SPANISH ARMADA

INTRODUCTION
Solo card game using a regular deck of cards. 
Based on the Failure of the Spanish Armada to invade England in 1588.
The Armada had 122 Ships. The English 66. 
The English sank 2 Spanish Ships and were able to disperse the Armada.  
The dispersed Armada drifted into the North Sea and had to circle around 
Ireland in treacherous weather to return home. 
On the journey home 39 transports foundered or ran aground. 
 
SETUP 
Split up the deck into 2 halves: 
Red Half (Spanish Armada)
Black Half (English Squadrons)

TURN SEQUENCE
Each turn has 2 Phases:
Straggler Phase
Engagement Phase

STRAGGLER PHASE
Flip over the top 4 cards of the Red deck. 
These are called Straggler cards. 
Draw cards from the Black Deck to fill your hand to 5 cards. 
These are called Raider cards.

ENGAGEMENT PHASE
Discard a Raider card to disperse a Straggler of equal or less value. 
You may combine 2 Raider cards to disperse a single straggler. 
Put dispersed straggler cards into your Victory pile. 
Put any Stragglers you didn’t disperse into the Escape pile. 

SCORING
The game ends when the there are no cards left to draw from the Red deck. 
Your score equals the combined value of the cards in your Victory Pile:
Total victory = 61+ (Armada Sunk) 
Partial victory = 41-60 (Historical victory)
Marginal escape = 21-40 (Armada thwarted)
Dismal Failure = 20 or less (The Spanish conquer England)

LINKS
BBC
Armada
1588
History Buff
New Advent