Thalassa

Thalassa is a 6mm scale, fast-paced tabletop wargame of ancient Mediterranean naval combat, focusing on skirmishes between Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta. It features customizable ships (Triremes and Penteconters) and utilizes a d10-based system with fleet command dice to simulate maneuvering, ramming, boarding, and crew management.

Originally released in Wargames Illustrated Magazine #421. It is now available as a stand alone rulebook.

Key Game Mechanics and Features:

Combat & Tactics: The game emphasizes cinematic, close-quarters action. Key mechanics include ramming (with bonuses for angle of approach), boarding actions, and the use of, and resistance to, “chaos tokens” which represent disorder and stress.
Ship Customization: Players can upgrade ships with archers, hoplites (marines), and war machines like bolt throwers.
Environmental Factors: The movement of the ocean (sea drift) is simulated, affecting ship positioning.
Command System: Players use “Fleet Command Dice” to manage actions, and “Blessing Tokens” can be used for special abilities, with unused tokens providing victory points.
Rules: The system is relatively low-complexity, designed for quick, decisive battles.