The 2003 Dread Pirate Board Game by Front Porch Classics Signature Edition

Set sail to have a night of plundering fun with the 2003 Dread Pirate board game.  The high quality pieces within a hefty ‘treasure chest’ (the game box) instantly makes playing this game a treat!  It’s perfect for a family game night of 2-4 players, ages 8 and up.

There are various editions of the game out there.  While all play the same, the signature edition is the one which is of exceptional collectability.  As mentioned, the game box is a wooden Treasure Chest.  The ships are die cast, the dice are wooden, the gold doubloons are metal, the jewels are glass, the bags velvet, and the map is cloth!  Each piece is amazing.  It sets the tone for a fun time!

Part of the purpose for the company offering such quality was their purpose to have the game given as a heirloom, past down from generation to generation. As a collector of games, I love this idea.  However, with the stunning pieces comes a hefty price.  So the company discontinued the top notch edition, took it down a gear (did away with the ‘treasure chest box’), and made it more affordable for families.  Play remains though!

The object of the game, of course, since players are pirates, is to collect the most treasure by the end of the game!  This is accomplished by sailing across the ocean, via rolls of dice, and battling other pirates to be named the Ultimate Dread Pirate, and winner.

To collect the most treasures, Pirates can have Skirmishes, conduct Raids, or Trade.  They can also visit Dread Island!

The name Dread Pirate for the game relates to this island at the center of the board. Once a Pirate has collected one of each of the four colored treasures (Players start with only 10 of their own color at their port), they can land on Dread Island and roll for FREE treasures.  All extra Gold Doubloons are placed on the island at the beginning of the game, and these can be collected here.

There are options for more advanced play by using a die that indicates the direction of the Wind.  This will affect sailing (movement across the board). There are also cards to draw when sailing over portions of the map.

All in all the complete rules are relatively easy to follow and found in the treasure chest!  The objective is standard for a Pirate Game.  The game ends when all jewels from the four ports have been collected by the Pirates and placed in their booty bags.  The pirate with the most jewels and doubloons is named the Ultimate Dread Pirate.

So have some plundering fun and play a game today!