Capt'n W. Kidd –
Rules

by Günter Cornett (co-designed by Volker Schäfer)
graphics by Dietmar Krüger
rules translation by Rick Heli

Content

Game Components

• 24 Game Tokens:
  - 21 Pirates (7 in each of 3 colors)
  - 3 Pirate Flags (only needed for the Madagascar game.)
  
  Stickers must be applied to the tokens before the first game.
  The pirate flags go on the dark tokens.
   
• 1 Game Board showing 18 spaces connected by paths:
  12 of the spaces are each connected to 3 other spaces.
  The remaining 6 spaces are the Start spaces.
  (They are each connected to two neighboring spaces.)
   
• 1 Six-sided die showing values 1-3
  (only needed for the Quedah Merchant game)
   

General Rules

Placing tokens:

A token enters the game by being placed on one of the six Starting spaces. It is placed so that the bottom side of the pirate abuts the black path of the space and the background graphic of the token is continuous with the two other paths leading out of the space.

Movement:

Basically a token can be moved forward out of its space in one of two possible directions, but never backwards. Rotating the token on a space is also not allowed. After movement, the pirate is placed so that the bottom side matches up with the path over which it traveled.

When in the further course of the game, a token is moved into one of the Starting spaces, one of its paths will lead off the board. However, it is not permitted to leave the board. In this case there is only one movement option.

Loyal Captain

Capt'n W. Kidd refuses to capture the Loyal Captain since his ship sails under the British flag. For the first time the crew mutinies! without success this first time, however.

The Rules in Brief:

1. Each player has 7 tokens in their color available.
    
2. The players take turns each moving one of their tokens (either: place a new one or: move 1 from a space to an adjoining space).
    
3. Tokens, or groups of tokens, which are threatened by opposing pirates on all sides are captured and removed from the game. A token threatens another if it could theoretically move onto it on its next turn.
    
4. A player who cannot move or place any tokens loses the game.
    

Tactical Hints and Rules Clarifications:

Re 2: At the start of the game it's a good idea to bring on as many tokens as possible as a strong board presence offers more opportunities to move and capture. But in doing so take care that one's pieces are not surrounded by the opposition.

On the other hand, near the end of the game it is a great advantage if one still has one (or two) tokens in reserve and available for placement.

Tokens must always be moved forward to the next space. The token is oriented so that its back points to the space from which it came. Since rotation on a space is forbidden, it cannot be returned directly back to the space from which it came. In addition, no token may be moved into an occupied space.

Re 3: Capture via surrounding.

If an individual token is surrounded by three opposing tokens, which could theoretically reach its space on its next turn, it is captured. A token on a Starting space is captured by just two opponent tokens. Captured tokens are removed from the game.

Connected, same color groups of tokens are captured if every space connected to this group is occupied by an opposing pirate, each of which does not point to a group member with its bottom side. But if even a single connected space is vacant or occupied so that the bottom side of the token points to the group, the group is not captured. Thus, as in the classic game Go, leave internal holes to protect a group. Since tokens cannot be placed just anywhere, a single hole is often sufficient to secure a group.

On the other hand, a player is occasionally dissolved out of his secure position since he has to move exactly one token every round (or place a new one on a Starting space).

A further method of protection is to move behind an opposing token because as long as the opposing token presents its back, your token cannot be captured. However, it is possible to lose the game due to inability to move.

1 is captured by C and A.

B is captured by 2, 3, and 4.

5 and 7 are captured as a group by D, E, F, and G.

E and F are not captured since there is a vacant space connected to E.

2 is not captured even though B indeed is adjacent, but 2 is not threatened.

Similarly, G is not threatened by 7 and 6 is not threatened by C and D.

If a token is placed on a space which is already threatened by two opposing tokens, the newly-placed piece is immediately captured. Exception: if by this placement at least one of the two other tokens is captured, then the placed token is not captured.

Re 4: End of the Game

A player unable to move (or place) any pieces loses.

In certain situations it can happen that neither of the players can prevent the others from moving. In this case the players agree to a stalemate.

A stalemate is usually clearly recognizable by both players. If there is disagreement over a stalemate, then the player rejecting it has twenty more turns to prove their point by actually managing a win. If they do not succeed in defeating the opponent in twenty turns, they lose the game.

