"Scenario Books?" Topic

One thing I've always noticed about ACW naval gaming is that most rules sets will include an appendix with ship data from dozens of ships, but very few will actually give you a bunch of scenarios, like the old Yaquinto game had.

Does an ACW naval scenario book even exist? I mean one that says,here is how big the table is, here are the ships, here are the entry points, here are the victory conditions etc. The thing that I loved about Altar of Freedom or Fire and Fury, is that you have a slew of balanced scenarios, laid out for you on a platter.

Why is it that ACW naval rules lack detailed scenarios? And if I'm missing a set that does, can you point me to it? Good scenario writing is a real skill that I just don't have.

Not a scenario book per se, but my friend The G Dog has a campaign system that will generate scenarios:

link

Very few of the historical confrontations between ironclads were terribly balanced. When you start muddling with harbor defense, coastal guns, running ships past a fort, and so on, it gets pretty muddled pretty fast.

But yeah, scenario suggestions that go beyond point values would be inspiring to read.

Or one could just pick up a book on naval warfare in the ACW

I've read books on naval warfare, jdpintex. That isn't remotely the same as designing a fun, balanced, playable scenario, which is an art form in itself.

But thanks for the friendly, constructive comment . . .

The rulebook for Sail & Steam Navies includes 6 scenarios, 10 sample battle maps and a scenario generation system.

By Sea and River is a campaign system for Dahlgren and Columbiad by David Manley.

Phil Ireson of Pithead Miniatures has made a few nicely detailed scenarios. The only way I know to get these is to email him and get on his mailing list. You might have to be a customer first.

- Ix

Phil's scenarios are great. I understand he's considering publishing them.

You could also just use the scenarios from boardgames.

The GMT boardgame Iron & Oak claims to have 14 scenarios in it.

Use the scenarios out of the old Yaquinto game [https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2800/ironclads]The Ironclads or the Ironclads expansion.

Shot & Shell was an expansion of The Ironclads and had a different set of scenarios in it.

Check the Board Game Geek Market for cheap copies.

- Ix

There is a series of ACW naval campaigns under the title Anaconda on wargamevault. This isn't exactly scenarios on a platter like you requested, but these rules do claim to include tactical maps, and should include balanced ways of determining starting positions.

- Ix

Thanks for the input! And if any of the talented rules authors that hang out here are reading this, please think about including a bunch of detailed scenarios, tailored to your rules, in your next effort.