"SYWcon scenario, finally ready for playtesting" Topic

With only a month to go before the con, I've finally finished all the new ship models, record sheets and terrain, and I'm starting early playtesting. The last kit I needed to design was a Maratha ghurab, a sort of sloop/galley hybrid:

Though they could be either ship- or ketch-rigged, I've gone with the ketch rig for both of these, as I like the slightly more exotic look.

More photos of these ships:

link

A previous thread on this topic:

TMP link

More info on the convention:

sywconvention.com

Photo albums of past SYWcons:

link

And, what the heck, one more gratuitous photo of a pack of Maratha gallivats closing in on an East Indiaman, just because:

That's awesome..can;t wait to see it at the Con. Love the ships ,but especially that little jut of land and terrain,great job. Hows the rate of fire of the Maratha guns compared to the East Indiamen?..

Well done! Glad you liked the idea of the project.

Thanks, Jurgen.

I chose not to make a distinction in the rates of naval gunfire for this scenario, for two reasons: 1) While the Indiamen's crews were frequently better gunners and more disciplined than an average merchant crew, they were not Royal Navy and not often well drilled. 2) This scenario is set around 1750, in the middle of decades of constant, low-intensity naval conflict in the Indian Ocean which would eventually lead to the first Anglo-Maratha War in the 1770s. By this time, the Marathas had been building and employing native-built warships against the colonial powers for a century and a half. They reached a peak of efficiency in the early part of the 18th century under the administration of Kanhoji Angre, who employed European (mostly Dutch) officers and administrators to construct a naval force that could stand up to the British East India Company's ships.

Gunnery won't be the deciding factor in this scenario, anyway. The Marathas are more lightly armed and would never win a gun duel. Their preferred tactic was to approach from astern or alee, using their guns to reduce the opposing ships' mobility and crew enough to allow a successful boarding action.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Con.

And thanks to you too, Elliott, for tossing me head first into yet another period and theater, 'cause, you know, every wargamer needs to have their time and attention spread as thin as possible.

Amazing work. SYWcon is a good time. Only went twice about 10 years ago. I'd love to go again.

Xin

You should go again, Xin. I've been to many different conventions of all types and sizes, but this one remains my favorite. The games are amazing and the camaraderie is unparalleled. You'd like the new venue, as well – no more riding up and down all day in slow elevators . . . though, on the downside, it's too far to walk to Fiddler's Hearth.

Excellent! Looking forward to playing this one.

- Ix

Such great looking models and scenes! Really top notch. And I have to thank you Jeff for turning my attention to a conflict I knew nothing whatsoever about.

Your models keep getting better and better.