Exploring Maryland

Baltimore and the War of 1812

Thoughtful Application - Procedures & Rules

This is a simulation game of an encounter on the high seas between a Baltimore Clipper privateer and a British merchant vessel with a British Naval escort.

Procedures:

  1. Read the game rules. Then predict which side will win, and why. Record your prediction on your Worksheet.

  2. Find a partner to play the game with, and decide who will play the Baltimore Clipper and who will play the British ships.

  3. You and your partner will prepare your game pieces and board.

  4. Play the game.

  5. Write a summary of the battle on your Worksheet.

  6. On your Worksheet, write a newspaper article summarizing the role of Baltimore and Baltimore Clippers on the War of 1812.

  7. Compare your game results with the rest of the class.

The game rules are based on general characteristics of the different ships. The Baltimore Clippers were faster and more agile than the British ships. But the British Naval ships held many more guns, so they could do much greater damage when firing. The British merchant ships typically carried few if any guns.

Game Rules:

  1. Each player places their own ship(s) on any square on their own starting line.

  2. Roll one dice to see who goes first, then take turns.

  3. The player rolls the MOVE dice, and moves that many spaces in any straight line. The Baltimore Clipper may move diagonally, but the British ships may not.

  4. If, during the move, your ship comes next to the enemy ship (diagonals are allowed only for the Baltimore Clipper), stop. Roll the FIRE dice. That number of "hit" segments is then marked off of the enemy ship.

  5. Once firing is completed, if the move wasn't finished, finish moving the ship in the same straight line.

  6. Movement may not dead end at an enemy ship unless all move spaces are finished. In other words, move cannot be made if an enemy ship blocks the complete path.

    Rules graphic

  7. The Baltimore Clipper has a total of 4 hit segments, the British Naval ship has 12 hit segments.

  8. If the Baltimore Clipper and the British merchant ship ever come in contact, the Baltimore Clipper captures the merchant ship and wins the encounter.

  9. If firing fills all of the remaining "hit" segments, the ship is sunk, and the firing ship wins the encounter.

  10. When movement is finished, the play then turns to the other player.

  11. The British player will roll the MOVE dice twice, once for the Navy ship, once for the merchant ship. Because the merchant ship cannot fire, only the Navy ship will use the FIRE dice.

  12. If the enemy ship is next to your ship at the beginning of your turn, you may fire before moving.

  13. The game is over when either:

    • All of the ship's "hit" segments have been filled, thus sinking the ship, or

    • The Baltimore Clipper pulls up next to the British merchant ship and captures it.

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