In this scenario, we’ll delve into the semi-historical, semi-fictional adaptation of a historical naval conflict I’m calling the “Seige of Nassau“. It is adapted from a brief confrontation between Charles Vane and Woodes Rogers in 1718 at the Nassau Town Harbor. Historically, the “battle” wasn’t much of a fight and more of a “strategic retreat”. This scenario attempts to use some potentially historical ships, stats, and mechanics in Oak & Iron to bring to life a historically satisfying event.
This scenario was run as a special narrative event at ADEPTICON 2023. The game featured a custom game board and some fancy land terrain for a sea game. None of these are technically required to play this scenario. It was created to try to catch the attention of those passing by the tables and hooking people in to play a demo of the game.
“Seige of Nassau” – Historical Background
In April of 1718, the infamous pirate Charles Vane was in command of multiple ships, upgrading his flagship to a 12-gun brigantine he renamed the Ranger. By June, Vane and his men may have taken as many as a dozen prize ships. Among the prizes was a 20-gun French merchant ship.
Gaining confidence in his success, Vane took over Nassau (and the fort that guarded it!) in early July. Charles managed to hold the town under his control for a brief time. However, on July 22nd, the English Governor Woodes Rogers arrived with seven tall ships, including three “Man-O-War,” to retake the town and rid the area of pirates. Recognizing he was outmatched, Vane fired defiant warning shots at Woodes’ ships from the fort.
Knowing he was outmatched and hesitant to fight a better-equipped force, Vane sent a message to the British to negotiate and discuss options for taking the king’s pardon. In reality, the offer to negotiate was merely a ruse to delay the inevitable conflict. When night fell, Vane launched his French merchant ship, which was loaded with powder, sailing it into the midst of the English fleet.
Consequently, Woodes’ fleet cut their anchor lines to flee and dodge the fireship. In the ensuing chaos and confusion, Charles Vane seized the opportunity to escape into the night aboard the sloop Katherine, slipping out the other end of the harbor where the heavier men-of-war could not follow.
“Tweaking History” to Create the Scenario
This scenario is meant to be a “What If” game. Meaning, “What if Charles Vane had decided not to run, but instead opted to fight and attempt to bloody Woodes Rogers’ nose a bit on the way out of the Nassau harbor?” There are conflicting reports on the exact composition of both forces, particularly of the pirates. As such, it is impossible to recreate a perfect list of the historical forces. In the absence of full details, we are forced to take some liberties in the setup to create a semi-historical battle while still having fun using the Oak & Iron game rules. You should feel free to adjust the forces as you wish.
NEW CUSTOM ADMIRALS
This scenario features two new Admirals for the game based on the historical figures involved in the conflict.
Woodes Rogers – English Admiral
Woodes Rogers was an English privateer, naval officer, and later the Royal Governor of the Bahamas, most famously known for his role in suppressing piracy in the Caribbean during the early 18th century. Born around 1679, Rogers first gained prominence as a privateer, leading a successful circumnavigation of the globe from 1708 to 1711, during which he rescued the marooned sailor Alexander Selkirk, the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.
Appointed as the Governor of the Bahamas in 1718, Rogers implemented a policy of offering pardons to pirates who surrendered while aggressively pursuing those who refused, effectively reducing piracy in the region. Despite facing numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and health problems, Rogers receives credit for bringing order to the lawless Bahamas and helping to re-establish British control over the islands.
Charles Vane – Pirate Admiral
Charles Vane was a notorious pirate who terrorized the Caribbean and the American eastern seaboard during the early 18th century. Vane turned to piracy when he joined the crew of the English pirate Henry Jennings. He quickly earned a reputation for his ruthless tactics and violent temper.
Unlike many of his contemporaries who accepted the royal pardon offered by Woodes Rogers, Vane defiantly continued his piratical activities. He was known for his refusal to back down, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Vane’s aggressive and unyielding nature made him a feared figure, both among his enemies and within his own crew.
In November 1718, Vane’s crew relieved him of his captaincy due to his reluctance to attack a well-armed French frigate in the Windward Passage. The mutineers then promoted John “Calico Jack” Rackham, Vane’s quartermaster and second-in-command, to lead them. Despite losing his command, Vane persisted in piracy until his capture in 1720. Following his brief trial in Jamaica, he was hung in 1721. Vane’s legacy endures as one of the most fearsome and unrepentant pirates of his time, remembered for his relentless pursuit of plunder and his fierce resistance to authority.
