"Pinky's great adventure with Cruel Seas" Topic

Have played through CS several times now and wanted to play a game " for real". So rolled up LT Pinky Winthrope RN. Here are my thoughts, changes to the rules and Pinky's adventure.
link

Enjoy

Joe

Enjoyed the after action report of Lt. Pinky's adventure. What modifications have you made to the damage and critical tables? I just did up a Quick Reference Sheet to use during the game myself.

Yes, indeed. I'd also love to see what you've done, if you don't mind. I'd also be interested in your Flotilla Forward supplement. I have your other two, Squadron and Platoon and rather liked them.

I too would be interested to learn more about your changes as well as Flotilla Forward which I would be very keen to try.
My own Cruel Seas Starter Pack is awaiting a visit from Santa.

John

Thank you all. Let me play with the damage and critical hits a bit to make sure I like them.
Tony, Flotilla Forward will be similar is scope and style to the other 2. You will probably lead 6 boats like squadron forward. The personality and drive charts are the same and I will modify the background charts from Grunts Forward to make them more nautical. The tricky part has been the OPFOR. You want the possibility of varying forces but want a balanced game 80% of the time with a walk over 10% and suicide 10%. I have most of the scenarios done but still working out the convoy attack. Unlike Squadron Forward the ships are blinds so you don't know what is there until you spot it or it "uncloaks" to fire at you.
Archdukek, I think you will enjoy the starter pack!

Joe

As I'm just going back and reading Douglas Reeman's small boats books I would certainly love to know more about 'Flotilla Forward' – I remember reading something a few years ago but could never find it again…

Now I know!

Nick

Nick,
Yes it has languished for a while now. Hopefully with these rules I can put it to bed. You basically role up the personalities of your squadron then send them out on missions. Events happen between missions to breath life into your characters. Much of it focuses on relations they have with NPCs as sorted out with die rolls. Sort of a roll playing lite approach.
Fitz, Tony and AD,
Played 2 more games and I think the sweat spot for damage is as simple as reducing each gun by 1 die. LMGs and HMGs will now have 1d6 but different ranges. Still figuring out twin guns and the like. Not convinced that twin 20s are as good as 1 37mm though the math is convenient. Have expanded the critical table to 20 options but still working through that. Try the above and see how it works.

Joe

Joe,
Thanks for your efforts on this. I have to do a few play throughs to get a feel for the rules and your thoughts. I believe that you are correct and reducing the damage dice would add some staying power to the boats overall. Might be worth looking at adding a point for the HMG and in the case of the twin, triple and quad mounts adding 2, 3, 4 points of damage so a Quad 20 would be sure to get 4 points plus the 2D6 that I believe you are considering with the reduced number of die.

Fitz,
That is a great idea. For a 40mm you could re-roll your lowest die. I have never seen a twin 88 so once you get to a twin 4in gun I think adding an additional die is appropriate.
Haven't messed with the "to hit" sequence but I think 3 and 4 inch guns should get a penalty as they have a hard time tracking a speeding craft even with a director.

Cheers

Joe

Joe,
Good Luck with your efforts. I have boxed up my rules and unfinished boats putting them on the shelf until I decide what to do with them. The ten pages of errata released yesterday was to me just a sad commentary on how sloppy and poorly done this game looks to be. I can probably use the boats in some WWII Armor games, but that will be limited to a few coastal actions from time to time. I may also look for another set of rules that would be workable.
Best
Kevin