The Inside Scoop on Gaming

I know that some of you detest the "furry" in Furry Pirates so I'll start with the pirate part.

There are nine professions to choose from in this game. Players are not limited to fighters and seamen. Thieves, gunners, hunters, craftspersons, and magickusers are also included in the game. Players are also given the choice of being pirates or privateers working for a specific country.

The Halogen rule system is a bit difficult to understand in first reading the book. The attack and defense tables may be a bit intimidating but in play they should not be too cumbersome. The rules governing magick use are good because characters who use magick can only cast a certain amount of magic a day or suffer damage to their own hit points.

Unfortunately, the special effects that are possible in using magick in a pirate game are barely covered at all. This should not be a problem for experienced gamers but it might be for players who are new to gaming.

The sailing mechanics section adds a lot of flavor to the game. The authors use real sailing terms to describe the parts of ships from the hulls to the sails. The rules on sailing with the wind at various directions in relation to a ship are great.

The roleplaying artillery attacks section adds drama to ship to ship combat. All the phases of firing a cannon are covered as well as the commands given by the gunner. This section in particular was a pleasant surprise to me; I didn't expect this much detail in the game.

The ships section is also very detailed. Including the adventure at the end of the game, twenty ships are listed with full stats. This section really rounds out the "pirate" side of the game. I have wanted a game for a long time that could simulate a 44 cannon broadside attack by a ship of the line; this game can do just that!

The historical background of the game is excellent. Nearly every major player in the economic, political, and military arenas around the world is covered. The magickal background of various regions is also included. The players have the opportunity to meet Blackbeard or Captain Kidd or even Louis XIV. The game also presents several secret societies that are present at the end of the 17th Century. One of the great aspects of this section is that adventure hooks are provided for all the "powers that be." Designing adventures should be a breeze with all the background provided.

Now to the Furries. Yes, this game is about Furries. The players can play almost any animal that they can think of as long as they can provide an appropriate background for the character. Even the ship's parrot has a job in this game; that of aerial scout. One thing that is good for those who don't think Furries is that the pirate aspect of the game is as important as the Furries are. This is not a game of cutesy little Furries playing pirates, these are cutthroat scoundrels!

THE BOTTOM LINE Furry Pirates is a good game that fans of either pirates or Furries should give a try. If you like both Furries and pirates, this might be something you would like to buy.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Furry Pirates
Author: Lise Breakey and Bruce Thomas Category: game Company/Publisher: Atlas Games Line: N/A Cost: $22.95 Page count: 175 Capsule Review by Todd Cross on 06/03/99. Genre tags: Historical	I know that some of you detest the "furry" in Furry Pirates so I'll start with the pirate part. There are nine professions to choose from in this game. Players are not limited to fighters and seamen. Thieves, gunners, hunters, craftspersons, and magickusers are also included in the game. Players are also given the choice of being pirates or privateers working for a specific country. The Halogen rule system is a bit difficult to understand in first reading the book. The attack and defense tables may be a bit intimidating but in play they should not be too cumbersome. The rules governing magick use are good because characters who use magick can only cast a certain amount of magic a day or suffer damage to their own hit points. Unfortunately, the special effects that are possible in using magick in a pirate game are barely covered at all. This should not be a problem for experienced gamers but it might be for players who are new to gaming. The sailing mechanics section adds a lot of flavor to the game. The authors use real sailing terms to describe the parts of ships from the hulls to the sails. The rules on sailing with the wind at various directions in relation to a ship are great. The roleplaying artillery attacks section adds drama to ship to ship combat. All the phases of firing a cannon are covered as well as the commands given by the gunner. This section in particular was a pleasant surprise to me; I didn't expect this much detail in the game. The ships section is also very detailed. Including the adventure at the end of the game, twenty ships are listed with full stats. This section really rounds out the "pirate" side of the game. I have wanted a game for a long time that could simulate a 44 cannon broadside attack by a ship of the line; this game can do just that! The historical background of the game is excellent. Nearly every major player in the economic, political, and military arenas around the world is covered. The magickal background of various regions is also included. The players have the opportunity to meet Blackbeard or Captain Kidd or even Louis XIV. The game also presents several secret societies that are present at the end of the 17th Century. One of the great aspects of this section is that adventure hooks are provided for all the "powers that be." Designing adventures should be a breeze with all the background provided. Now to the Furries. Yes, this game is about Furries. The players can play almost any animal that they can think of as long as they can provide an appropriate background for the character. Even the ship's parrot has a job in this game; that of aerial scout. One thing that is good for those who don't think Furries is that the pirate aspect of the game is as important as the Furries are. This is not a game of cutesy little Furries playing pirates, these are cutthroat scoundrels! THE BOTTOM LINE Furry Pirates is a good game that fans of either pirates or Furries should give a try. If you like both Furries and pirates, this might be something you would like to buy. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)