7th Sea: City of Five Sails
7th Sea: City of Five Sails
7th Sea: City of Five Sails is an expandable card game set in the swashbuckling world of Chaosium’s 7th Sea roleplaying game by John Wick. Players control one of five factions as they fight to influence, control, and explore the independent and unruly city of Five Sails. It is typically played with two players, but multiplayer variants will allow more players to get into the game.
During the game, each player represents a leader who, along with their allies, explore locations and fight both with swords and with wits for overall influence over the city. Along with each player’s individual deck, 7th Sea: City of Five Sails also includes an element of randomness in the form of a separate, shared deck that represents the city itself with unusual characters, items, and events that change the focus of the game. Combat is resolved in a unique “back and forth” style reminiscent of challenging swordplay.
There are three ways to achieve victory in the City of Five Sails: Defeat your opponent's Leader, simultaneously Control each of the three central locations, or end a "day" (game turn) with 7 or more Renown (Victory Points).
Along with their Leader, players construct a 40 card Faction Deck which represents the tactics, actions, and equipment that helps achieve victory. They also construct a 10 card Approach Deck which contains the Characters and Schemes they use in the city. Five Sails has three locations: the Docks, the Forum and the Grand Bazaar. Characters will struggle against one another to control these locations to claim Renown.
During Dawn, a card is placed face-up in each location from the City Deck. Then the players select one character and one Scheme from their Approach Deck. Then they draw cards equal to their Leader's Panache stat.
Players create High Drama by alternating Actions. This includes moving their characters to the City locations. Recruiting Mercenaries at those locations. Claiming those locations for their Renown. Or even challenge another character to a duel!
Duels are the heart of the swashbuckling genre and 7th Sea: City of Five Sails is certainly no exception! The back and forth nature of our unique Riposte, Parry, Thrust mechanic represents the dance of actual swordplay.
When a character issues a challenge, they send Threat to their target in the amount of their Combat stat. If the challenged character accepts, they respond by playing a card. Whenever a card is played in a duel, it modifies the threat. It may Riposte some of the threat back, Parry some of the threat away, or generate entirely new threat with a Thrust. Any threat that is not mitigated wounds the character and the rounds repeats until there is no threat in either direction.
Some cards have Maneuvers and Techniques. These are additional skills your characters have trained in. Characters approach duels differently based on their stats versus their opponents. A higher Finesse may give you more options in the duel. Higher Combat may let you do more damage.
High Drama is over when both players Pass their chance to take an Action. The Day ends and all characters return to their Homes. Renown is collected from locations you control, and if no one wins, play another Day!