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I was recently reading a review or two of dreadfleet at one or another of the non-GW devoted gaming sites that i frequent and though the ratings for the game seemed to be pretty high compared to the ratings of other games, the actual reviews of the game play were some of the worst that i have ever read. Several reviews stated the same thing over and over. That the game takes no skill at all and that winning is just a matter of wild luck and has nothing to do with any skill. One reviewer said that the game was "more painful and less fun than being raped by a rhino." This seems mighty harsh. How does dakka feel now that the excitment for dreadfleets release has simmered down some.

Dreadfleet is a lot of fun.

I'd take it over the amorous rhino any day..

Good stuff Ascalam, do you own your own copy.

That i do

My wife suffered a fit of insanity, and i profitted

I'm not saying the game doesn't have a few issues, but it IS a blast to play, especially if you don't take it too seriously

Insanity? I take it she approved the credit card being used to pony up the price tag on Dreadfleet. Does she enjoy play as well.

Pretty much.

She claimed half the ships to paint, but hasn't played yet.

My daughter has though She loves her pirates, she does...

sennacherib wrote:One reviewer said that the game was "more painful and less fun than being raped by a rhino."

GW must have ran over his puppy or something.

The game is pretty popular in my parts, but so far we've only done casual play, usually a free-for-all with 4-8 people each controlling one boat.

From the way that the review read i felt that it was more like GW ran over his wife, shot his puppy and then burned his pickup. The winds were no longer in his sails, let me tell you. Did you find that game play was more an act of Fate than it was strategy?

Do you think maybe the reviewers were playing the game with the mindset that it ought to be like other games? Maybe they were expecting another Space Hulk? Or maybe they were thinking about other systems like Dystopian Wars or Uncharted Seas?

Personally I haven't played any of the above yet. I'm just curious if they didn't give the game a chance for being something in itself instead of expecting it to be like something else.

I have a copy on the way. At first I wasn't going to get it but the ships look awesome and I think the game would be a nice change from the 40k or warmahordes I usually play.

Don't have a copy and am yet to play it. From what I've read, it's a little too random and a lot of a space hog. Although the mini's are lovely....not sure, but if I had the money I'd probably buy it. I'm a sucker for well packaged box games!

Although 'Super Dungeon Explore' is finally available sooo....

It takes up most of a 6 x 4 table to play it, but then so does 40k..

It packs down into the box it came in, if you leave the lid off, and pack it carefully.

It does have soem randomness (the fate cards) but there is a lot of room for strategy/skill in there too.

Although 'Super Dungeon Explore' is finally available sooo....

Haha yes I'm waiting for that one too

I have to be honest, Dystopian Wars appeals to me a little more (just in terms of the imagery and expandability), but I have seen neither one in the flesh and not played them so I couldn't comment any further!

++Reason for edit, curse Ascalam and his typing speed ++

One handed too

Caffiene baby...

sennacherib wrote:One reviewer said that the game was "more painful and less fun than being raped by a rhino."

Maybe he just got the horn.

Howard A Treesong wrote:

sennacherib wrote:One reviewer said that the game was "more painful and less fun than being raped by a rhino."

Maybe he just got the horn.

The oldies are the best eh Howard?

I've never played it but I think I'd prefer it to the rhino alternative.

I have played a couple of games, and helped a few others learn it--with a friend's copy of the game as I did not purchase it.

I may do so after playing, as I rather enjoyed it.

I had ordered a copy to offer to a friend who's into fantasy and naval warfare, unfortunately GW screwed it up and delivered the game 2 weeks late. My friend bought one himself not knowing I was about to give him one.

I ended up cracking open my box and played a few games with friends. It's very fun. Simple to pick up, quick to play once a few elementary rules are explained.

My only gripe lies with some Fate cards. Other than that, it's a great game.

There is definitely skill to the game. Yes, there are some rather random cards that add a certain amount of luck to it.

Either way, I like it. It is fun. It can be played in about an hour, maybe 90 minutes. And it is a nice break from constant 40k.

Bear in mind that I have only played it two times until now, but I absolutely LOVE it.

1) The models are just stunningly detailed and capture the spirit of the races they are supposed to represent. There are a lot of nice little details, like the
creatures depicted on the sails wearing eye-patches and such. They are also very different and thus entertaining to paint.

2) Fully assembled and played on the mat, the game looks just great. Illustrations, Rulebook, everything is in fact a feast for the eyes.

3) The rules are very entertaining. They manage to capture the spirit of naval combat - the wind, navigating (one wil probably run into an island), broadsides and so on.

It´s also interesting to have ships that are strongly damaged. The "Drawing Cards"-System isn´t as predictable as the "wounds"-system that is normaly used. The ships can take HUGE amounts of damage.

The missions are really exiting and have you on the edge of your seat. The last mission we´ve played, however, was very hard to accomplish for the Great Alliance. Adding one or two turns
(house rule) fix that.

4)There´s a lot of stuff happening. The GW blog told the truth when they depicted what stuff could happen in only one turn of Dreadfleet.
In our last game, the Swordfysh and the Curse of Zandri were fighting eachother, while the Heldenhammer rammed the Bloody Reaver, which was allready in flames and suffering from an exploding
magazine. The Heldenhammer used it´s mechanical hammer to cause further damage, unti crew and captains fought it out in CC. Then it started to rain skulls who bit the crew, a monster (Sea Snake) appeared and some sharks started damaging the Heldenhammer by gnawing at it. All the while, the ships were under fire from a fortress manned by skeletons.

This game is a beautifully looking pile of special effects and entertainig ideas combined with exiting scenarios and good rules.

The real question I'd have is, how does it compare to other naval combat games?

Against historically realistic ones it's OTT and covered in skulls, not not very historically realistic, but still fun.

Against fantasy ones it's more a personal taste thing. I've played several naval/space-naval combat type games, and this one is decent to great, IMO.

Im still really considering grabbing a copy. My FLGS still has a whole pile (I think about 10 copies) and my local GW has about 5, so I think I'm safe to ponder the purchase. Good to hear it's a lot of fun though.

6 x 4?! Dang... guess I'm not playing it anytime soon in my apartment.

The board is more like 5 by 3, but it helps to have a border to putn the cards etc on.

It plays well on the floor too.

I've enjoyed playing dreadfleet.Its a great beer and pretzels game to enjoy with your friends.

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/709454/dreadfleet-review-2-more-ships-more-battles-less

http://thefrontlinegamer.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-dreadfleet.html

You must have read one of these reviews, judging from your comments about a rhino. I havent got a copy of Deadfeet, nor will i. I do have to say that reading these scathing reviews was more fun than i have had playing the game. For those of you on the fence i would read the two links. The assesment that Deadfeet is mostly luck based seems spot on. I know some GW fans are super stoked on it, but in my opinion, they are just that. GW fans. Take my opinion however you like, but enjoy the above critique.

Hmmmm. It seems like you are stalking me orknidious. Yes, the second link was one that i read that had the Rhino comment, thought on re reading it they only said something about more painful and nothing about less fun. I take it you didnt enjoy your copy of Dreadfleet then, or have you now got cold feet.

I didn't buy it, but one of the semi-local gamestores bought a TON of copies and they're selling like hotcakes. They only keep 5 out at a time, so I asked if he was having trouble selling them, as 5 copies were there a full two weeks. Then I found out he just keeps bringing up more to replace the stock as it runs out. I guess it's popular, I just have no use for it.

Hückleberry wrote:I've enjoyed playing dreadfleet.Its a great beer and pretzels game to enjoy with your friends.

So is every game GW makes, apparently.