"Best historical period for naval wargaming?" Topic

What historical period do you believe is the most fun to recreate in miniature?

Even though I usually am dreadful at naval games, I honestly can't decide which period is more fun to be defeated in!

For the record, I've played Napoleonic (my last game I played the British, and managed to be defeated by a coalition of French and Venetian – yes, Venetian! My opponent will never let me forget that battle), WW2 major fleet actions (French and Italian) but most recently Cruel Seas has been a favourite at the club.

I'm currently itching to use my pre dreadnaught fleets in one of David Manley's rulesets. I find that weird transitional period of technology changes fascinating! I think I'll vote for that era as most interesting to me.

I'm not interested in Pacific carrier actions so much. I prefer the old battlewagon slugging rather than airstrikes. Never played any ancient galley battles either.

Fun is entirely subjective. What floats my particular boat might not be someone else's thang. More than likely what you'd enjoy is gaming some period that captures your imagination. To thine own self be true.

Of course if you pick something that your gaming group despises, you may have trouble actually playing it. You might want to sound them out and try to find common waters somewhere or other.

I like them all. Why pick just one? I would never turn down a naval game in any period.

I have played Age of Sail, WWI and WWII and like all

Trying to stick to great lakes at end of 18th and start of 19th centuries

Napoleonics.

I love ACW because the mix of ship types is so interesting. But to each their own. Enjoy whatever pleases you.

The complimentary question (from someone who doesn't play naval games) is what's the best scale? I.E., Are you commanding the fleet and ordering squadrons of ships to maneuver, or are you captain of a single ship and need to manage resources between engines/sails or gunnery, while maneuvering for the perfect shot?

Golden Age of Piracy

I play Ancients, Age of Sail WW1 and WW2. They all have their own unique interest

Great thing about naval gaming is that you can use the same terrain over any number of periods! ;^D

That said, I'm waiting for the "Game X approved sea mat" advert. I suspect I know where it will come from too.

1860 to 1905. Saying that I just got a boatload(sorry) of 1/2400 WWI ships.

18th Century Piracy
20th/21st Century Smuggling
19th Century through WWI Capital Ship Battles
Ancients Big Stupid Cluster of Ships Events

Ancients
Ironclads

+1 ACW

WW2 is pretty good, too.

AoS or earlier is far better than "Steam and Turrets" Naval. It basically comes down to having real maneuver decisions to deal with wind and limited fields of fire to get rakes and fire that cannot be replied to vs the basically linear decision of turreted ships which need only close range or extend it if they have weapons that out-range the opponents.

Crossing a tee of the opponents line is about all you get to try to do with steam and turrets. If you are the faster force, you can try but even the slower line can always refuse to be flanked by turning as well, so it just comes down to maximizing range advantages, to close or not to close. Too cut and dried for me. Might as well just let the dice resolve the fight, maneuver won't change anything! Other than some basic targeting priority decisions the player admiral has no contribution that might decide the game.

I've played from galleys to WW II. My favorite is WW I. Ships were reliable but vulnerable, fairly easy to maneuver and don't have to fear subs and aircraft that much. Age of sail is fun bu has a steeper learning curve.

Predreads (1865- 1905) certainly-- transitional technology always makes for interesting battles. Try War of the Triple Alliance with boarding parties attacking by canoe or towed gun barges, or Lissa 1866 with ramming tactics. Odd gun arrangements require more thoughtful tactics than just attempting to "cross the T".

I'm kinda surprised no "Russia vs Sweden" yet.

GNW Russia vs Sweden would be an interesting variant on Age of Sail gaming – rowboat swarms vs men-of-war!

Im kinda surprised no "Russia vs Sweden" yet.

Well, if you didn't find that period to be one you would just nominate to be the best historical period, why is it surprising that others haven't either?

WWII

My galley Sally

Or

Pirates