The Maneuver Card Decks

[Mabinogian]

Hi,

just a quickie if I may. Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but blame it on me being a complete newbie (incidentally, my SoG starter and additions have literally just this minute arrived on my doorstep from Amazon, and I still have to get to grips with the game. I can hardly wait).

My question is about the manoeuvre cards (spelt maneuver on the ship packets). Each ship has its own deck of cards... right? So ( A ) does that mean each deck of cards is different for each ship? and ( B) how do you keep all these decks separate from each other without any card mix up?

Thank you kindly in advance,

Steve :)

[Mabinogian]

P.S. more importantly... how do you remember which card deck is for which ship?

or is the answer something so simple like "the ship`s name is written on each card"

[Bligh]

Hi,

just a quickie if I may. Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but blame it on me being a complete newbie (incidentally, my SoG starter and additions have literally just this minute arrived on my doorstep from Amazon, and I still have to get to grips with the game. I can hardly wait).

My question is about the manoeuvre cards (spelt maneuver on the ship packets). Each ship has its own deck of cards... right? So ( A ) does that mean each deck of cards is different for each ship? and ( B) how do you keep all these decks separate from each other without any card mix up?

Thank you kindly in advance,

Steve :)

Hi Steve.
The only stupid question is the one you don't ask people.:happy:

The cards are different for different ships.I keep my cards with the ship in its tray, but you can make a little card wrapper to sleeve around each set if you wish.
Second question.
Each ship card with its picture on has the Manoeuvre Deck printed on it in the second slot down on the left of the card.
Rob.

[Mabinogian]

THANK you so much Rob, that all makes total sense.

hmmmm, yes I think I`ll keep my ships in their box trays as well.

Steve :)

[Bligh]

One other thing I did Stephen, was to put a coloured sticky dot on each card in a pack it's ships base, and ship card,tray and box so that you can match each up easily when packing away. I keep a list of decks and try not to put the same colour on any deck with the same letter.
If you use the sticky dot micro dots which you can get in the States, you can do up to eight packs with a different colour before you run out. I have 37 ships now and still have not got any duplicates, although my Frigates and 74s are getting there. Then I will start putting the dots on the opposite corner of the cards.
Rob.

[Union Jack]

I colour code each type of deck with a colour sticker like Rob. I then differentiate by adding a number, ie Blue dot 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc for each deck.
So Blue dot 1 is a separate B deck Blue dot 2 is another deck etc.

[Mabinogian]

Thanks again Rob, yes this is the kind of information I find invaluable to me. You sound like me, Rob, when I`m gently helping/guiding fledgling gamers learn all about wargaming Anglo Zulu (1879-ish) battles and campaigns. I really can`t thank you enough for your help and advice. I was scratching my head wondering how I was going to manage my cards. I just recently gave a talk for Prince August Model Toy Factory over at Macroom (Ireland) on the Battle Of Waterloo... they currently claim to hold the biggest display in the world covering that particular battle. But anyway, I spotted they use `sticky label micro dots` on their information cards, so the staff there can quickly put all the different stacks neatly away at the end of the day. Your idea is similar to this, and sounds a good way of doing it. Indeed, it sounds like a plan. I think that may be my only criticism really, that Ares might have contrived a better way of assembling/storing the card decks so the poor gamers don't so easily get them mixed up. Maybe they did for the kickstarter I dunno. Sadly I missed out on all that.

I am loving what I am reading of the SoG rules (in fact, I`m about too begin my first game run through.... though I`m tempted just to `role play it out` as a new Midshipmen on exercise, navigating his ship through a tight channel, with a `fake` Frenchie anchored in the way so the poor Midshipman has to steer a steady course for a raking broadside and then has to tack swiftly so as to run with the wind, before a smart slip about before getting bottled up in the estuary. All this under the stern gaze of the Irish Fleet Commander ^^

Steve :)

[Mabinogian]

Thank you kindly Union Jack, your idea is sound. Colour coding and then adding a number does seem like a great idea actually. Thank you both for your advice. I will think on it. I had originally hoped to put the cards in plastic protectors, but that idea was shot out of the sky when I realised the cards are too small for that. Shame as I had lots of spare plastic sleeve protectors (which I use for many of my other games).

[Bligh]

If you look here on the Aerodrome site it may give you another helping hand.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=1029
You would need to dimension them to fit the different number of cards though.
Rob.

