"WWI naval rules recommendation" Topic

Need a set of WWI naval rules for convention run games that are easy to learn yet just enough "chrome" to satisfy naval gamers out there. Ideally for large fleet actions without bogging down the game much.

I read mixed reviews on all the following:

1)Victory at Sea – Age of Dreadnoughts
2)Naval Thunder – Clash of Dreadnoughts
3)General Quarters- Fleet Action Imminent
4)Fear God and Dreadnought

Thanks

WWI and earlier is Naval Thunder hands down for me.

IMO,
Victory at Sea is too simplistic – lacks chrome
Fear God and Dreadnaught is too far to the rivet counter side to make a good convention game.
I prefer GQ3 Fleet Action Imminent. I've used it at conventions with success, but you would need to be familiar with the combat system to assist the players.
I've played Naval Thunder and found it lacking and some of its mechanics odd.

I'll actually suggest a different set for convention gaming – GHQ Micronauts, (I think that's the name) from GHQ. It's quick to pick up and has some chrome. It would be my second set of choice after GQ3 FAI.

Could you share the scenario you have in mind? That may also favor one set over another.

Going to cast my vote for Naval Thunder as well. I'm more familiar with how it works for WW II actually, and very pleased with it, but the WW 1 ruleset is not that different. IMO, the right compromise between playability and detail.

Another vote for FAI. Have run many convention games with both FAI and GQ3 and have had no problem getting players (some which have never played naval before) running the game on their own within 2-3 turns. Very intuitive with enough detail to satisfy the hardcore naval gamer but easily grasped by the beginner. Have tried the other rules and FAI is the only one that hits the balance between playability and detail.

Another vote for FAI – and a of repeat what coastal says

A vote for GQ3.

I like the first edition of Grand Fleets from MJ12. I didn't care for the second edition as much.

Doug

I will second Grand Fleets. The second edition was simplified and streamlined, perhaps a bit too much.

I like Battlewagon from Task Force Games. Now available as a PDF from wargamevault. (I *THINK* it covers WWI as well as WWII).

I play GQ3:FAI and like it a lot.

Mark

Sea Wars Fleet Actions

GQ 1, 2 as I have played them several times and very good they are too. I have not played GQ3 yet.

I've tried them all and for anything except the largest fleet actions, I prefer General Quarters 3, Fleet Action Imminent. Really big actions (40+ ships per side)are possible but you are talking 6+ hours at that point.

Another vote for GQ3:FAI. I'm in dmc's group and we've played them often.

I very much enjoyed Grand Fleets when it first came out but Naval Thunder: Clash of Dreadnoughts is easily my favorite. Fear God isn't really a rivet-counter game IMHO. For that you go to SeeKrieg V.

Fear God and Dread Nought is fairly complicated (on the same order as the old Harpoon game). GQ3: FAI is an excellent middle ground.

I found the free rules-set Alienstar Firepower rules interesting.

Thanks all. I just heard that Victory at Sea: Clash of Dreadnought is being reprinted and most likely updated with errata etc.but yes I heard it's very simplistic.

I looked at GQ3: FAI and looked fairly complex (at least the ship data cards) that is…but I'll look at it again.

A friend of mine loaned me Fear God and Dreadnought definitely way too complex.

I'll look into Naval Thunder:Clash of Dreadnoughts as well.

My ships are 1:6000 scale Noble Minis (WWI German High Seas Fleet pack and WWI US fleet pack).

I'd like to do a US Navy Plan Black-esque type game (Germans vs Americans in the Caribbean around 1919) assuming Britain stayed neutral in WWI and Germany won the war.

GQ3 does look complicated, but most of the complexity is actually in the gunnery charts and ship data cards; they have done most of the hard work for you, and the game plays very smoothly.

I´m coming in a bit late, but if you can find a copy, General Quarters 2 would be a good choice. It meets your requirements and even as old as it is, the game is still loads of fun.

Late vote from me for GQ3: FAI.