Special Fortification Rules for Fort Nassau
The British built Fort Nassau in 1697, equipping it with 22 cannons. By the time of the conflict, the fort had seen better days, having fallen into disrepair after a previous assault by the Spanish in 1700. As a result, it is not meant to represent a full-strength, fully manned star fortress.
NOTE: Rules for fortifications do not exist at the time of the creation of this scenario. The following rules are meant to be a quick game device to keep the flavor of this scenario, not a full ruleset for Fortifications.
FORTIFICATION RULES:
This scenario include a special fortification as part of the defending force. The rules are below and deployment instructions are in the scenario setup and deployment sections.
- The fort has 2 Bastions facing the harbor. Each bastion operates independently and has its own stat block.
- Enemies may target the fort as if it were a ship. Enemies must be able to draw LOS from one corner and the center point of their base to any point of the Bastion being targetted.
- If the fort suffers a Rigging Critical Hit, instead apply 1 extra Hit (Fortitude still affects damage).
- Like Ships, if a Bastion reaches zero Fatigue, it becomes Shaken, additional Fatigue applied instead is treated as Damage. Once Crippled, additional Damage applied reduces Fatigue. If Shaken and Cripped, the bastion is Out of Action.
- Each Bastion may make a Broadside attack as if from a ship with the following changes:
- For purposes of quick play and simplicity in this scenario, the fort may consider any target on the board to be in Cannon range regardless of its actual distance. If you need a reason to justify it, allocate it to the fort’s elevated firing position and heavier guns.
- Each bastion may designate an Attack with its own Broadside path originating from the center of the bastion.
- VERY HIGH FREEBOARD: Broadside or Partial Fire attacks made against this ship must score at least 3 hits to cause Fatigue
Fort Nassau 3D Printable Model
I created a custom model for use in this this scenario to represent fort. Historical images for the fort are lacking as it was destroyed. Most of the art I was able to dig up was just cmall standard 4 point fort “icon” type scetches on a map. I opted to take inspiration from the style of fort presented in the Black Sails mini series from Starz. The series takes some liberties for entertainment purposes, but it is a fun style.
A copy of the model is available for sale on Cults3d.com. It’s designed to be support free (even with the bevels on the edges and lookout towers).
Woodes Rogers’ Flagship the Delicia
Delicia stat card for Oak & Iron
The flagship for the Woodes Rogers expedition was the Delicia. The biggest of the 7-ship British fleet was a 460-ton converted East Indiaman, mounting 30 or 32-guns. It reportedly had a crew of 90, plus Rogers and support staff. Indiaman ships do not currently exist in the core rules for Oak & Iron. We add a new fan-made stat card for a “generic” Indiaman ship with appropriate aptions in the future.
For this scenario, I created a custom stat card for the Delicia. She falls between a 5th and 4th Rate in terms of capabilities. She has more durability and gunnery than a 5th Rate, but as a former slave ship and merchant vessel it isn’t as sturdy or as well armed a 4th Rate.
Historically, she never even made it fully into the harbor to tangle with Vane. Her deeper draft kept her at range waiting for a ships pilot as the smaller vessels in the fleet went ahead. But … as a “what if” scenario, you can’t have Rogers sitting on the sidelines. He’s a man of action and needs to be at the forefront with guns blazing barking orders.
For purposes of this scenario, you can use a 4th Rate Ship of the Line or the Queen Anne’s Revenge as proxy models for the ship.
Playing “Seige of Nassau” as an Oak & Iron Scenario
The following outlines the requirements and setup for this scenario.
GAME SETUP:
Do not use the normal game cards to set up the game, instead use the following.
- This Oak & Iron scenario is designed for 2-6 players.
- Historical Forces are provided below. If you wish to play the game with forces of your own, you can select a force of 75-100 Point Squadron per team.
- The board should be a square 3’x3’ or larger. 3 sides of the board should be considered landlocked and ships cannot sail off the sides.
OBJECTIVES:
- Defender: English
- Prevent as many pirate ships from escaping as possible.
- Capture Charles Vane alive.
- Attacker: Pirates
- Escape with as many ships as possible off of the Defender’s edge of the board.
- Charles Vane must survive and elude capture.
- Strike Points:
- The Pirates suffer 2 Strike Points if Charles Vane’s flagship is captured.
