1 reply to this topic

[MarkMcG]

I'm new to General Quarters, but I have played various Age of Sail and Galley games before.

One thing I don't really grasp in the General Quarters rules is how to order a Division of ships to form a new formation, and how this effects acceleration/deceleration limits. Just trying to get 2 ships back into column seemed to be beyond me.

For example, a Division of 5 DD is Line Abreast. I wish them to continue in the same direction, but form Line a'quarter. Physically, the ships use different speeds (essentially slowing down from left to right (or right to left) such that the formation staggers. This might take 2 turns?

How do you write such on order in GQ, and how does deceleration and then current speed get recorded?

Once I'm line aquarter, I want to converge into a line astern (of maybe fade into a line astern on the lead ship). Physically the ships match speed but angle slightly towards the line ship. How do a write this order, and can I form a line on a ship other than the flagship? This might take several turns.

[Lonnie Gill]

I'm new to General Quarters, but I have played various Age of Sail and Galley games before.

One thing I don't really grasp in the General Quarters rules is how to order a Division of ships to form a new formation, and how this effects acceleration/deceleration limits. Just trying to get 2 ships back into column seemed to be beyond me.

For example, a Division of 5 DD is Line Abreast. I wish them to continue in the same direction, but form Line a'quarter. Physically, the ships use different speeds (essentially slowing down from left to right (or right to left) such that the formation staggers. This might take 2 turns?

How do you write such on order in GQ, and how does deceleration and then current speed get recorded?

Once I'm line aquarter, I want to converge into a line astern (of maybe fade into a line astern on the lead ship). Physically the ships match speed but angle slightly towards the line ship. How do a write this order, and can I form a line on a ship other than the flagship? This might take several turns.

G’ Day Mark,

Given the long ranges of WW II weapons, the detailed maneuvering of ships is normally less critical than it is in an Age of Sail or Galley era game. This may require a little change in perspective. Your role in GENERAL QUARTERS is as a ship captain or task force commander who determines when and what maneuver to execute, while your deck officers handle the details of how to implement your decision. Accordingly, you would plot a change in formation by listing it in parentheses such as (Col) or ((LA) as described in rule Section 1.2.5, along with the specific plot for just the division flagship.

Then when you maneuver your ships in the Movement Phase, move the flagship in accordance with her plot and then move the other ships in the division to conform and accommodate the directed change in formation. In the spirit of the simulation, you move the other ships to best carry out the plot, without having to have plotted the specific maneuvers of each ship, which may require different changes of course and speed to accomplish it. That said it might indeed take several Game Turns to complete changes of formation in some cases.

This provides a gamer some latitude in carrying out maneuvers, but can be challenged by an opponent if it is not resolved in a seaman like fashion in those situations where the exact positioning might make a difference. In that case, the referee should ensure the maneuver is completed in a reasonable manner. When not using a referee, the players should resolve a question with a friendly die roll if they can’t agree.

In this way, the maneuver is accomplished in minimum real (playing) time, to keep the simulation flowing. It also saves you a lot of tedious plotting, which is the job of your deck officers, allowing you to concentrate playing time on making your command decisions and simulating key aspects of detection, attack, damage control, etc.

Hopefully, this clears it up,

LONNIE