Ahoy Review

boardgamequest.com:

We review Ahoy, a light asymmetric game published by Leder Games. Ahoy has players competing for fortune and glory to become the pirate with the most Fame on the seas.

Avast, ye scallywags! Things be lookin’ fishy on the Seven Seas… The Mollusk Union are tryin’ ta make the Bluefin Squadron walk the plank! Shiver me timbers! It’s the Smugglers with a STEEL CHAIR!

Ahem, sorry, I’m not sure where that came from… Since first playing Vast a number of years ago, I’ve been intrigued by asymmetric games. They were such games before then, but it was Vast that brought them to my attention. Some work and some fall flat on their proverbial faces. When I was told about Ahoy and that it was an asymmetric game from the publisher of Vast with a similar art style, I was instantly intrigued (that it contained the words “Mollusk Union” also helped). Would it be a successful take on the genre, or would it fall into the latter category? I had to find out. It is a game for 2-4 players, and it plays about 60 minutes, though it can come in quite a bit shorter if you’re only playing it with 2 players. The best experience happens to be with 2 players as well.

As I mentioned, the game is asymmetric, but only mostly so. Two of the players play the game the same way, and the win condition is the same for all four. The players take on the roles of the Bluefin Squadron, the Mollusk Union, or the Smugglers. The three all play differently, but there can be two Smugglers players. Ultimately, the goal is the same no matter your role: spread your wealth and reputation to acquire the most Fame by the end of the game. The rulebook makes it a little more specific for those that like terminology. The Bluefin Squadron and Mollusk Union are using area control,