Sparker | 30 Apr 2014 8:45 p.m. PST |
Yes I know I spelt that wrong but I'm in a bad mood cos of the frustrations of dealing with wargamers! It seems that my favoured 'Trafalgar' rules are out and FLOB is once again the best thing since sliced bread – until we play the next game of FLOB and they remember what they didn't like about those rules, the picky princesses! Anyroad, am I right in thinking that FLOB is out of print? Or has it been republished under some other title? Oh and if anyone knows of any other set of Fast Play Napoleonic Sailing rules that are: 1. Absolutely perfect in every way; 2. Will never, ever, under any circumstances require 'house rules' or any other kind of local modification to suit diverse interpretation of naval warfare; Could they please, please, let me know of them! Yours, Frustrated from Wollongong! |
David Manley | 30 Apr 2014 9:28 p.m. PST |
aandagames.co.uk They are available from A&A Game Engineering through Wargames Vault |
Sparker | 30 Apr 2014 9:45 p.m. PST |
Wow – a swift response from the man himself! Thanks David. Although looking at your website, it looks as if the 'Grand Fleet Actions in the Age of Sail' might be more the thing for us
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vtsaogames | 01 May 2014 7:44 a.m. PST |
Sparker, sounds like you play in my nyc group. Also available from wargame vault is It is Warm Work. Extremely fast play. My one caveat is players abusing the turn radius. You may find the rules too simple. |
Morning Scout | 01 May 2014 1:21 p.m. PST |
vtsaogames In regards to "It is Warm Work" could you please elaborate on your "abusing the turn radius" comment? I have not heard of this being an issue before. Thanks |
Sparker | 01 May 2014 3:03 p.m. PST |
Thank you all. Some good leads
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dantheman | 01 May 2014 8:42 p.m. PST |
Sparker Played lots of Age of Sail rules. Everyone has their personal preference. My two cents on what I played. FLOB – Like the movement rules, gunnery fiddly in later editions. Still recommended. Flying Colors – Board game based. Very clunky gunnery rules. Not bad but not my first choice. Grand Fleet Actions – not recommended. Bought them, tried them, good concept but comes across as not refined from play testing Fire As She Bears – Okay, didn't thrill me. It seemed the British are a invincible. May seem historically correct but doesn't make a fun game. It is Warm Work – Most liked by me for a fast fun game. Fleet command and control a little too loose for me. General at Sea – Anglo Dutch set I use for Napoleonics with minor mods. Only set I know with a simple system for modeling fleet command and control. However, I still need more play experience. This one has got my interest though. Wooden Ships Iron Men – perennial favorite if you can live with minor quirks such as grappling rules Close Action – WSIM on steroids. Unless you have a lot of time and play one or two ships a player it is not an easy lift. Broadsides – I believe I have the title right. A free set that is decent. For the cost you can't loose to download for a spin, if download still available. Hex based. It is FLOB streamlined. There are more but I can't remember them all. If I can't recall details I would assume they were not worth noting. As you can tell I played lots of age of sail and prefer fleet actions over ship detail. Your criteria may be different. There you have it. For cost and playability I recommend It Is Warm Work. If too simple then you can add things like a command structure without changing the rules. |
vtsaogames | 02 May 2014 9:46 a.m. PST |
Morning Scout, I've seen some of my players make sharper turns using the turn guide than I think possible. Once the move has been done its kind of hard to take back. Otherwise I really like the rules. |
Sparker | 02 May 2014 3:19 p.m. PST |
Thanks Dan for your comprehensive response. Yes I also am interested in fleet action over ship detail. I have now acquired a copy of 'It is Warm Work' thanks to Morning Scout and along with your recommendation will give them a whirl
. Its getting to the point now where I think no set of rules can escape criticism from someone – even if their gripe is the polar opposite to their last complaint – I'll just please myself and hope I can find at least one opponent! |
dantheman | 02 May 2014 4:01 p.m. PST |
Let us know how it goes. You can't go wrong trying them. You can do a fleet action in an evening and if you don't like them and feel you can't tweek them your bank account won't feel it. You are right. Napoleonic naval is like the land battles. Too many rules and too many opinions. It just isn't as noticeable because the naval world is so small. |
Mark Barker | 03 May 2014 2:05 a.m. PST |
"Its getting to the point now where I think no set of rules can escape criticism from someone" Welcome to wargaming ! Having contributed to Flying Colors I am biased on them (and I did a very simple miniatures conversion for my picky traditional wargaming club that went down a storm – Battle of Cape Ortegal in two hours including a break for tea). I'll put in a word for Rod Langton's Napoleonic Fast Play rules – very good set. Mark Barker |
Morning Scout | 03 May 2014 6:16 a.m. PST |
Regarding turning, are players just not staying within the rules or is it the rule that has the problem. Max turn for most ships in a movement is up to 45 degrees followed by a mandatory 1" forward in a movement turn so that seems ok. Again is this a case of players just stealing that extra bit of distance or a rule issue. Just asking to see if something might need to be fixed or adjusted as far as the written rules. Thanks |
dantheman | 03 May 2014 10:55 a.m. PST |
Sparker I believe the Living rules and charts for FLYING COLORS is on the GMT WEBSITE for download I recommend you look at them. Not my personal first choice but not bad. Worth the look. If you like what you read then by all means get the game. Heard good things about Rods Fast Play rules as well, but alas it is one set I have not tried. |
EnclavedMicrostate | 21 Oct 2015 2:09 a.m. PST |
Sorry for chiming in late, but I picked up a copy from Tumbling Dice's Paul at Attack in Devizes. |