The winds of change are blowing! The much-anticipated release of version 2.0 of Oak & Iron is finally upon us. This beloved miniatures wargame has charted a new course, introducing some streamlining of the rules, enhancements to close combat mechanics, and exciting new content. For both seasoned admirals and new captains, this edition offers both longtime players and newcomers an improved experience.
In this article, we’ll dive into what sets Oak & Iron 2.0 apart from its predecessor. We’ll cover the updates to the core mechanics, explore how these changes enhance gameplay, and take a closer look at the thrilling new content that awaits in the future.
Crew & Seamanship Action Overhaul
This is one of the largest changes in the 2.0 version.Seamanship and Crew Actions combine into one unified “Actions” Phase. Instead of a separate Seamanship Action and Crew Action phase, each ship may take two Actions. Here’s a quick summary of the changes
- A ship may take up to two actions each time it activates.
- Most actions can be taken either before or after a ship has moved, but some must be taken at a specific time.
- Adjust Speed is taken before the ship moves.
- Change Speed Setting is taken after the ship moves
- A ship may perform each type of action only once per turn.
- If a rule or game effect (e.g Aground) prevents a ship from moving, it may still take actions.
Attack Phase Changes
The Attack Phase is now split into two different phases “The Shooting Phase” and “The Close Combat Phase”. This helps streamline the gameplay and gives a more equal weight to each phase. This change helps lessen the focus on Boarding. In the previous version, there was a bit of meta that favored boarding actions as they could be more effective in inflicting Fatigue and reducing an enemy’s effectiveness.
Shooting Phase Changes
Line of Sight has had some clarifications to make it clearer when a ship can see its target.
There is Line of Sight if a line can be drawn from the midpoint of any of the ship’s edges to the midpoint of any edge and at least one corner of the target ship’s base -or- if a line can be drawn from the mid-point and a corner on the same side of the base to the mid-point of any edge of the target ship’s base (FIG. 7).
Previously, during the Attack Phase, you could take an additional Crew Action instead of an Attack if the ship has no opposing ships within Pistol Shot. Now that the ship gets 2 Actions in the Move Phase this is no longer an option.
Boarding and Close Combat Changes
Close Combat now gets a separate phase AFTER resolving the ranged shooting attacks and gets the following changes:
- Players now simultaneously resolve all Close Combat attacks, alternating turns starting with the initiative winner.
- It includes additional clarification that a ship must choose a single target if multiple options are available.
- Landing Party tokens may make Close Combat attacks against other Landing Party within Pistol Shot during combat.
- Both versions use the same formula for the base number of dice:
(3 + Crew Rating – Fatigue level + bonuses from cards or special rules)
This separation of Shooting and Boarding means you have to change the focus and priority of attacks.
Ship Upgrade Card Changes
There are some Ship Upgrade cards with minor changes to fix some imbalances.
Veteran Crew (v2) – When activated in the Attack phase, before declaring an attack, this ship rolls a dice for each point of fatigue. If any
or
or 
results are rolled, remove 1 point of fatigue. May not be used if this ship took a Rally Crew Action this turn.Veteran Crew is a card in the Expansion Deck Vol 1. Previously, the upgrade card allowed the ship to act as if it had one less Fatigue. Instead, it now allows a check to automatically remove a point of Fatigue if the ship doesn’t take a Rally. This change has a 25% chance of success instead of auto. But throughout the game, it also allows you to recover multiple Fatigue.
Marines (v3) – When checking for Critical Hits, if one or more
results are rolled, the target ship takes 1 point of fatigue. This ship adds +1 dice to Close Combat actions.
Objective Tokens
Additional rules clarify the placement of Objective Tokens, addressing situations where tokens could previously be placed in inaccessible locations or required clarification for interactions during gameplay. Here’s a quick summary:
- You may place Tokens on Island or Shoal terrain but you cannot place them on Rock terrain.
- If a ship carrying an Objective Token becomes Out of Action, the token is removed from the game.
- Tokens on Captured Ships can transfer to other ships using an Action.
- A ship (and its Landing Party) can carry a number of Objective Tokens equal to its Fortitude value (e.g. a Light Galleon with Fortitude 3 can carry 3 tokens).
