Ram Speed
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Ram Speed, subtitled "Naval Warfare in the Bronze Age", is a two-player microgame published by Metagaming Concepts in 1980 that simulates naval combat between galleys in the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age when the preferred method of attack was ramming a ship.
Components
Ram Speed does not simulate a specific battle. Instead, each player builds a fleet of penteconters, biremes, triremes and quinqueremes using a point-buy system.[1] The players then set up their fleets on the board to begin the game.
The small flat game box includes:[2]
- 20-page rule booklet
- thin cardstock card of 52 counters (to be cut apart)
- 12" x 14" paper hex grid map
- small 6-sided die
Gameplay
The sequence of play each turn is:[2]
- Roll for initiative
- First player ungrapples (if necessary), moves, and rams (if possible)
- Second player ungrapples (if necessary), moves, and rams (if possible)
- Simultaneous missile fire
- Grappling followed by boarding
Galleys can move forward at full speed or backwards at half speed, and can achieve double or triple speed for short periods of time, but there are penalties for exhaustion.[2]
Publication history
Metagaming Concepts pioneered the concept of the microgame, a small game packaged in a ziplock bag or small flat box, in 1977 with the release of Ogre. They subsequently published more microgames with science fiction or fantasy themes. In 1980, Metagaming turned to historical themes, publishing five microgames as part of the MicroHistory series. The first was Rommel's Panzers. The second was Ram Speed, designed by Colin Keizer, with artwork by Ben Ostrander.[3]