[Herkybird]

I have a fair number of ships, and have never thought of the microdot solution!

Thanks guys! :salute:

[Mabinogian]

Thanks again Rob, I may well look into protecting all my cards. This is most useful.

[Bligh]

Thanks again Rob, I may well look into protecting all my cards. This is most useful.

I use the 50 x75 sleeves from Mayday Games.
You can get them here.

http://www.boardgameextras.co.uk/index.php?cat=48&category=Card+Sleeves


Rob.

[Andy Blozinski]

I got my set to run at conventions, hopefully with lots of people. I expected people to screw up and mix cards with neighbors. I have small boxes they keep cards in when through plotting to minimize loose card scatter. I also numbered all my decks with a black marker. I can match up all the cards that got scattered when through.

[Mabinogian]

The solution was actually pretty easy in the end.

individually made boxes designed to create a nice snug fit for each of the ship`s set of cards. These are then fitted into a big, sturdy, flat box (and lid). Simply a matter then of writing the name of each ship on a sticky label corresponding to each box. Makes for safe storage and looks really good too. I am making mine look like old faded ships velum/scroll paper. Thank goodness for the course I took on box making as a youth... I was a glass engraver for half my life, and I used to design/make all my own presentation boxes for the sets of glasses to fit into.

When it comes to taking the cards out to play with, its simply a matter of making sure I put the individual card sets I`m playing with at the time onto board mounted pieces of black felt, and religiously making sure that I keep the cards on the felt pieces so as never to mix them with other cards by mistake. Once you get into a routine with this, it becomes second nature always to be careful. I will show the boxes and stuff off as soon as I have finished them to (what I consider) an aesthetic pleasing standard. This way I am adding to the overall look of the game as well as having a sure fire way of keeping track of things.

Next project, 2mm terrain scenics. mmmmm I`m really loving this new hobby genre. So much to do to enhance it all.

Steve :)

[Bligh]

Sounds as if this has really kicked off Stephen.
I'd love to see your finished product, and some of your engraved glasses for that matter.
Rob.

[Herkybird]

Indeed! - I quite agree! :salute:

[Capn Duff]

Hi Stephen, I use a similar system to both Bligh and Union Jack
Brit SoL have a Red 8mm dot in one corner with a number, each ship deck has a seperate number.
This is only as I sleeve all my cards
Be aware that if you do sleeve your cards the thickness of the decks increase
I use
Red, Brit SoL, Light Blue, French SoL, Yellow Spanish SoL
Orange, Brit Frigate, Green, French Frigate and White Spanish Frigate

[7eat51]

Hi Stephen,

I put a three letter/number code on each card of each deck, e.g. TA3; T = my last name initial, A = maneuver deck type, 3 = the third such deck. This makes it easy to ensure I have complete decks after each game; all I have to do is count the number of cards. I reuse the same maneuver decks for different ships of the same class, keeping all of my spare decks separate in case I ever lose cards. I, also, only bring the ships and decks I am using to places - much lighter and easier to manage when away from home. I sleeve all of my cards.

[TexaS]

I just keep them sorted and try not to mix them up, then I go and do just that.

In the lower right corner on the face side of the cards it's written what deck it belongs to and what number it is. I just sort out full decks not minding if two B decks have switched card number 8 or not. It still makes complete decks.

[Mabinogian]

Sorry I`ve been quiet. I`ve been hellishly busy with work this last week.

Hmmmm so many interesting ideas for handling the card decks, and all with merit. {I will show you some of the engraving soon Rob. I especially used to specialise in `sails of silver` as I called my range of engraved sailing ships. I dropped my external harddrive a couple of weeks ago and need to get it fixed. Soon as I do I`ll sort out some photos to show you}.

Only just realised the decks each have a number on the corner, so even if you did make a mistake and mixed things up, you`d be able to sort it out quick enough. I wondered what would happen if that... erm... happened. good finally to realise there is a solution in case of that inevitability.


Mabinogian (Steve)

[Bligh]

My problem is not being able to see those small numbers, especially under the poor lighting conditions that they have at a lot of shows.:shock:
Rob.

[7eat51]

Rob, that is why I label the decks; I only need to count to ensure I have the right number. It seems that each year, the printed numbers on my decks shrink for some odd reason. Fortunately, Sue has some magnifying lenses for her jewelry making.

[Bligh]

That's what I do Eric. Count decks first. Then only if a card is short do I need to look at my coloured dots.
Rob.