New Scenario Deployment Cards
The game introduces two new Deployment Cards to add variety. Along with the horizontal and vertical divisions, the game now includes diagonal deployment divisions for even more strategic options.
New Advantage & Conditions Cards
The Oak & Iron version 2 update adds new Advantage and Conditions cards, introducing a couple of new strategies and twists, that add a bit of thematic depth to the game.
Out of Position – One of your opponent’s ships is not where it should be. Both players roll a Skill Test with their Admirals. The player who scored the most hits chooses a ship and the player that chose this card may then move that ship anywhere within Musket Shot of its current position, but must not be placed In the Wind’s Eye.
Ambush – When deploying ships, set up to 25% of your ships aside. These ships can be placed anywhere on the table out of Line of Sight of any opposing ships. All ships placed in this way must be within musket shot of each other.
New Terrain Cards
As part of the version 2 update, there are also two new terrain cards added to the original deployment options at the start of the game.
Archipelago – Add 1-4 Islands, Rocks, or Shoals and 0-1 Land Masses. Land Masses must be placed touching a table edge.
Bay – Add 1-3 Islands, Rocks, or Shoals and 1-2 Land Masses. Land Masses must be placed touching a table edge.
New Mission Cards
The original As part of the version 2 update, there are also two new terrain cards added to the original deployment options at the start of the game.
Control – Both player’s squadrons are attempting to outmaneuver the other and hold the Weather Gauge. At the end of Turn 5 and every turn following, the player with the least number of ships closest to the Windward edge gains a Strike Point.
Misc Rules and Wording Clarifications
In addition to the larger elements mentioned above, several minor tweaks and adjustments have been made to improve clarity and consistency throughout the rules. These changes involve rewording certain elements to make them easier to understand and ensuring that the terminology used is uniform across all sections. While these updates may seem small, they aim to reduce ambiguity and streamline gameplay for a smoother overall experience.
When will the Oak & Iron 2.0 Game be Available?
The highly anticipated Oak & Iron 2.0 rules are now available for download on the new FIrelock Games website, allowing players to dive into the updated mechanics and start exploring the changes right away. To get your copy, select the free digital rulebook in the store and add it to your cart. After you checkout, you will be emailed a downloadable PDF of the Oak & Iron 2.0 rules.
For those eagerly awaiting the new boxed set, there’s good news: it’s currently en route from China. According to Mike Tuñez of Firelock Games, the release is scheduled for late February, so players can expect the new set to hit stores soon.
What about the new Ships for the Game?
There are several new ships for the game announced and planned for 2023 and 2024. Unfortunately, those plans didn’t pan out as expected. Firelock Games made several changes to the infrastructure and manufacturing processes in 2023 & 2024, experimenting with SioCast manufacturing and later moving to high-definition resin 3D printing.
My understanding of things is the Core Rules boxed set will continue to be manufactured with minis in the same plastic format. The plans for single-ship releases are still in the works. The new models will be a mix of resin hulls with SioCast sails.
Release Schedule for New Oak & Iron Ships
The release schedule for new Oak & Iron ship models has not been formally announced. However, the new Galley Frigate model is in the queue to be first. TimberandSail.com has received a prototype of the new model and will be releasing a preview article and review of the model Soon™.
Confirmed Ships Coming to Oak & Iron
This is a list of the miniatures that have designs queued for release:
- 5th Rate Galley Frigate = a fast and maneuverable 5th Rate with a new “Galley” attribute
- Urca = A ship that derives from the Dutch word “hoeker,” referring to a broad, sturdy cargo vessel.
- Merchantman = a mid-range ship that is likely a more manueverable alternate to the Light Galleon.
- “Light” 4th Rate = a warship halfway between a 5th and 4th Rate.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned captain or new to the game, Oak & Iron 2.0 promises to bring exciting updates to your tabletop naval battles. With its refined mechanics and enhanced gameplay, Oak & Iron 2.0 is set to offer a richer and more immersive experience for players. Now is the perfect time to prepare your fleets and ready your crews and friends for some great naval games with the new rules set.
If you are planning to attend Adepticon 2025, the Oak & Iron demo, narrative events & tournament will be using the new 2.0 ruleset. You can learn more about these gaming sessions on our events page.