- The English suffer 1 Strike Point if Vane is killed or his ship sinks.
- The English suffer 1 Strike Point for each Pirate ship that escapes off the board.
DEPLOYMENT:
- The English must deploy within Musket range of the open ocean side of the board.
- All English ships must start at the Anchored Speed Setting.
- The Pirates should deploy within Musket Range on the side opposite the English deployment zone.
- All Pirate ships may start at any Speed Setting.
- The wind is blowing across the front of the harbor from one of the sides not containing the main deployment zones.
- If you aren’t crazy enough to build a full land setup like me, throw the Landmass terrain piece at the middle of the Pirates deployment zone.
- Place the model for the for or a suitable market on Landmass at the edge of the board. Positioning is super important as it has range to the whole board. In the 6 times I’ve run the scenario, not once has anyone ever tried to engage the fort in combat as the British, instead focusing on the pirate ships and capturing Vane (as they should).
GAME LENGTH:
10 Turns
HISTORICAL FORCES:
English
| Ship/Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Indiaman – Delicia (4th Rate Proxy) – Woodes Rogers, Admiral – Skill 1 | 20 8 2 |
| 5th Rate – Milford | 16 |
| 6th Rate – Rose | 13 |
| Sloop – Buck | 7 |
| Brigantine – Shark -Additional Guns | 8 2 |
| Fluyt – Willing Mind -Supply Ship -Untested Crew | 13 -1 -1 |
| Brigantine – Samuel -Supply Ship -Untested Crew | 8 -1 -1 |
| TOTAL POINTS TOTAL SHIPS | 91 7 |
Pirates
| Ship/Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Fort Nassau – West Bastion – East Bastion | 10 10 |
| Petite Fregate – Katherine Charles Vane, Admiral Skill 1 Veteran Crew | 13 6 2 2 |
| Revenge (Sloop) – Ranger *ALT: Sloop with Additional Guns & Crew | 10 |
| Sloop – Additional Guns | 7 2 |
| Brigantine (Vane’s former flagship) – Fire Ship | 8 0 |
| Brigantine – Merchant | 8 -1 |
| Corvette – Additional Crew | 7 1 |
| Corvette | 7 |
| TOTAL POINTS TOTAL SHIPS | 91 7 |
Content Requires for the Scenario
This scenario was originally designed for use as a convention-based game so it may be a little hefty for standard players. To play this scenario with the historical forces provided it requires the following items:
- Oak & Iron Core Box = Sloop, Corvette, Fluyt, Brigantine, Petite Fregate
- Men of War expansion = 4th, 5th & 6th Rate
- Blackbeard’s Revenge expansion = The Revenge as the Katherine
- Gentlemen of Fortune expansion or 2nd core set = Corvette, Sloop
- 3 other Brigantines… you can proxy from other ships. Using a Light Galleon for the Fire Ship will make it more intimidating and fun.
Conclusion
This scenario adds several new elements to the game of Oak & Iron including 2 new Admirals, a custom ship, and some basic rules for fortifications. It’s a lot to digest, but I hope you will enjoy the scenario and hopefully can get it on a game table near you. If you do manage to play a game, tag us on social media, I’ love to see the game in action. It helps encourage me to write more content like this in the future.
Gallery: “Seige of Nassau” event Adepticon 2023
The following are a few photos from one of the game sessions at Adepticon 2023. The lighting in that ball room was awful, so my apologies.
Product Referral Links
Blackbeard’s Revenge expansion
The Revenge miniature found in the Blackbeard’s Revenge boxed set makes a good proxy for Charles Vane’s flagship.
Amazon: Blackbeard’s Revenge expansion pack for Oak & Iron
Firelock Games: Blackbeard’s Revenge expansion pack for Oak & Iron
Additional Content Suggestions
If you enjoyed this historical Oak & Iron scenario based on Wager’s Action, you may enjoy these other scenarios:
The Battle of Hudson’s Bay: Oak & Iron Historical Scenario
In the famous Battle of Hudson’s Bay (aka the Battle of York Factory) a French warship commanded by Captain Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville defeated an English squadron of 3 ships commanded by Captain John Fletcher.
Wager’s Action: Historical Scenario
A HISTORICAL OAK & IRON SCENARIO recreating “Wager’s Action”. Sir Charles Wager engages a formidable Spanish treasure fleet near Cartegena.