If during this twenty turn period a token is captured, the turn count begins anew.

Start-up Variant:

One player decides the placement position of each of the first tokens for both sides, then the other chooses which of these pieces, and hence the color, to play as.

Quedah Merchant

A few days after the capture of the Quedah Merchant, it is revealed to be a British ship. Capt'n. W. Kidd wants to return it; his crew prevents him from doing this.

Game Components:

Each player has the 7 tokens of a color available.
In addition the die is required.

Starting the game:
Each player in turn order places a token on a vacant Start space of their choice.

Game Turn:

The players take turns rolling the die and moving a token the resulting amount (1-3). All of the dice pips must be used. Jumping over other tokens is not permitted. Whenever a player moves a token off a Starting space, they place a new token on the vacant Starting space of their choice (if any of their tokens remain).

Capturing Opponent Pirates:

It's permitted to move on to an opposing token if the space is connected via its back (that is, from behind). But even here all dice pips must be used.

This token is now captured and taken along with every subsequent move of the token resting on it. Its owner is no longer allowed to move it. A token which has a captured token cannot capture any further token.

A token may never move on top of a token of the same color.

Freeing a Friendly Pirate:

If one's pirate moves from behind onto an opposing pirate who holds a friendly pirate captive, the captive is freed and the opposing pirate is captured instead.

The freed token immediately moves to one of the two available spaces to which it could normally move, if either are free. If such a space is occupied by an opposing token whose back faces the freed token, then this latter token may move on to it and take it prisoner (and free a further token, etc.). But if both possible escape spaces contain friendly tokens (and/or opponent tokens facing the opposite direction), then the original freeing token is not permitted to take this action.

End of the Game:

The game ends when

1. seven tokens (of either color) are captured, or
2. a player is not able to move any tokens

Victory:

In case of (a), the player who has captured more tokens wins. In case of (b) the winner is the player who made the last move.

Tactical Tips:

Blocking opposing tokens is more important than capturing them. If a token is blocked on its Starting space, the player cannot bring in any new pieces since this is only allowed after a Starting space has been vacated.

Madagascar

Off Madagascar, matters finally come to mutiny. The majority of Capt'n. W. Kidd's crew go over to his old adversary, Robert Culliford.

Game Components:

Each player has the 7 tokens of a color available (6 tokens in a three-player game). The three black pirate flags are kept handy near the game board.

Starting the game:

In turn, each player places one of their tokens on a Starting space (until all of the Starting spaces are occupied).

Game Turn:

The player taking a turn has the choice to either move a token or place one on a vacant Starting space. If neither is possible, they pass.

Capturing Opponent Pirates:

It's possible to move on top of an opponent's token if it is reached from a space connected to its back. The token below is now captured and taken along with every move of the token above it. A token which has captured another may capture further tokens to form a "tower" of tokens. Towers may also be captured in the same way.

It is never allowed to move directly on top of one's own tokens, although certainly one's own tokens may be present lower in the tower.

Movement Distance:

The distance that a tower of tokens moves depends on the number in the stack. For example, a tower of three tokens must move exactly 3 spaces.

Important: Never move over other pieces.

As play continues, towers can become rather high. Once the height reaches 6 pirate tokens, it's a good idea to replace the lower five tokens with a flag token. This does not reduce the movement distance of the tower.

End of the Game:

The game ends when one player has captured all of the opposing tokens. This player wins. Should it not be possible to capture all of the tokens (e.g. because of inability to move), the game ends in a stalemate.

The game also ends in stalemate should the same position be repeated three times.

Tactical Tips:

Opening Phases:
The first pirate to leave its Starting space is immediately threatened by the pirate which is next placed on this space. If this piece afterwards moves, the pursued piece cannot create enough distance. It is therefore a good idea to maneuver the pursued pirate into a blind alley so that pursuit is unappealing. If the pursuer captures the piece anyway, they must then reckon with their piece itself being captured.

High Towers:
High towers can move a long way as long as they have an open road. But in the beginning paths are mostly quite blocked so they constitute easy targets. Toward the end of the game, owning a high tower is, as a rule, a requirement for victory.