Pirate Borg - Starter Set - Review

The Pirate Borg Starter Set is one of the strongest entry kits in the OSR space. A punchy, art‑punk introduction that captures the full metal‑infused swagger of the main game while being genuinely accessible to new players. It’s lean, loud, and lethal, but never confusing. If the core book is a cursed grimoire dredged from the bottom of the Dark Caribbean, the starter set is the barnacle‑crusted chest that washes ashore first, daring you to pry it open.

I previously covered the core book and expansion in alot more detail - check out the links below to read them in full including information on the games systems etc!

PIRATE BORG - CORE BOOK

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD EXPANSION

The Starter Set is built around one goal: get you playing Pirate Borg within minutes. It strips away the intimidation of OSR rulebooks and replaces it with tactile, table‑ready tools.

Contains softcover booklets of the Player’s Guidebook and a new adventure, Trapped in the Tropics.

• Booklets: 2

• Tokens: 58

• Reference Cards: 22

• Poster Maps: 10

• PC Creation Sheets: 6

• Character Sheets: 25

• Resin Dice: 12 (black w/ white ink)

• Dry Erase Markers: 2

• Rum Bottles: 0 (bring your own!)

  
  

The crew has been hired to locate a shipwreck on a jungle island. They’ll encounter British Redcoats, rival pirates, booby traps, hordes of zombies, and cursed relics. Designed for both brand new and experienced TTRPG players and GMs. Includes a new 2d40 ASH Experience Generator. 3-5 sessions, with 32 new monsters & NPCs!

The condensed rulebook distils Pirate Borg’s core systems into a tight, punchy format:

• Player‑facing rolls keep the GM fast and improvisational

• Lethal, swingy combat encourages reckless heroism

• Devil’s Luck gives players cinematic “push your fate” moments

• Random tables (weather, encounters, treasure, ship mishaps) are curated for quick use

• Naval combat is simplified but still tactical and exciting

It’s Pirate Borg without the sprawl, sort of a distilled shot of the system’s DNA.

Every Pirate Borg product lives or dies by its adventure design, and the Starter Set delivers a scenario that’s:

• Fast to run

• Replayable

• Open‑ended

• Dripping with undead, curses, and nautical weirdness

Expect a compact sandbox with a haunted island, a derelict ship, a cursed treasure map, that teaches the GM how Pirate Borg wants to be played: improvisational, lethal, and gleefully chaotic.

It’s the perfect “first taste” of the Dark Caribbean.

This is where the Starter Set shines.

For new players:

It’s one of the most approachable OSR introductions on the market. Pre‑gens, simplified rules, and a clear adventure path mean you can sit down and start playing with zero prep.

For experienced GMs:

It’s a toolkit. A fast way to onboard new players, run a one‑shot, or kick off a longer campaign. The maps and tables are reusable far beyond the starter scenario.

For Pirate Borg veterans:

It’s a convenience package, basically a portable, table‑ready version of the game’s essentials.

The Starter Set isn’t a watered‑down version of the game. It’s a gateway drug.

It teaches the tone, the mechanics, and the improvisational ethos of Pirate Borg without overwhelming players with the full Dark Caribbean setting. Once you finish the starter adventure, the core book feels like a natural next step rather than a leap.

It also pairs beautifully with Down Among the Dead as the starter adventure can easily be used as a prelude to that supplement’s grim, undead‑soaked descent.

Pros

• Perfect onboarding tool for new players and GMs

• Condensed rules that retain the full Pirate Borg flavour

• A killer starter adventure that teaches the game’s tone and mechanics

• High production value with art that feels alive (or undead)

• Replayable content and reusable tables

• Portable — great for conventions, one‑shots, or travel

Cons

• Veterans may find some content redundant if they already own the core book

• The adventure is compact — excellent for teaching, but not a full campaign

• Still lethal — some new players may be shocked by OSR brutality

• Art‑punk layout, though toned down, may still be divisive

The Pirate Borg Starter Set is one of the best entry kits in the modern OSR scene. It captures everything that makes Pirate Borg special, the metal‑infused aesthetic, the lethal rules, the improvisational chaos, the undead‑ridden Caribbean and packages it in a way that’s accessible, fast, and fun. It’s not just a sampler. It’s a launchpad and a near‑perfect introduction to a gloriously grim and chaotic RPG.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)

The Pirate Borg Starter Set is available now!