Raise the Black – A Wanted Man Scenario
An infamous man of fortune Blackbeard, finds himself in need of a quick escape. Enjoy this new Oak & Iron Scenario based on the new “A Wanted Man” scenario from the Raise the Black Blood & Plunder Expansion.
Historical References and Sources
The following is a ramshackle collection of some of the articles/content I used in researching the fleets and background for this scenario. Nothing below this point affects the gameplay so you can stop reading if you just want to play the scenario. But if you are a fellow “pirate-y nerd” that appreciates some history, I figured I’d include it so you can appreciate and enjoy the content.
Pirate Hunter of the Caribbean – “Governor of the Bahamas”
- Delicia Indiaman – 460-ton 30 guns 90 crew
- Samuel 13- ton 6 guns 26 crew
- Buck sloop 75-ton 6 gun 12 men
- Willing Mind “transport ship” 300-ton, 20 guns 22 men
- Milford – 5th Rate 32 guns under the command of Captain Chamberlin
- Rose – 6th Rate 20 guns
- Shark – Sloop 10 Guns
During the autumn and winter of 1717 and into the spring of 1718 Rogers, Buck and their partners made preparations for the expedition to the Bahamas. Four merchant ships were fitted out, loaded with cargoes suitable for trading in the West Indies, and supplied with seamen. The biggest of the ships was the 460-ton Delicia of 30 guns, which had a crew of ninety. She was accompanied by the 300-ton Willing Mind, 20 guns and twenty-two men; the 135-ton Samuel, of 6 guns and twenty-six men; and the seventy-five-ton sloop Buck, of 6 guns and twelve men.18 The partners managed to assemble more than 100 men to form a company of soldiers, and some 200 civilians, some of whom were accompanied by women and children. Among the civilians were men with useful trades such as carpenters, coopers and builders. Enough basic provisions were bought to last for fourteen months, as well as tools and equipment for building houses, repairing fortifications and clearing the land. The intention was to plant enough crops of sugar, tobacco, ginger, indigo and cotton to enable the settlers to earn a living and the copartners to recover the costs of setting up the expedition. It was later estimated that the total cost of the ships, the wages of the sailors and soldiers and the cost of rebuilding the fort at Nassau amounted to more than £90,000.19
To accompany the merchantmen the Admiralty provided three warships: the fifth-rate ship Milford, 32 guns, commanded by Captain Chamberlain (promoted commodore in recognition of his role in charge of the squadron); the sixth-rate Rose, 20 guns, Captain Whitney; and the sloop Shark, 10 guns, Captain Pomeroy. All three ships were fitted out at the royal dockyards on the Thames. In mid-January 1718 the Milford was lying on moorings at Woolwich, the Rose and the Shark were at Deptford. Captain Whitney arrived at Deptford dockyard on 18 January and noted in his logbook that the Rose was in the wet dock, ‘there being orders from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to fit her for a foreign voyage to the southward’. During the next six weeks the ships were overhauled, their masts taken out and replaced, new rigging set up and stores and provisions taken on board. By 18 March they had left the dockyards and were anchored in Galleons Reach, the stretch of the Thames between Woolwich and Barking. There they were joined by the Delicia. In light winds and fair weather they made their way downstream, out of the Thames Estuary and round the North Foreland to the anchorage at the Downs, where they paused briefly so that Commodore Chamberlain could send letters ashore. Strong winds and squally weather greeted them as they entered the Solent on 25 April. After five days at anchor among the warships and smaller craft at Spithead, the Milford signalled to the squadron to weigh anchor. At 2 p.m. on 1 May they set sail for the West Indies. As they proceeded down the Channel they were joined by the Samuel and then by the transport ship Willing Mind and the sloop Buck.
https://erenow.net/common/pirate-hunter-of-the-caribbean/9.php
Pirate Hunter of the Caribbean – “Welcome to Nassau”, pg 10
- HMS Rose identified as having 20 guns
- HMS Rose, Shark, the Buck, and the transport ship Willing Mind were in the harbor during negotiations.
- HMS Rose reported of Nassua as they approached “Thirty or forty merchant vessels of various nationalities were at anchor in the channel or were lying half-submerged in the shallows, their scorched black timbers indicating that they had been set on fire before sinking. 1 Several of the vessels at anchor were stripped of their fittings and some were missing masts, bowsprits and rigging. There were a few visiting trading ships and brigs but most in evidence were the pirate sloops – powerful-looking vessels in good order and well armed with carriage guns and swivel guns.”
