This starter set contains two long ships with respective crews, a d20 and a set of rules -- everything you need for a game in one box.

There are two 12-man crews, each of which contains a standard bearer, musician and 10 men in assorted poses with various weapons and armor. The figures are made out of pewter and average 17.5 mm in height. I guess they could be considered "large" figures that have a nice, sturdy look about them. All weapons and shields were completely cast and the figs have minimal flash.

The long ships are cast from some type of resin and have a dragon's head and tail. The ears on the dragons did not cast fully, but I consider this to be a minor issue. The decks of the ships are flat, i.e., there are not any oar banks, benches or impedimenta about the deck. I consider this to be a positive, considering that the ships/game are designed to have the crews deployed within the vessel. There is scroll work on the bow and stern. The mast and arm are two dowels of different length and width, and there is a hold amidships for the mast.

The rules are fairly simple and cover movement, raising and lowering sails, missile fire, boarding, morale, etc. The firing table provides for random casualties at medium and long ranges, while you may pick your target at close range.

I think Joel Gregory (owner of Merrimack Miniatures) has a good idea with his range of boxed ship sets. The sets provide the players with a simple game that can be completed in a short period of time. You can also buy individual ships with crews if you want larger or multiplayer games.

I rate overall quality of this set as a "B."