Description

Battaglia di Lepanto 1571 is a Tactical level wargame for 2 players that simulates the Battle of Lepanto between Christian and Ottoman fleets.
The game includes a hex map depicting the sea and part of the coast, on which the players will setup their fleets of war galleys. Each war galley is represented by a hexagonal counter with all important data on it, and with two sides (normal and damaged).

Taking turns, the players will give orders (move, board, fire or ram - this last one only available to Ottoman galleys) to their fleet and move their ships in order to win the battle. Orders are issued using Order cards, while the combat is resolved with 6-sided dice. Boardings are resolved by playing Tactical cards, attempting to outmaneuvre the opponent. When a player cannot play a Tactical card that "parries" his opponent card the boarding is resolved with a roll of dice.

The game lasts 7 turns under the basic rules, and ends when a flagship is captured or destroyed. The game comes with advanced rules for capturing ships, playing the game in 14 turns, adjusting cannon fire, and using different victory conditions. The full colour manual comes with a historical background and original illustrations.

While self-published the quality of the components is quite good. Contents list as follows:

1. 1 Order Cards deck (movement and combat)
2. 1 Tactical Cards deck (for boardings)
3. 10 6-sided dice
4. 32 hexagonal, double-faced ship counters
5. 1 board
6. 60 markers (wrecks, orders given, captured ship)
7. 1 32-pages full colour rulebook

Note: the game is only in Italian.