A Black Flag Comes Calling

The following appeared on ICV2 a couple of weeks ago -

Paizo Publishing has inked a distribution deal with French company Gob In Tux Publishing to release the company's tabletop RPGs, boardgames, and novels in North America. . . . Paizo will release Pavillon Noir, a new Gob in Tux RPG, in 2016. The 500-page Core Rulebook will feature full-color interior, with new illustrations. A collector version with leather binding is also planned. A series of support products will follow.

First released in 2000, Pavillon Noir is a historical piracy roleplaying game, spanning the period from the 15th to 18th centuries. This feature in itself makes the game remarkable - most piracy games focus on the "golden age," full of Blackbeard and William Kidd but noticeably short on Henry Morgan and François l'Olonnais.

Ruleswise the game is fairly light - task resolution is d10s rolled based on attributes and skills, with the target based on number of dice above a target number, eg, 3F5 means three of the dice thrown must be five or better for success. But what makes PN great is the setting details and the ship-to-ship action rules.

For those who can't imagine playing pirates without sea monsters, spells, and skeletal crews, there is a supplement for magic as well.