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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: vodkafan on May 16, 2017, 10:55:35 AM

Title: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: vodkafan on May 16, 2017, 10:55:35 AM: has.been and I had a go at a naval game last weekend using the Osprey Fighting Sail rules.
As is my usual format I will put up the pics over a few posts. Here is the situation at the start:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0559_zpswil44quf.jpg)

I had 3 Spanish ships which were coming out of harbour through a narrow channel and has.been possessed 5 French ships which contested my route to the open sea.
Here are the stats for mine, I had one very heavily armed slow beast and 2 faster escorts:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0550_zpstngmjadq.jpg)

(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0551_zpsfdnemh98.jpg)

and here they are, in line astern with the Santisima Trinidad in the lead:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0552_zpsewbiqusc.jpg)

The 5 French ships are all much faster, but lightly armed 3rd and 4th rate:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0560_zpsumjoomib.jpg)

(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0553_zpsvlmwoeix.jpg)

Here is the gaming paraphenalia, I didn't know how to use these at the beginning
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0556_zpsxook7aji.jpg)

This showed the direction of the wind. We both threw a single die at the start of each turn for initiative , if the numbers tied then the wind changed direction, indicated by the sword. The cannon showed who had the initiative.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0554_zpscig1wmgn.jpg)

More next post!
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: Driscoles on May 16, 2017, 11:23:59 AM: this is a simple but great looking little gaming table. Thanks for sharing !
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: OSHIROmodels on May 16, 2017, 01:32:03 PM: I like that :)

cheers

James
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: has.been on May 16, 2017, 08:12:36 PM: At this point I must mention that the dice gods hate me.
Does anyone know a way to appease them?
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: vodkafan on May 16, 2017, 10:34:02 PM: Quote from: has.been on May 16, 2017, 08:12:36 PM
At this point I must mention that the dice gods hate me.
Does anyone know a way to appease them?

The way the dice went was one of the weirdest things of the whole day....when has.been was showing me by example how we would dice for initiative we each threw a die 4 times....and got the same number every time. Then during the game itself when we diced for initiative EVERY TURN we rolled the same numbers...so the wind changed direction EVERY TURN.
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: vodkafan on May 17, 2017, 12:43:27 AM: I got the initiative for the first turn. I had no idea of what my strategy should be..should I zig-zag, do something clever? Then after my dice throw I realised that my flagship was as maneuverable as a brick. :( I decided I would just head straight for the gap and if anything got in my way I would try to blow it out the water and hope I didn't get too much damage in return.
The wind was not favourable and I just moved in a straight line 2"
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0561_zpsdsvb7z7b.jpg)

My opponent on the other hand had the wind on his side! Here he is gleefully deploying his lead ship
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0562_zpsjpagppem.jpg)

Here they are after his move is complete
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0564_zpskpbydaec.jpg)

I am in no position to fire but the lead French ship wastes no time in giving The Santisima Trinidad a full broadside at long range...
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0565_zps5grdfspx.jpg)

...which causes no damage at all

Turn 2: The wind changes direction and my opponent takes the initiative
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0566_zpsoxn5i3te.jpg)

I forgot to take a photo here of our movements so a verbal description will have to do. I moved the ponderous flagship on the same straight line course only a couple of inches again but the nippier Argonauta got the wind in his sails and was able to zoom out on the flagship's port side in support. The San Leandro closed up the gap behind the flagship.
The shifting wind was now not so good for the French but the two lead ships boldly swung across my bows ready to attack and the rearmost ships moved forward a little.
One of them was eager to get into the fray and fired at Argonauta at long range..alas for him his firepower was too light. No damage.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0570_zpskooa8sib.jpg)

The two other French ships belched fire and smoke; simultaneously hurled hot cannonballs at my flagship from both directions. I have to admit I was worried
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0571_zpsq9cqctdc.jpg)

(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0572_zpstzgdovbm.jpg)

Happily for me the result was only light damage; 1 damage token and 1 anchor token. However this cut my gunnery in half.
The Argonauta was in an excellent position and was first to reply.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0574_zps7vbvw1l4.jpg)

But the result was disappointing
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0575_zpsby4bkscr.jpg)

Santisima Trinidad fired with it's reduced gun power. Looking at this now, I am not sure she should have been able to fire at all, the angle looks very acute, but my opponent insisted it was correct...
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0576_zpsv7avecvk.jpg)

Even with only half battery the damage was devastating on the lighter French ship
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0577_zpsbqe89tvi.jpg)

Turn 3 and the wind changes again, as does the initiative
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0579_zps7mcdysyv.jpg)

The wind has dropped out of my sails and I only move a minimum distance. But the Santisima Trinidad takes a morale test and gets rid of its damage token.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0580_zpsv1pmhwyv.jpg)

More next time!
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: vodkafan on May 17, 2017, 09:55:40 AM: Despite it's damage the Frenchie is still game and sails round in front of me. The other French ship maneuvers side on to the Argonauta.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0582_zpsd3d0noaz.jpg)