- “The largest vessel in the anchorage was a French-built merchantman of 22 or 24 guns which was flying the St George’s flag of England at her maintopmast head”
- “At around 7 p.m. the Shark, the Buck and the transport ship Willing Mind negotiated the harbour entrance and anchored near the Rose. The larger ships Delicia and HMS Milford remained outside until they could get a pilot to guide them in.”
https://erenow.net/common/pirate-hunter-of-the-caribbean/10.php
The Friends of Carlyle House Newsletter Spring 2009
- “… before he found himself at sea again in the spring of 1718 aboard the Delicia, a 460 ton converted East Indiaman, now mounting 32-guns, and bound for the West Indies.“
- “The Delicia sailed out of the Thames on April 11, 1718, accompanied by four men-of-war of His Majesty’s Royal Navy, the frigates Milford and Rose, and the sloops Buck and Shark. On July 26, 1718, after more than three months at sea, the convoy, under the command of Woodes Rogers, the English privateer, arrived at New Providence. “
“During the previous weeks Vane and his men had captured and brought into Nassau no fewer than seven ships and sloops, many of them laden with rich cargoes, so his terms would have been totally unacceptable. As we know, Vane subsequently sent a fireship against one of Rogers’ ships and fled the harbour. According to Johnson, he then sent word to Rogers that ‘he would make him a visit, and burn his guardship, for sending two sloops to chase him instead of answering his letter’
The amount of detail contained in both the above passages suggests that the information must have been supplied by someone who took part in Rogers’ voyage to Madagascar in 1714 and his expedition to Nassau in 1718. Since Rogers was in London while Johnson was compiling his book, he would seem to be the obvious source.”
https://erenow.net/common/pirate-hunter-of-the-caribbean/17.php
The Republic of Pirates
- “Vane cruised again in May and June, capturing, among other ships, a twenty-gun French ship that became Vane’s new flagship.”
- “ Vane commandeered a small 24 gun sloop, the Katherine, and escaped out the smaller entrance as Rogers’ ships returned.”
Woodard, Colin (2007). The Republic of Pirates. New York, NY.: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 978-0-15-603462-3. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
https://goldenageofpiracy.org/history/colonial-officials/woodes-rogers
“On 23rd April lying at anchor at Exuma, together with John Peniston Commander of a sloop of this Island, he was again captured and robbed by Vain etc. They informed deponent that they had taken a ship belonging to New England, two sloops of Jamaica, one of these Islands, some of whom they acknowledged to have used very barbarously by beating them etc., and that they had increased 20 in their number of men in about 9 days. “
Deposition of Edward North, Commander of the William and Martha sloop, 22nd May, 1718. Captured 14th April, and maltreated by Vain as preceding.
Vane captured the William and Martha sloop, and it would likely would still be among his fleet in Nassau
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol30/pp242-264
- 1718 March–April – Charles Vane and 12 pirates capture a Jamaica sloop in the Bahamas, retaining her for his own use.
- April – Vane captures the sloop Lark in the Bahamas and transfers his crew to her.
- April–July 4 – Vane robs seven French and English vessels in the Bahamas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1718_in_piracy
Charles Vane Facts, Biography, and Piracy
“Vane quickly gained a reputation for cruelty and would often raid ships and torture the sailors he captured. His actions did not do him any favors with the English as they continued to plot to capture him. Vane continued to raid around the Caribbean and capture ships. The largest ship he captured was a 20 gun French ship which became his new flagship.
Vane was back at Nassau on 22 July 1718 when Woodes Rogers reached Nassau to take office as the new governor. Rogers’ ships trapped Vane in the harbor; Vane’s ship was too large to pass one of the harbor’s two entrances, and the other was blocked by Rogers’ fleet.
That night, Vane turned the French ship into a fireship, setting it on fire and sailing it towards Rogers’ ships. The fireship failed to damage any of Rogers’ fleet except one, but the ships were forced to pull away, unblocking the channel. Vane commandeered a small 24 gun sloop, the Katherine, and escaped out the smaller entrance as Rogers’ ships returned.”
https://thehistoryjunkie.com/charles-vane-facts-biography-piracy
Maps:
- https://rollingharbour.com/category/abaco-maps-pictures/
- https://thehistoryjunkie.com/charles-vane-facts-biography-piracy