Stats:
No. of players: 2
Amount of time to play: 30-45 min
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: minimal

Iron and Oak is a game of ship-to-ship combat set in the American Civil War. You can play the scenarios provided or use the random scenario generator to make your own.

Iron and Oak Rules Description:

Iron and Oak puts you in control of one to four ships from the Civil War era. The scenario you play sets your victory conditions. There are 11 scenarios included and a system for randomly generating more.

This game is played on a five by five grid. The scenario also determines the board setup including current speed and direction, wind and obstacles. Each grid space is marked with its depth. If your boat goes into a grid space with a lower than your ship’s draft you might run aground.

At the start of each turn you have a chance to repair some effects from critical hits or put out fires. Then you give orders to your ship. You can have a ship try to move to another grid, maneuver within a grid containing an enemy, drop anchor or raise your anchor, or refloat if you’ve run aground.

The core mechanic to resolve actions in this game is the challenge. Each player has a d10, d8, d6 and d4. Depending on your ship’s stats you roll dice to move or shoot. Your opponent also rolls dice to oppose you. You each keep your highest die, add or subtract modifiers and compare them. If you do not beat the defender’s roll you do not hit them or cannot move your ship.

After taking your order you may shoot if your enemy is in range. This combat challenge is based on your gun dice versus your opponent’s ship’s defense die. You also roll a die for hit location. Beating your opponent’s result adds hits to their ship and that location’s shields. Reducing their defensive die rolls in that location if it is hit again. If you double or triple the defender’s result you can do even more damage to their ship. You can even land critical hits that affect their ability to move and fight back.

On top of this you have action cards that are played during the movement or gunnery phase. Some cards help you get positive modifiers for your rolls or negative modifiers to your opponent’s rolls. One lets you shoot twice in a round or another lets you shot incendiary shells. These have a chance to set your opponent’s ship on fire. The scenario determines how many action cards you get for the game.

Quick Review of Iron and Oak:

Iron and Oak is a fun, tactical ship-to-ship combat game. Given the challenge system and opposed rolls you need to roll well to win. Using your action cards at the right time can also help swing things in your favor.

The components for this game are good quality. The chits are thick enough for the amount they are handled and the art depicts actual ships from the Civil War. The rules are pretty good and have a good index. The player aid is nice and contains a lot of information. But some details are overlooked or only realized once you look at the player aid.

There are 78 ships and forts available. When you combine this with the random scenario generator, there is a great deal of replay-ability in this box. In addition there is a campaign mode that follows some actual river fights from the Civil War.

The detail given for each unique ship is impressive. And whether they are made of wood or metal, steam or air powered and the type of gunnery they had matters. Also getting hit changes your ability to move and your crew.

As I have alluded to, your experience with Iron and Oak might depend on how you roll. It can be frustrating not being able to move because your opponent rolls higher than you. But gunnery rolls seem less frustrating.

Iron and Oak is a fairly light abstracted game of ship combat. If you are a Civil War buff it might be right up your alley. If you are looking for a naval game for two, give it a try. Just be aware the dice might control your fate at times.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 3 out of 6
Luck 5 out of 6
Player Interaction 5 out of 6
Replay Value 5 out of 6
Complexity 4 out of 6
Fun 4 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6