"Rules for Napoleonic Naval games?" Topic

Hello everyone,

I was wondering what rules are used these days for gaming.
Years ago we used heart of oak, which seems to have disappeared during our move, so I thought I would see what people are using now.

cheers

I use Trafalgar. They work well.
Lots of cool support files on Yahoo group, the Captains Table.
Clif

Heart of Oak is still around and available via pdf from FGU at Wargame Vault/RPGNow.

I intend to use Kiss Me Hardy, by the TooFatLardies though.

if you can find them Tsr don't give up the Ship are still good

Our club uses Form Line of Battle by A&A game engineering. Jolly good fun, easy to learn, good level of detail combined with a fast and elegant system. We've posted a mini review at link

The rules can be purchased online as pdf.

Cheers,
Aksu

Trafalger is OK – but we found some very odd things happening.
Kiss Me Hardy from the Lardies seems to work better; the card-driven move sequence keeps things interesting, and it is no more complex than Trafalgar.

WS&IM as is for small game + cards from KMH for bigger games. Boarding rules need adjusting though otherwise great. Not too complex but with enough historical detail to be captivating enough.

Could look at Flying Colors for big battles.

I use FLoB (obviously) but I'm also working on a set of fleet action rules for use with 1/2400 models and big battles.

I have tried the Langton Signal Close Action Fast Play rules (among many, many others) and find them easy to learn and enjoyable. Firing and damage is a bit different; you pretty much always hit as long as you're in range, but the amount of damage you inflict varies depending on several factors. And of course, you're keeping a roster of damage points which at various levels cause various types of losses to firing and manueverability. These are good rules for a quick game in an evening's time frame, with minimal pre-game preparation.

I really liked Trafalgar, mostly because it was so universally accepted, but you do have to accept that some odd things happen, as mentiond above….like the Spanish actually winning!

My review of Kiss Me Hardy

link

Hi,

Wooden ships and Iron men from Avalon hill is still the best.

Greetings

Another vote for WS&IM.

The Miniatures version of Wooden Ships and Iron Men is called "Ship of the Line"; indeed, WS&IM was reputedly derived from it, rather than the other way around.

Try Warfare at Sea in the Age of Reason.

Thanks guys, something there to look into :)

cheers

David Manley

When will your new rule set be out?

FLOB is my favorite fleet rules but want to know more about your new rules. My only question on FLOB is why you don't include movement reductions as ships take damage? Why is movement only reduced by a critical hit in the basic rules?

I recently bought GRAND FLEET ACTIONS IN THE AGE OF SAIL which you made scenarios for. Interesting mechanisms but not sure they quite work or are fully developed after I played it some. Is your new game similar or different?

I have a minature home set which is (by now) distantly related to SOL, WS&IM and Hearts of Oak. I can send a copy if you wish.

Yes, I would like a set.

I really enjoy using signal close action fast play, nice set of mechanics that feel like a realistic result and are simple to remember. I also reckon it gives you a good base to add rules to. But there are lots of good sets out there