But I get to fire first. The range is so close. For some reason the French ship has disappeared from this photo! We didn't have any wreck bases ready and had to improvise
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0584_zpsvow2gntn.jpg)

The French ship (I think it was the Scipion) is sunk with all hands
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0586_zpslgcf0ufu.jpg)

My flagship fires again. Again, I am not sure that this angle should allow it here
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0587_zps5fgjpexm.jpg)

The French lose another frigate to a watery grave
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0588_zpshi7uasnp.jpg)

The French turn to fire with their two outlying ships:
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0590_zps4nmn9krm.jpg)

(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0591_zps3bkuwenq.jpg)

Argonauta just suffers an anchor token which impedes her sailing a bit. No damage
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0593_zpsqq6sbqpf.jpg)

Turn 4. The dice rolls match again, this time a double 6. That means the wind does not change direction but picks up to gale force!
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0578_zps5hxcszxt.jpg)

This is at the end of both our move phases before shooting. The French converge on me. Both my flagship and Argonauta cannot move because the anchor tokens impede their ability to sail in a gale. However my fresh third ship San Leandro has sailed into the gap between them.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0594_zpsonghk0c4.jpg)

The French must have fired first because the Santisima Trinidad has got another damage token but I must have forgot to take a picture
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0598_zpsy9gptua7.jpg)

Argonauta lets rip
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0597_zpshk8xokvl.jpg)

Then the San Leandro a devastating double broadside
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0600_zps4le0dulw.jpg)

Another French ship sunk and the other badly damaged
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0601_zps6hacjp5b.jpg)

With 3 ships lost the French morale has dropped to zero and so the Spanish fleet is victorious
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0602_zpsdywyfdi3.jpg)

It was a fun game but I couldn't help feeling it was too easy for me. After the game Peter gave me some other naval rules to read. These are much more strict on the arcs of fire and possible angles of engagement. Peter is always very sporting. In hindsight I feel I should NOT have been able to engage on at least two occasions when I did. Comments welcome.
You chaps can see the angles and may have played these rules. What do you think?
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: vodkafan on May 17, 2017, 10:15:15 AM: Sorry about the quality of the photograph. Here is a diagram from the "Kiss Me Hardy" ruleset that has.been gave me to read after the game.
(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/Roman9_2006/DSC_0568_zpsxoaxhrnp.jpg)

These arcs of fire look more correct to me
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: Harry Faversham on May 17, 2017, 11:31:45 AM: Love these small scale games you two battle away in... proper wargaming!
In my 'umble opinion a couple of VF's broadsides were a tad dodgy but looked most effective. Only thing I cannot, for the life of me, comprehend is this lunatic concept.... "always very sporting"... it's war man, not sport!
Play up, play up and play the game!!!

:o :-* :o
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: Belisarius on May 17, 2017, 12:13:21 PM: Quote from: has.been on May 16, 2017, 08:12:36 PM
At this point I must mention that the dice gods hate me.
Does anyone know a way to appease them?
let your opponent throw the dice for you. A lovely and lively little report. I,ve just bought these rules and am awaiting delivery, so this is very timely. They look to be a fun , not overly complicated set , so just what I,m looking for. I look forward to more of your posts V.
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: shandy on May 17, 2017, 03:03:59 PM: Very nice looking game! What models do you use?
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: SteveBurt on May 17, 2017, 03:29:59 PM: It looks like you were playing 'Fighting Sail'
Those arcs of fire you were using are way too generous; almost none of your shots were in arc.
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: has.been on May 17, 2017, 06:45:03 PM: The arcs of fire in the rules ARE generous, but I was not. It does mean you get to fire more often than in other rules, but as has been said of the rules, in another LAF thread, they are fun, not historical. You pays yer money & you takes yer choice. It has also been suggested that (if you want) you can make 'in house, amendments to the rules, e.g.replace the 'blown out of the water' with a lesser result. Once again, it's up to you.

The ships used are from Tumbling Dice. He is a nice man to deal with.

Vodkafan's tactics (Sod subtlety, I'm barging on through) worked well partially because the Santissima Trinidad was the biggest warship in the world at the time, and (as I have already stated) the dice gods have got it in for me.
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: Harry Faversham on May 17, 2017, 11:37:00 PM: I hate percentage dice and appeased the Dice Gods by sacrificing one to them. It got super glued to a clay pigeon, launched, then powdered by a muzzle loading twelve bore...
the Dice Gods were very impressed by this and now look favourably upon their 'umble creature.

;)
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: noigrim on May 17, 2017, 11:45:39 PM: nice secenry, is the water a plastic sheet?
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: shandy on May 18, 2017, 08:03:44 AM: Quote from: has.been on May 17, 2017, 06:45:03 PM
The ships used are from Tumbling Dice. He is a nice man to deal with.

Ah yes, thought so - I use them myself, they really are great models. Yours look better though! :)
Title: Re: Napoleonic Naval Game
Post by: has.been on May 18, 2017, 05:52:21 PM: Yours look better though!

Thanks for that.