that gamers of the video game will recognise: a fantastic assortment of robust, vibrant tokens, equipment decks, personalities, and mission cards; also, there are player boards and a massive map of the game’s globe (I promise, this map is large).
To be utilised in the video game, there’s also a DLC code for Lord Guardian Sails. These are exclusive cosmetic unlocks that are extremely rare. Lastly, there are eighteen unique dice that can be used with the “Avast” rule system of the game.
It’s evident that the box is lovely; it was expertly made with excellent production values and a careful eye for detail to complement the overall style, feel, and mood of the video game. However, how does it perform?
Fortunately, it’s a really easy game to pick up for more casual gamers or video game enthusiasts who aren’t too familiar with TTRPGs (tabletop roleplaying games, for those who are unaware).
A simple adventure found in The Book of Pirates, one of the three volumes in the package, can be used to teach players how to manage and participate in the game as pirates and Game Master (GM), respectively.
To become familiar with the mechanics of the Avast system and the general events that will be occurring through the introductory adventure (Dead Man’s Debt), I would advise the player who plans to run the adventure as the GM to read through each chapter at least quickly before playing, as well as read the few pages explaining the rules at the back of the book.
All it will do is guarantee fewer page turns and increased self-assurance to handle situations as they arise during play.
Character creation in roleplaying games may occasionally be an intimidatingly complex process, despite the fact that it’s frequently a tremendously enjoyable method to add personality to the game.
Nevertheless, in Sea of Thieves, everything is probably faster and easier than I’ve ever experienced. All you need to do is select a player board, a double-sided personality trait card (such as Cheerful/Angry), two weapons from the list of four, some supply tokens, and two dice, and you’re set to play.
This reflects the blank slate aspect of the characters in the video game and is particularly welcome for beginners, even though it means that characters aren’t as well-defined as they may be in other TTRPGs.
Additionally, the double-sided trait card, which awards an extra die for using your trait in your current roll, puts pressure on players to participate more in roleplaying.
Speaking of rolling, for the most part of the game, players will use their dice to solve problems that the game master (GM) has set. Simple tasks that don’t involve conflict or opposing forces like storms, skeletons, or sharks won’t require a roll, but when one is, the GM will explain the problem to the players and let them know how many victories they must obtain to solve it as well as how many rolls they have left before failing.
Treasure Chests, Pieces of Eight, Bones, and an Anchor are displayed on the custom dice. Pieces of Eight count as one victory each, Bones are essentially blank, Anchors are a failure (for which the player must select a negative effect), and Treasure Chests are both victories and bonus benefits (which, once more, the player must select from a number of options).
Generally, the player informs the group of the outcome of the dice roll, unless they roll an Anchor and choose for the GM to create a new problem, in which case the GM introduces a new problem for the players to solve into the plot.
As one of the drawbacks of failing a task or rolling an anchor is injury, which eliminates one player, death can happen fairly frequently.
A player must spend two turns on the Ferry of the Damned if they lose their final dice. Fortunately, death is just a minor annoyance on the Sea of Thieves, much like it is in the video game, despite being common.
All you have to do is respawn on your ship or in the closest taverna to resume your journey. Ships also respawn much as in the video game.
A few other noteworthy features that can seem strange to seasoned players of TTRPGs make sense when considering the video game that the tabletop game is based on.
For instance, treasure chests cannot be opened; instead, they must be redeemed for gold by Gold Hoarders, who are stationed at outposts.
In Sea of Thieves, treasure earns gold that may be exchanged for extra dice, up to a maximum of seven, which grants the player the title of Legendary Pirate. This process essentially amounts to adding another die to the player’s pool.
After the players and GM have finished the brief instructional adventure and understood the fundamental principles, they should proceed to the remaining books in the box.
The second of the three books, Lore of the Sea, offers GMs a wealth of useful guidance on how to conduct games in addition to comprehensive lore and details about the setting, treasures, and characters found in the Sea of Thieves.
Last but not least, a full campaign—a lengthier sequence of quests that will see players go on an Ashen Jewels quest—is included in the Book of Voyages.
For seasoned roleplayers, The Sea of Thieves Roleplaying Game could be a little too simple and straightforward, but it’s ideal for people who are new to TTRPGs. It’s also a fairly family-friendly game (except from the death and alcohol consumption, maybe).
