Naval Gaming

[Yankeedave]

I guess i come in at the tail end of board games and the start of the digital stuff.
I played the popular board games too nunerous to remember as they belonged to my older friends.
We did minitures. We had a detached garage to wargame them. Alot of work went into that but the pay off was worth it.
Talonsoft released a series of battles for the computer mostly civil war but they did a real good waterloo also. Interesting to contrast the two different styles needed for the two different eras.
I have tried naval games of both genres but there are parts to it that i don't get (i guess?) so i loose lol.

 

[AndyHall]

Talonsoft's (original) Age of Sail was great.

 

[galveston bay]

Ironclads is daunting in its game mechanism. Lots and lots of tables that have to be cross referenced. It still has a following, I believe, because of the level of detail it provides, but it comes at a price in ease of play.

Somewhere I have a text file of a gunnery game assist program for Ironclads that is written for Basic, but I've never been able to figure out how to run it.

each ship pretty much needs its own player and a referee is very helpful too!

 

[AndyHall]

each ship pretty much needs its own player and a referee is very helpful too!

One of the scenarios is the Battle of Mobile Bay, that of course includes Fort Morgan — consulting tables and charts for every single gun, every turn. I can't even imagine.

"Here Bob, here's the tables for gunnery and damage. While you figure out the firing for this turn, we're going to go grab some lunch. Want us to bring you back something?"

 

[Story]

One of the scenarios is the Battle of Mobile Bay, that of course includes Fort Morgan — consulting tables and charts for every single gun, every turn. I can't even imagine.

"Here Bob, here's the tables for gunnery and damage. While you figure out the firing for this turn, we're going to go grab some lunch. Want us to bring you back something?"

Sounds like TOBRUK (
I met/knew the guy who designed that game, before he died.)

nb: forgot why I wandered into this thread.

Inspiration
https://scottmingus.wordpress.com/tag/acw-naval/

Also, 1/1200 scale Mediterrean harbor/port - might give someone ideas about producing American equivalents
http://modeljship.com/en/terrain-and-scenics-11200/237-puerto-mediterraneo.html

 

[rebelatsea]

I bought Ironclads off Ebay, a) because I didn't have a copy and b) I thought I may be able to use the counters, but they are too small for me. Having read through the rules and seeing the comments from you gents, I'm glad I didn't attempt to play.

 

[AndyHall]

One hundred ninety-eight years ago yesterday, the whaleship Essex sailed from Nantucket on its final, fateful voyage.

Past Go has announced its new game, Leviathan, that pits Captain Ahab of the whaleship Pequod against the white whale, Moby Dick, and his pod. While this is not strictly a naval game, I'm mentioning it here because it looks innovative, and like a good, fast-moving introduction to naval gaming generally. From the description:

Leviathan is an asymmetrical 2-player "micro" game, which offers a dynamic tactical battle at sea with a mere 18-card deck. The cards themselves are the "playing pieces," and movement is measured out in real space on any flat surface.

Inspired by Herman Melville's famous literary nemeses, one player controls the fearsome Moby Dick and a pod of whales, using hidden movement to elude the opponent, who controls the whaling fleet of Ahab and his crew. Moby Dick prevails by destroying the whaleship Pequod, while Ahab won't rest until the white whale of his nightmares is slain.

Leviathan offers players a simple set of rules but a rich wargame flavor in about 15 minutes and is highly portable. This is a great piece of introductory level naval combat for both new and experienced gamers across the age spectrum, and a wonderful homage to two of literature's most notorious monsters.
​

The games is still in development, but you can download beta-version rules and cards to play the game for free:

https://www.pastgo.net/leviathan

 

[mofederal]

I own Ironclads and Ironclads II, and of course Jutland. I have enjoyed all three games. Ironclads is my favorite. The games involves lot of record keeping and charts and tables, but I still love it. It helps playing with people who are familiar with the game. My Ironclads game is a first edition, and Ironclads II is also. Actually so is Jutland. We used to play it in a gym once in awhile. Nice wide open spaces.

 

[AndyHall]

We used to play it in a gym once in awhile. Nice wide open spaces.

This game Leviathan is designed to be played on an open surface -- I wonder if it's adaptable to miniatures.

ETA: If it's playable in 15 minutes, it would be great for introductory games at conventions.

 

[Story]

This game Leviathan is designed to be played on an open surface -- I wonder if it's adaptable to miniatures.

ETA: If it's playable in 15 minutes, it would be great for introductory games at conventions.

Didn't you and I discuss a model Whaler? If ease-of-build is a factor, a waterlined hull with stub masts (built 'Admiralty Model' style) would be the way to go for the Pequod counter. The three whaleboats could be robbed from a USS Constutition kit. .
.
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/293d32_e349d695216f4136959f724bfc540ef9.pdf

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/293d32_77870fac27fd4cfeb8a82f0193c6cc87.pdf