project-image

Swords & Sails, Rewrite History in 1000 AD

Created by Jason R. Williams

Swords & Sails is an epic game of strategy, conquest, diplomacy and intrigue about leading your armies and fleets through medieval Europe in 1000 AD. Take on the role of one of the major political factions; the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, the Fatimid Caliphate, the Kievan Rus' Empire, the North Sea Empire, the Kingdom of France, or the Anglo Saxon Kingdom of England. Make alliances and win as a team or win individually Using military might, political intrigue, and diplomatic savvy.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Swords&Sails: 3 Days to go, what's are Minor Player Factions?
almost 7 years ago – Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 12:45:55 PM

We have less than 3 days till campaign end and all the attention is on the Minor Players add ons and we have had a few people ask how they fit in to the game.

Minor Players are full player factions but start a bit smaller than the original 7 Players. Because of this and based on history, they will start allied to an adjacent major player. They can break the alliance at any time (after the first turn) and start with victory points relative to their starting size difference, just like the major players. 

They each have their own faction specials just like the major players to help give the feel of playing that historical faction. They have all the same pieces as the major players except we will be creating generic Army / Fleet unit pieces (used during long combat only) to help produce them for less cost.   When you get 1 or more minor players as part of your Award, you will get one set of generic Army / Fleet unit pieces which are used only during combat.

Here is the suggested alliance for the First 5 Minor Players:  (links to reference wiki's)

  • Kingdom of Poland:  Allied to Holy Roman Empire (alternative to Kievan Rus') 
  • Kingdom of Hungary:  Allied to Holy Roman Empire (if Byzantine is in the game must ally to Keivan Rus' or Byzantium) 
  • Caliphate of Qurtuba:  Allied to Fatimid Caliphate if in the game, otherwise becomes major player by adding Magreb territories of North Africa. 
  • Kingdom of Leon:  Allied to France (more historically accurate) or Alternative to Fatimid Caliphate. 
  • 1st Bulgarian Empire:  Allied to Byzantine Empire (alternative to Kievan Rus')

Faction Specials for Minor Player Factions:

  • Kingdom of Poland:   Knight costs -10, Heavy Cavalry cost -10, Light Infantry cost -5
  • Kingdom of Hungary:   Light Cavalry cost -20, up to 2/3 Army peasants, Minor City Cost 3/5
  • Caliphate of Qurtuba:   Light Cavalry cost -20,Morale +1 for Light Infantry & Heavy Infantry, Transports have a combat ability
  • Kingdom of Leon:   Heavy Cavalry cost -10, Heavy Infantry cost -5, Morale +1 for Heavy Cavalry & Heavy Infantry
  • 1st Bulgarian Empire:   Light Infantry cost -10, Heavy Infantry cost -5, Morale +1 for Heavy Infantry /Light Infantry.

We will also be using post KickStarter fund raising and crowd funding to try continuing the stretch goal and add on availability for the Minor players.

Swords&Sails: Stretch Goal Update #2
almost 7 years ago – Wed, Apr 25, 2018 at 04:15:26 PM

Hi All,

We have unlocked our Leader Cards stretch goal and since there is popular support for backers to have the Minor Player factions as Add Ons as we have not yet started accelerating the funding curve, I have made the modifications to the descriptions to allow for that.   In addition since it was overwhelmingly requested, I have added a higher level pledge to include all the Minor Player Factions in the Emperor Backer level.  You will be guaranteed to receive at least the 3 initial minor players with that pledge level and all stretch goal minor player additions as well, even if we do not get them unlocked as stretch goals.  The Knight and Duke level will now automatically include one Minor Player stretch goal once its unlocked and the King level will include two.  

As additional minor factions are unlocked beyond the one or two included, additional minor players can be added as add ons.  Allowing you two get as many as we are able to produce based on funding level (as what we get unlock) and by choice of the minor factions you want in your game.   The cost above the included will be $20 for each additional minor player faction (just add $20 to your base pledge for each) or $45 if you wanted to include 3 minor factions in addition to what you would receive at your pledge level.  If you are pledging at the Baron or Warrior level, you would have to add this cost to get the additional Minor factions (this is not a change to Baron and Warrior levels as the stretch goals for minor factions was already listed as Knight and above).  Notice it's maybe cheaper to upgrade to a higher level.

We may still have some pure Minor faction stretch goals mixed in as well depending how the funding goes in these last few days.

Swords&Sails: 1 week left
almost 7 years ago – Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 03:30:45 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Swords&Sails: Revamped Stretch Goals
almost 7 years ago – Wed, Apr 18, 2018 at 12:44:54 PM

We have revamped the early stretch goals.  It is now just a bit easier to fund some of the early stretch goals.   We have also added the Kingdom of Poland Minor player.  Additional Minor Player Stretch goals to be added later includes Kingdom of Hungary, Caliphate of Qurtuba (Cordoba), and potentially the Kingdom of Leon and the 1st Bulgarian Empire.  We will be holding polls to get input on what order we should be offering the minor players.  Here is the survey LINK.  Below is the initial restructured Stretch Goals:

Swords&Sails is Over 95% funded and is the Kickstarter featured Tabletop game
almost 7 years ago – Tue, Apr 10, 2018 at 08:52:06 PM

We have exceeded 95% funding and Swords & Sails is the featured Kickstarter Tabletop game.

Featured Kickstarter Game Apr 7 - Apr 8
Featured Kickstarter Game Apr 7 - Apr 8