairly even 50:50 skill to luck ratio. You’re rewarded for sound strategies but dice rolling throws uncertainty into the mix, which you could argue is a true depiction of the fairly new and unpredictable technologies available in 1939-1944. It’s important to note that whilst Cruel Seas Starter Set is advertised as 2 player, you could play with more friends using house rules, assigning each player specific boats and agreeing an alternative turn sequence (I won’t get into that here, but just be aware it’s an option). The rulebook includes several scenarios but you can also create your own skirmishes, allowing for almost limitless replayability.
What’s in the box?
A4 Softback Rulebook
A4 Quick Start Guide with Painting Guides and Flags
6 Vosper Motor Torpedo Boats
4 E-boats
1 Set of Torpedo Markers
1 Set of Plume Markers
1 A0 Double-sided Battle Mat
3 Die-cut Punchboards (Islands, Sandbars, Rulers, Mine Markers, Tokens, Lighthouse, Aircraft, etc)
Ship Data-cards for Vosper MTBs, E-boats and a Merchant Ship
Wake Markers
Fleet Order Chits (Royal Navy and Kriegsmarine)
Set of Game Dice (D10 & D6)
What’s the objective?
The reason I’ve rated Cruel Seas Starter Set so highly in replayability is the fact that the objectives can vary. You can play hit and run, evade and escape or a full-on fight to the death and more. The rules allow a sandbox style game where you can customise your battles to suit the units you have or the type of game players want to play.
What’s the learning curve like?
Thanks to a concise, well set out rulebook, so far as wargames are concerned it’s relatively easily to learn hence the fairly low complexity rating. What I really love about Cruel Seas Starter Set is the rule reference cards and tables. Forget memorising the entirety of the rulebook, just get the jist of it and have a quick glance at the tables and cards so you can have more time gaming than reading. The rulebook eases you in gently then suggests more advanced optional rules for more flavour and realism later. So, yes, the learning curve is small, engineered so by a progressive and concise rulebook.
How long does a game last?
30-90mins for the scenarios provided but you could play for a lot longer if you wished with your own setups.
What’re the components like?
High quality. Rulebook is glossed. Miniatures are well-cast. The battle mat and tokens are somewhat mediocre but Cruel Seas has become so popular that loads of fan-made components are available such as unit markers, unit card holders and of course additional scenery. The boats themselves are high quality from Warlord Games and durable enough for frequent play without damage. Cruel Seas Starter Set comes with a paper gaming mat but if you think you’d play it a decent amount of times, I’d recommend buying a Neoprene mat which looks a lot cooler and more realistic, and will last longer.
Is it standalone?
Yes, but loads of additional rules, scenery, miniatures and markers are available should you wish to diversify your battles.
Is it like any other game?
Yes, Black Seas. In fact, it’s pretty much it’s ‘sister’ game by Warlord Games again. Cruel Seas was so popular, it inspired the port to a Napoleonic theme.
