437 replies to this topic

[simanton]

That's the thing...in WWI, few if any DD/torpedo-boat is sporting anything like two rotating quadruple mounts. Some have just a pair of single mounts, and some of those are only effective on one side. Unless you have vast numbers of torpedo-boats, you're not blackening the sea with fish. That and the shorter torpedo ranges seems to sharply reduce the effectiveness.

 

Then again, maybe I'm playing it wrong...

Sounds to me like you are playing it right!

[W. Clark]

You are not wrong. But when you add 140 plus destroyers to the mix as well as 30 plus light cruisers you get a fair number of torps. I'll admit that division ship cards and mounting your DDs in divisions or half flotillas divides what you are moving and plotting by roughly 4. But that is still (considering both sides in mid 1916) about 50 more ships or divisions (or half flotillas) to move and plot for. It can be a bit overwhelming for a novice and heaping the remainder on your few experienced players at a con threatens to slow the game play. So, I decided to error on the side of caution, and the end result made me glad that I did. If there had been more than 1 or 2 experienced players per side, then that might change. But I was taking potluck as far as players went and expected (and got) mostly novices. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed putting the game on would have reprised it if Covid had not intervened. 

 

WMC

[healey36]

I'd certainly agree with that...getting upwards of 100+ DDs on the table makes it nearly mandatory to use the division/flotilla plotting regimen. There's just too much time sopped up otherwise. I need to reread the rules for managing ships tracked this way; it's always been a bit unclear to me how incremental damage affects the flotilla (i.e. if the lead DD in the flotilla suffers a couple hull-box hits, or worse, a jammed rudder, how does one track the effects of that on the table?). It's been awhile; gotta get the book out and have a look.

 

The implosion of the local game group has resulted in little-to-no table time here. There's a local gaming venue that might be open to hosting a few old guys playing some historical games; I need to reach out and find out. I think most, if not all, of the folks in there are playing Warhammer-type stuff, or card games. Maybe with some exposure, one could cultivate some interest. Might try to stop in there this weekend. 

[simanton]

You are not wrong. But when you add 140 plus destroyers to the mix as well as 30 plus light cruisers you get a fair number of torps. I'll admit that division ship cards and mounting your DDs in divisions or half flotillas divides what you are moving and plotting by roughly 4. But that is still (considering both sides in mid 1916) about 50 more ships or divisions (or half flotillas) to move and plot for. It can be a bit overwhelming for a novice and heaping the remainder on your few experienced players at a con threatens to slow the game play. So, I decided to error on the side of caution, and the end result made me glad that I did. If there had been more than 1 or 2 experienced players per side, then that might change. But I was taking potluck as far as players went and expected (and got) mostly novices. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed putting the game on would have reprised it if Covid had not intervened. 

 

WMC

 

 

You are not wrong. But when you add 140 plus destroyers to the mix as well as 30 plus light cruisers you get a fair number of torps. I'll admit that division ship cards and mounting your DDs in divisions or half flotillas divides what you are moving and plotting by roughly 4. But that is still (considering both sides in mid 1916) about 50 more ships or divisions (or half flotillas) to move and plot for. It can be a bit overwhelming for a novice and heaping the remainder on your few experienced players at a con threatens to slow the game play. So, I decided to error on the side of caution, and the end result made me glad that I did. If there had been more than 1 or 2 experienced players per side, then that might change. But I was taking potluck as far as players went and expected (and got) mostly novices. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed putting the game on would have reprised it if Covid had not intervened. 

 

WMC

Totally agree!

[simanton]

I'd certainly agree with that...getting upwards of 100+ DDs on the table makes it nearly mandatory to use the division/flotilla plotting regimen. There's just too much time sopped up otherwise. I need to reread the rules for managing ships tracked this way; it's always been a bit unclear to me how incremental damage affects the flotilla (i.e. if the lead DD in the flotilla suffers a couple hull-box hits, or worse, a jammed rudder, how does one track the effects of that on the table?). It's been awhile; gotta get the book out and have a look.

 

The implosion of the local game group has resulted in little-to-no table time here. There's a local gaming venue that might be open to hosting a few old guys playing some historical games; I need to reach out and find out. I think most, if not all, of the folks in there are playing Warhammer-type stuff, or card games. Maybe with some exposure, one could cultivate some interest. Might try to stop in there this weekend. 

It IS frustrating!  Hopefully you can get things rolling again!

[W. Clark]

I went through that about 2019 and now it's just down to me and 2 other guys (the pick of the litter IMHO). But we are all getting older (by the day) and life is intervening for at least 2 of us so getting together is a once or twice year thing now. I tried working my way into a gaming group in a hobby store that was mostly into card games and RPG. As long as I put on 25mm medieval siege games I had takers. When I tried to expand into naval or ancients then interest dried up fast. 

 

WMC

[healey36]

I reached out to the local gaming venue and they said we'd be welcome to swing by. They said the large tables there are 5'x8', so a bit tight for anything large caliber. They suggested I call ahead before coming in, as they run tournaments there on weekends at least once or twice each month. Also, their hours are pretty limited, closed two days a week, opening at 1400 three days a week, and open all day Saturday/Sunday. Probably similar to most venues...

 

So now it's a matter of rounding up 3-4 players. Maybe they have a board that one could post an invite on.

 

I do agree that card games and RPG seem to rule the roost at these places, which is fine. We'll see how it goes. 

