Strategy & Tactics #268: When Lions Sailed – 17th Century Global Naval War is an intermediate-complexity wargame designed by Joseph Miranda, capturing the global struggle for naval and colonial dominance during the 17th century Age of Sail. This was the era when the world’s great maritime powers – the Netherlands, England, Spain, and France – vied for supremacy across oceans, trade routes, and emerging colonial empires.

• Historical Context: The 17th century marked a revolution in naval warfare and technology, as European powers developed larger fleets, advanced gunnery, and sophisticated tactics. When Lions Sailed allows players to relive the intense competition for trade, treasure, and territory that reshaped the global balance of power and laid the foundation for Western expansion and empire.
• Gameplay & Scope: The game can be played by two to four players, each commanding one of the era’s great maritime nations — the Netherlands, England, Spain, or France. Each turn represents one year of operations, with each operations phase depicting several weeks of campaigning. Players must balance military power, commerce, and diplomacy to secure victory in a world defined by shifting alliances and treacherous seas.
• Scale & Components: Each ship unit represents six to twelve vessels, while each regiment represents around 1,000 soldiers. The system is based on Miranda’s previous strategic games — 1066, Hannibal’s War, and Frederick’s War — refined to capture the unique challenges of maritime empire-building and 17th-century logistics.
• Rich Historical Simulation: A wide range of detailed mechanics bring the era to life, covering every aspect of global naval operations and colonial expansion. Rules include:
  • Revenue and outfitting systems to maintain and expand fleets
  • Negotiation and diplomacy between rival powers
  • Naval combat mechanics including raking fire, line-ahead tactics, and fire ships
  • Land combat and plundering phases for colonial conquest
  • Treasure fleets, piracy, and letters of marque
  • Founding colonies and managing mercantile ventures
  • Leaders, admirals, and articles of war
  • The influence of weather, wind gauge, and fog of war

Players navigate through an annual turn sequence that reflects the ebb and flow of imperial power and commerce:

• Initiative and Negotiation Phases
• Outfitting and Operations (Movement, Naval & Land Combat, Plunder, and Treasure Fleet)
• Revenue and Sudden Death Victory Checks

Game Components & Features:

• Full-colour strategic world map highlighting key colonial and naval theatres
• Counter set representing fleets, regiments, colonies, and leaders
• Rules for revenue management, naval warfare, and global operations
• Playable by 2–4 players in competitive or alliance-based formats
• Comprehensive simulation of trade, war, and empire during the Age of Sail

Scale:
Players: 2–4
Level: Strategic / Operational
Turn: 1 Year
Ship Unit: 6–12 Vessels
Regiment: 1,000 Men

Included Articles in This Issue:

• When Lions Sailed: An in-depth look at 17th-century global naval warfare and the rise of Western empires.
• Calamities of World War II: A study of some of the greatest strategic and operational blunders of WWII.
• Russia’s Chechen War: The brutal campaign of conquest and insurgency from 1994 to 2000.
• Justinian Conquers & Ruins Italy: How the Byzantine Emperor’s 20-year campaign left Italy in ruins and helped bring on the Dark Ages.

Strategy & Tactics #268: When Lions Sailed – 17th Century Global Naval War immerses players in the turbulent world of early modern naval conflict and empire-building. Blending diplomacy, warfare, and trade, it offers an engrossing experience that captures the rise of European sea power and the dawn of global dominance.

Available now from Milsims Games — Australia’s leading source for historical wargames, strategy titles, and military simulations for over 50 years. Price-match guarantee and fast shipping from Mont Albert, VIC.

Help other Milsims Games users shop smarter by writing reviews for products you have purchased.