The article provides the stats and rules for the Bark ship for use in the Oak & Iron Miniatures game. Download the free STL files to print the Bark ship and base for your own Oak & Iron games.
DISCLAIMER: This ship is not an official ship from FireLock Games. The stats and model have been created by Timber and Sail by converting the Bark stats from Blood & Plunder, Firelock Game’s other historical piracy game, for play in the Oak & Iron game system.
Bark Historical Background
“The common bark is the coastal merchant and fishing workhorse of the Caribbean. Ranging from one to three masts, it is typically square-rigged and designed for cargo, not speed. It is a sturdy, unromantic vessel, yet due to its availability is often used by buccaneers. Spaniards, if they have nothing better, often fit them out as armadillas, or small fighting vessels, against buccaneers. One of the most famous buccaneer versus Spanish battles pits buccaneers in canoes and pirogues against three Spanish armadilla barks.”
– Firelock Games Blood & Plunder Bark
You can read more about the Bark as it exists in Blood & Plunder on BloodandPigment.com’s Bark review on the ship or their YouTube review to see how it compares.
Ship Overview
Ship Review
Bark Ship Analysis
| Attribute | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maneuverability | 58.3% | ||||
| Speed | 83% | ||||
| Durability | 10% | ||||
| Firepower | 23% | ||||
| Brawling | 17% |
Bark Ship Overview & Tactics
The Bark didn’t originate as a ship meant for combat. It is a coastal merchant and fishing vessel common to the Caribbean. Because it was common and readily available, pirates, buccaneers, and military units occasionally converted them as small coastal defense and raiding units. With a shallow draft and sweeps, it was able to traverse rivers and shorelines with ease.
Barks range in size greatly having 1-3 masts and a variety of hull designs, but for game purposes, a Bark is smaller than a Sloop with a more lightly built hull. Its square sails and frame were designed for function, rather than the rigors of combat. While it lacks durability, it is relatively maneuverable and quick. In small battles, Barks can be fielded in large numbers in an attempt to overwhelm an opponent and win by attrition rather than brute strength. They make good boarding vessels if they can close on the enemy quickly enough. That said, attempting to field a Bark in a larger point game will likely result in a sunk/crippled Bark every round against any of the Ships of the Line.
Barks have fewer Damage tracks than a standard ship (4 rather than the standard 7). You can upgrade the vessel with the new Reinforced Bulkheads ability to enhance its durability, but it still doesn’t match up with other ships in the game. Built for hugging the coast, these ships have a new Shallow-Draught ability (similar in function to Shallow-Draft), but that allows them to re-roll a failure when running aground.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Quick and maneuverable
- Great for swarming tactics
- Excellent for distractions or corraling your opponent’s movement
- Having Yare and Shallow Draught allow this ship to maneuver places other ships can’t.
- Because of its speed and maneuverability, it is good for chasing objective tokens solo (e.g. Spy or Raid Mission)
- A good way to increase the strike points available to your fleet
Cons
- Fragile. Against Ships of the Line they can be easily destroyed in only 1 broadside.
- Low firepower for Ranged attacks
- Low Close Combat ability
- Easy targets to inflict Strike Points against your Squadron
Bark Ship Miniature
As this ship isn’t an official Oak & Iron ship from Firelock Games you will have to use a proxy miniature for the ship — unless– you have a 3D printer. We have built a low resolution proxy mini for the proper scale use in Oak & Iron.
Download the STL file for your 3D printer on Thingiverse.com here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5402403
You can also use this option to download a base from your new ship: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4700740
Don’t have a 3D Printer? Download Printable Tokens
If you don’t have a 3D printer, we still have you covered. Download a PDF containing a 4-pack set of Bark Ship stat cards and tokens so you can still use still play with the Bark in your Oak & Iron Games.