[W. Clark]

I wish you better luck than I had.

 

WMC

[simanton]

I went through that about 2019 and now it's just down to me and 2 other guys (the pick of the litter IMHO). But we are all getting older (by the day) and life is intervening for at least 2 of us so getting together is a once or twice year thing now. I tried working my way into a gaming group in a hobby store that was mostly into card games and RPG. As long as I put on 25mm medieval siege games I had takers. When I tried to expand into naval or ancients then interest dried up fast. 

 

WMC

I know what you mean.

[healey36]

Was reading through an issue of The Illustrated War News, saw this, dated November 4, 1914:

It should be noted that it was just 42 days later that two of the HSF's Scouting Groups gave Scarborough, Hartlepool, and Whitby a good thrashing, albeit somewhat ineptly executed, then escaped untouched. Not the Royal Navy's finest hour.

 

The table and the yards here have been quiet. No action of any kind and nothing down the ways. I could offer a hundred excuses, but they, much like the Royal Navy response that December 1914 day, would be considered inept. More lead and 3D prints came in, but nothing saw a paintbrush. 

 

That said, a massive backlog is faced come the New Year. Hoping to seriously dent it, while getting the table back into action. Good plan...let's see how it shakes out.

 

Hope all here have a terrific Christmas and a good 2026, filled with many favorable die-rolls. 

 

[simanton]

I wish the same for you!

 

John Simanton

[healey36]

They eat well at Christmas:

 

I recall reading Raiders of the Deep when I was a boy...turned me into a great fan of marmalade. My mother couldn't keep it stocked. Nothing better than fried bread, marmalade and coffee.

 

 

[simanton]

There's always Tommy Atkins' favorite from the First World War, Plum and Apple Jam.

[healey36]

There's always Tommy Atkins' favorite from the First World War, Plum and Apple Jam.

One can't find any of that anymore...only recipes to make your own.

[simanton]

Pity!

[healey36]

I was reading Garrison Keillor's Christmas column this morning and I was struck by his comment:

 

"I am a contented man. No gifts for me, please, and thank you very much. A piece of toasted sourdough with orange marmalade would be almost too much. A cup of black coffee is just fine."

 

Terrific sentiments going into this holiday week. 

 

My son is on his way down from Upstate New York this AM, slogging through the mountains in a driving rain. He flipped me a note before he hit the road that PQ-17 is in deep trouble and Tirpitz is on the move. "Get a couple tables out so we can get this sorted." 

 

It'll be good to roll some dice.

[healey36]

Well, it's not the Strait of Hormuz, but blockade action none-the-less...HMS Manly intercepts a small German freighter on the North Sea, April 1917:

 

 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

Apologies for the lack of reports...been tied up with other "stuff". Hoping to get Rösselsprung back on the table and played to a conclusion soon, along with a few contemplated FAI actions.

 

Now, if the cardiologist would just "cease and desist", we might actually get somewhere, lol.

[healey36]

It's been a while since the Royal Navy has graced the table, but I hosted an impromptu session this Saturday as an introduction for a couple of interested players. I had some folks over to help me with some unrelated playtesting and, after snooping through the fleet cabinets, they expressed some curiosity re: naval gaming. When we finished our test sessions, I drew up a quick scenario and let them have at it. I acted as GM (rather poorly, I admit, as I'd forgotten a few critical rules, lol).

 

Convoy AZ-77 was inbound for Liverpool, approaching from the northwest. The convoy shed its escort roughly 55 nautical miles out and proceeded in unmolested. Unbeknownst to them, a German cruiser, SMS Stralsund was lurking in the area, but a bit too far southwest to make contact. The German did, however, encounter part of the detached escort (cruiser HMS Active and destroyers HMS Acasta and Christopher). The seas were relatively calm and visibility good, unusual for March. 

 

Upon spotting the German cruiser, the British player split his force, sending the DDs on an arcing course to the northwest while Active turned south. With such lightly armed ships, this tactic can often prove disastrous, but here it did cause the German to split his attention (targeting).

 

HMS Active and destroyers Acasta and Christopher.

 

At 1654, Stralsund opened on Active at a range of 8500 yards, yielding just a few near-misses with her 4.1-inch. There wasn't much sunlight left and there was reluctance to carry this action into darkness. Stralsund turned another few degrees northwest in an effort to quickly close the range.

 

As the distance between the cruisers closed, Active responded with a salvo of 4-inch after a preliminary ranging shot. At 5950 yards she scored a hit that penetrated Stralsund's bridge, killing her commander and most of the other personnel nearby. However, Stralsund's simultaneous salvo scored two hull hits on Active, sharply reducing her speed.

 

Active turned a few degrees southeast in an effort to begin opening the range a bit, but Stralsund continued pouring fire in her direction. At 1724, the German scored a hit that penetrated Active's forward magazine. Calls for flooding failed and the ship was torn apart by a catastrophic explosion, leaving little but a spreading debris field and a few crew in the water.

 

SMS Stralsund bracketed by British 4-inch.

 

The British destroyers, now just 8900 yards out, were rapidly closing on Stralsund, hell-bent for revenge. Acasta launched her two torpedoes at a range of 8000 yards but missed. Stralsund scored a couple of hits on Christopher, one of which disabled her torpedo mounts, ending the fight. 

 

So a taste of FAI for the playtesters; I think they enjoyed it but made their preference for armor battles known. Unusually good shooting by the HochSeeFlotte this day, I'll admit.