Pieces of Eight Image

Pieces of Eight

Pirate battles on the high seas!

Players: 2+ Ages: 10+ Time: 10–30 minutes

Pieces of Eight at a Glance

  • A high-seas combat game for two or more players.
  • A unique coin-based combat system that puts a new twist on ship-to-ship combat.
  • Each set includes coins for a single player's ship.

Enemy Ship Sighted: The World of Pieces of Eight

Set sail on the high seas in a ship of your own construction. Pieces of Eight combines two well-known concepts — ship-based combat and treasure chests full of pirate gold — to create a new spin on the genre. In this game, the coins represent your ship!

Set sail with your keen first mate, barrels of grog in the hold, and a pirate's monkey on your shoulder.

Treachery and Battle on the High Seas: Gameplay Basics

In Pieces of Eight, each player controls a ship represented by coins in their hand. Each coin has a special effect: for example, the cannon is used to destroy other players' coins.

The fore and crow's nest coins are visible to other players. The aft coin is always hidden on the end closest to the player's hand. The captain coin is hidden somewhere in the middle.

Pieces of 8 Diagram

During a turn, players can move coins from the fore and aft to the crow's nest, play coins, move coins next to their captain, or destroy their crow's nest coin. Destroyed coins go to the hold, but beware: some coins can pull them out again.

Destroy your enemy's captain to win the game.

Choose between The Cursed Blade or The Maiden's Vengeance ship sets. Each set includes different coins, and coins can be swapped between sets.

Playtesters

With as many playtesters as helped us with Pieces of Eight, it's not surprising that we missed a few. Our thanks go out to Rich Gains, Jerry Corrick, and Ross Jepson for their help.

Coin List

  • Barrel of Grog (1)
  • Black Spot (1)
  • Bomb (3)
  • Broadside (1)
  • Buried Treasure (1)
  • Call to Quarters (1)
  • Cannon (3)
  • Captain (1)
  • Captain's Monkey (1)
  • Cutlass (3)
  • Full Sail (1)
  • Mate (5)
  • Pillage (3)
  • Pistols (3)
  • Treachery (2)

Awards

  • 2010 Family Games: The 100 Best.
  • 2007 Origins Award Winner – Vanguard Award for Innovation.
  • 2007 Diana Jones Award Nominee.

    Vital Stats

    Designer: Jeff Tidball
    Editor: Michelle Nephew
    Cover & Coin Artist: Jeff Menges
    MSRP: $19.95
    Atlas Stock #: AG1501 (The Maiden’s Vengeance), AG1502 (The Cursed Blade)
    Barcode: 978-1-58978-090-3 (The Maiden’s Vengeance), 978-1-58978-091-0 (The Cursed Blade)
    Format: 16 custom metal coins, a velvet game pouch, and a rules sheet in a 6” x 9” x 1.75” box
    Number of Players: 2+ (each with own set)
    Ages: 10+
    Play Time: 10–30 minutes
    Release Date: September 2006