"Coastal combat with a small playing table" Topic
9 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Remember that you can Stifle members so that you don't have to read their posts.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the WWII Naval Discussion Message Board
Areas of InterestWorld War Two at Sea
Featured Link
Featured Ruleset
Featured Showcase ArticleMal Wright 's first experience with 1:4800 scale naval models.
Featured Profile ArticlePaul Glasser reports on the debut of Axis and Allies: Guadalcanal and the North African expansion.
|
Rocketeer | 31 Mar 2014 6:01 p.m. PST |
I believe I'd like to try MTB combat. I've been looking through a variety of free, downloadable rules (Coastal Combat, Pz8, etc.) and note that per-turn movement rates can quickly end up at around 20 inches (cm?) per turn. Sighting ranges at night are up there, too. At a convention I've all the room in the world. But in my den my playing table is about 36in x 72in (90cm x 180cm). Considering my space constraints, what sort of miniature scale am I seeking? (I'm hoping for something better than a 0.6in (1.8cm) model that seemingly a puff of breath blows away.) Are one set of rules better sorted for smaller playing, can I simply scale things, or does the question not arise in practice because who tries 30kt getaways? Thanks, Jerome. |
Mako11 | 31 Mar 2014 6:21 p.m. PST |
That's plenty big for 1/600th, or 1/1200th scale minis. You can use inches, or if desired, switch to cms, instead. Action Stations is a great set of rules for this type of gaming. There are lots of others as well, including Flaklighter, etc. I think I've got a spare set of AS, in shrinkwrap still, if you decide you are interested in them. E-mail me at: calidreamer3 AT hotmail ]dot[ com [deleting the extraneous spaces and symbols, and using the @ symbol and . where appropriate] MTBs and MGBs, S-Boats, and PTs will want 30+ knots, when trying to get out of range of, and evade superior firepower of larger enemy units. |
daveshoe | 31 Mar 2014 9:38 p.m. PST |
I agree that the space should work. I usually play on a 5 ft x 6 ft (60 inches x 72 inches) with 1/600 scale ships and there is usually plenty of room to play. Additionally, you could always half the distances for play, especially if you are using 1/1200. I like the Actions Stations rules too, but if you aren't looking to buy anything you could join the Narrow Seas Yahoo group and download the Schnell rules, which are a quick-play set of rules also by David Manley. |
GUNBOAT | 01 Apr 2014 7:14 a.m. PST |
6ftx5ft good for 1/600 Boats/Ships S/R boats and MTB or MGB ect. link |
Rocketeer | 01 Apr 2014 10:18 a.m. PST |
I've had a lot of good input here. Based on AAR pictures I think that I don't yet know my mind on scale. I think I'll fake it for now, using paper templates, and see whether I'm more fond of scale distances or ship spectacle. From downloadable rules and reviews I see that there are perhaps levels of rule complexity. I think me, and my group, would tire soon of Pz8 simplicity -- there are complex things cleverly hidden in that simplicity, but I think that we'll *want* to have hull boxes and such -- but OTOH I don't want to spend brain cells resolving individual MG shots and hit locations. Unless I'm wrong, that would leave out the games I didn't review yet, Action Stations and Flaklighter (Mako11, thanks for the offer, I might yet take you up on it
). Where I'm at, then is to understand if the rules I haven't reviewed yet are actually that complex. Can I get a few questions answered about Action Stations and Flaklighter? This is on my mind: * How far (inches, cm, hexes) is the maximum per-turn board movement for a MTB at about 40 kt? * Is there a limit on accel or decel with them (e.g., Coastal Command lets you change +/- about 5 to 10kt per turn)? * Are boat turns governed by turn template? Can they do pinpoint turns, even at 40kt? * For MTBs is there damage like hull boxes? Thanks again, Jerome. |
daveshoe | 02 Apr 2014 8:38 p.m. PST |
Jerome, I can answer the questions about Action Stations. - Ship speed is basically 1 cm = 1 kt - Ships to have a limit on Acceleration/Deceleration, which depends on the size of the ship. - Turning uses a distance traveled to make a 45 degree turn. The distance varies on ship maneuverability and if it is moving greater than or less than half of max. speed. - All ships have hull boxes. When a ship is hit, you roll to determine what is actually hit on ship. The larger the size of the firing gun, the higher the chance of hull hits. Other hits include weapons, engines, and crew. I hope that helps. But, again, I would recommend joining the Narrow Seas yahoo group. |
Lion in the Stars | 05 Apr 2014 12:18 p.m. PST |
Are one set of rules better sorted for smaller playing, can I simply scale things, or does the question not arise in practice because who tries 30kt getaways? Even modern subs will try to go deep and fast to break contact, so you'd better believe that a MTB is going to be pushing the motors *hard*. Friend of mine was an Engineman back in Vietnam, and helped swap engines of a Nasty-class torpedo boat. They had exotic engines, and the throttle was spring-loaded beyond a certain point (over-riding the fuel racks and turbo wastegates for LOTS of power and obscene turbo boost pressure). The engines had something like 15 minutes of life at those power settings, but the boat could outrun the torpedoes it dropped. One time, my friend's minesweeper was in deep trouble and called for help. A Nasty-class responded, and was traveling so fast that the surface-search radar wasn't able to hold a track on it. |
Rocketeer | 07 Apr 2014 9:52 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the comments, guys! Based on the comments, reviews and some fiddling around I'm acquiring some 1:1250 ships and Flaklighter. Jerome. |
D for Dubious | 08 Apr 2014 2:48 a.m. PST |
There was a modification of Victory at Sea for coastal forces, the whole system seemed to work better for small ships than it ever did for larger ones. |
|