more like "are the rules clear" ?

First off I just want to say that I really like the theme. It seems like it might be a complex sort of game but some of the humor is keeping it light (no pun intended) which I like.

As far as the rules clarity is concerned, I have to say resoundingly: no, they are not clear. I think Corsaire gave some very good ideas as to how to change the rulebook to make it clearer. My views are:

The actual written sentences describing the rules are good, although I did skim the latter half of the document, just because it was hard to follow due to structural issues.

The structural issues are the biggest problem. I think it would be good to offer an introduction to the game as to the general premise/objective, and then get into how to set up the game, maybe introducing the reader to the components and when they will be used, although that's optional. After that, describing how the game works as far as rounds/turns, whatever, as well as how a player's turn works would be helpful. Then you can get into what the ships are and how they move and such.

My first impression was that I was bewildered as to what the hexes on the map meant, while you were explaining the types of ships and how they move. The hexes were explained on the next page but that really should be addressed as soon as the map is shown. Also I don't think the different colored hexes with letters/dots are very well explained.

Also, the combat example is not very obviously separated from the rules. I missed the heading telling me this was a combat example at first, so I didn't understand what was going on. I think a table of contents or outline at the beginning can both help you organize your ideas and help the reader orient themselves as to what they should expect from the rulebook.

I hope that was constructive/helpful. If it helps, think about if you laid out all the components and were going to teach someone the game for the first time. What are the first things you'd say, assuming they have no idea what the game is about? I'm looking forward to taking a look at the rules again when they're more ordered! :)

Rulebooks follow a "recommended" structure. If you are not familiar with it, re-read Corsaire's message which is giving you the correct order of a rulebook... You just don't write whatever you feel like the order should have to be. The format is "well-defined" and you should respect it if you want other people to be able to interpret your rules correctly.

I also learnt this the "hard-way". I had my rulebook proofed and went through several revisions to get it into the "optimal" format. I can save you some money by saying that the format should look like:

Table of Contents (could be at the end too), Introduction, Components, Overview (Age, Time, Players), Setup/Layout, Victory Conditions/Game Objectives, Game Play (Turn-Order) where Combat is a sub-section of Game Play. If Game Play can be divided into "Phases", then do that and explain "Combat" as being one phase in the process (for example). Lastly a Credits page (Designer, Artist(s), Developer, Playtesters, Writer (optional))...

I've just saved you $30 USD by giving you the "prescribed" format. That should get you going in the correct direction.

Cheers and good luck(!?)

Where do ships start at the beginning of the game?

How exactly do you get non-quest items (besides raiding) on page 9 the document says: "...with a full load of ship equipment
units...". I assume the players draw these randomly but it is never specified.

Can you fight/board your own ships?

On page 8 Balloon Ship graphic maybe you could include the no symbol (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_symbol) in the blank section.

For the place holders IMO you would be better off with a simplified scheme. For example secret of Helium Parts 1-6, or parts H, E, L, I, U, and M or you could use the plastic pieces from trivial pursuit.

This is definitely an improvement! The first couple pages are much more comprehensible. The structure just seems better overall, so it was much easier to stomach. My issues from a rulebook standpoint are:
1. I think the "Limited Items", "Color Sequence" and "Turn Sequence" should be moved up to just after the board is explained. Then you would go from turn sequence to "The Wind" which still isn't perfect but is better imo.
From a rule clarity standpoint:
1. I don't quite understand liftcloths and the buoyancy rules. I think those could be written more clearly to emphasize the purpose of a liftcloth and what the difference between that and a buoyancy deployed card is. This part feels more obtuse then it needs to be.
General advice:
1. I think that the combat/weapon cards or whatever should say on them which ships they can be used on as well as what angle/direction they can be fired at. I feel like that might be tough to remember.
2. Why have the variable turn sequence? Does it add anything to the game, you think? I feel like this game is already fairly complex, so maybe cut that if you aren't so sure it adds depth to the gameplay. Especially because it seems completely random.
Otherwise, I think the game seems fairly weighty/complex, but at least now I can understand it based on the rulebook. I really like the combat mechanism, although movement is a little complicated for my taste. Good work!

Please do not create a PNP for this game. Instead INVEST in the least expensive "The Game Crafter" (TGC) version possible. Why? Because TGC products are of good quality and it will make for robust prototypes. And if you need to send a few copies to reviewers (at some point), all you need to do is pick your game and buy copies with the reviewer's address.

Nobody is interested in PNP! It's a total complete waste of time. Nobody wants to sit there and cut cards... It's very time consuming - and if people don't do it for their OWN games - what makes you believe they will do it for YOUR game?!

If you put together a nice Prototype on TGC - well maybe you can ship it around to gamers and pay for return postage. To me, that sounds more realistic...

Cheers.

I think you should speak for yourself. Plenty of people enjoy PnP games. I understand the advice you're giving, which OP should definitely take into consideration, but no need to put down an entire gaming subculture.

OP:
Your liftcloth explanation makes sense now, thanks. I think it could use a rewrite in the rules.

That's a good point; I hadn't thought that the cards might be of smaller than 6x9 cm. Maybe just consider a reference sheet--it's a lot of rules to keep track of for where flamers can attack vs. rockets, cannons, etc.

If making the game to fulfill some sort of request, then I guess there's nothing you can do about adding the variable turn order. But imo it just sort of mucks things up. Maybe if you have to include it you can make some way of having it be non-random? Maybe some way that allows a catch-up mechanism? Just a thought. I don't think there's any issue in the physical determination of the turn order, just the idea of whether it's random or not.

Best,
Dan