Pirates of the South China Seas

Pirates of the South China Seas is the fifth installment in the Pirates table-top game series. It expanded the Jade Rebellion faction and detailed their struggle against European and American expansion into Asia.

Set details

Pirates of the South China Seas added the following keyword mechanics to the game.

• Junk

• Fear

• Turtle Ship

The corner symbol of this set was a dragon's head, which was also the symbol of the Jade Rebellion.

It also introduced the Cursed faction.

Notable ships

• Glorious Treasure - Jade Rebellion, 1-mast, 2 armor, 6 points. This ship can deal up to 2 masts of damage and kill one crew when it rams an enemy ship making this ship worth far above 6 points. The armor and its turtle ship ability enable it to take twice as many hits as a normal 1-mast ship. Its cannon is decent and the ship is of average speed. This ship can even destroy a 3-mast ship with only minor damage unlike most 1-mast ships. It is very vulnerable to being hit with a firepot specialist.

• Grand Path - Jade Rebellion, 6-mast, 17 points, with 6 2S cannons and a special ability to add +1 to boarding rolls.

• Feathered Hat - Pirate, 4-mast, 12 points. The Feathered Hat has average cannons (2S 3S 3S 3S) and good speed (S+L) but her ability is powerful -- the Feathered Hat can be crewed by any nationality. Her 3 cargo preclude her from being very useful as a treasure runner but taking on three crew from any nation could make her downright lethal.

• USS New Orleans - America, 2-mast, 12 points. This ship can hide behind something and then pop out to steal a derelict ship. Both of the ships become "teleported" to the home island removing both from danger. In a large battle, this ship has a high value for recovery.

• Santa Ana - Spain, 4-mast, 15 points. Santa Ana could be considered a weaker version of the powerful HMS Titan, as it can receive an extra action on a 5 or a 6. It has slightly above average cannons, sporting 2 rank 2 S range cannons, and 2 rank 3 L range cannons. Its 5 cargo allows it to become a powerful flagship.

Notable crew

• Pirate - The Headhunter (sacrifice a crew for extra action; +1 to cannon rolls vs. non-Pirates). The Headhunter was named by a winner of the world's first Pirates of the Spanish Main event and subsequent auction at Gen Con Indy 2004.

• French - Princess Arii Auraa (0pts, crew cost 0 on this ship)

• American - Commodore Matthew Perry (0LR, +5 fleet points)

• Jade Rebellion
  • Zheng Li Kwan (sacrifice a crew for extra action; treasure switcher)
  • Ms. Cheng (0LR reroll 1 die per turn)
  • Dragon Eyes (10 points, may capture enemy crew for gold when boarding)
  • Li Quin (0LR +5 fleet points)
  • The Nameless (1+ to boadring rolls)