PDA

View Full Version : Any (official) scenarios that use 100/118/64/50-guns ships?



MacCollac
04-20-2017, 08:49
Currently I have 1 100-gun first rate and 1 118-gun Ocean class. However, I never found any (official) scenarios that use these ships?
Is Ares planning on releasing more scenarios that contain these ships?

Bligh
04-20-2017, 15:22
And that my friend is a very good question.
Rob.

MacCollac
04-21-2017, 05:23
I bought those heavy ships, but I never use them to be honest... :sad:
If anyone is willing to trade I will gladly accept though

Diamondback
04-21-2017, 07:40
I would suspect that's largely because there weren't many small engagements (Ares likes to keep 'em small so they're easier to play) where the three-deckers came to the party.

An excellent reminder, I need to nudge them about a new Scenario Contest, and to get back to my work on the Indian Ocean Campaign, which was really the last hurrah for the 50- to 64-gun two-deckers.

Bligh
04-21-2017, 08:24
The Indian Ocean campaign was of course the reason I bought my 50/60 gunners and there are no official prognostications as these ships are new to the game Thomas.
You can easily take existing scenarios and tailor them to your own needs just by changing ships, however. I have been known to do that if I did not have the time to construct my own. It is surprising what a different flavour something so simple can give to a game.
Rob.

MacCollac
04-23-2017, 04:21
Thanks for the replies!
What is this Indian Ocean Campaign you guys speak of?

And DB, I really loved the scenarios from the 2014 contest! They are so rich and playful. IMHO I think they also boost/thrive sales of (new)ships since people would like to play the scenarios, at Least I do.

David Manley
04-23-2017, 04:30
DB is referring to the most excellent and wargame-worthy "Suffren vs Hughes" campaign of the 1780s. Here's a link to a campaign history and system that I wrote a few years back.....

http://www.navalwargamessociety.org/scenarios/Suffren_and_Hughes.pdf

Written with "Form Line of Battle" in mind but easily adaptable to any rule system including SGN

Diamondback
04-23-2017, 08:53
Frankly, the IOC is one of the few Age of Sail historical events that really lends itself to becoming a traditional "game campaign"--it was rare to see the same groups of ships and the same commanders meet in multiple successive battles.

Bligh
04-23-2017, 09:25
That is why I have been drawn to my HEIC Campaign. It gives the best of all worlds. Set piece engagements, RN working in tandem with Indiamen captains. Then the attacks on Islands a thousand miles apart, Dutch French and Spanish. Plus Malay Pirates to keep in check.
French ships that often won battles and ran the RN ragged in the chases after Merchantmen. All this and commands so far apart that Station commanders often had to make not only diplomatic but strategic decisions without reference to High Command.
Generals, HEIC Officials and the RN at each others throats as often as not in pursuance of their own hidden agendas.
What more could any aspiring Commodore wish for?
Rob.

MacCollac
04-23-2017, 09:58
HEIC Campaign?
How does one use IOC with SOG?

Bligh
04-23-2017, 10:10
To give you some idea, take a look at My AARs and Missions here and for last years games Thomas.

http://sailsofglory.org/forumdisplay.php?49-2017-Solo-Campaign

You would be more than welcome to join in. My HEIC ship Nottingham is a Teak built Heavy Frigate of the Calcutta shipyard type converted from one of my Constitution models.


29649

Rob.

Diamondback
04-23-2017, 15:28
HEIC Campaign?
How does one use IOC with SOG?
HEIC was the Brits' Honourable East India Company, roughly counterpart to your own VOC.

Quick summary of the historical campaign events at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-French_War_(1778–1783)#East_Indies_Campaign.2C_1782.E2.80.931783

Basically, most of what you'd be keeping from David's PDF is the setup instructions and special rules if I'm remembering correctly--what I'm slowly working toward is a complete campaign system with mechanics for reinforcements, repair, cannibalizing damaged or constructive-loss ships for men, guns and parts to repair more fit-for-duty ones, and so forth. The idea is that one player each side takes the role of Suffren or Hughes, and on the far side of the world with limited resupply and few-and-far-between reinforcement has to decide how best to make use of the available resources--are those guns and men better used to bring a damaged SOL up to battle-ready, or kept on a frigate to deploy out ahead scouting?

MacCollac
04-24-2017, 00:48
Sounds great! Learning something new everyday on this forum ;)

Bligh
04-24-2017, 02:28
Good to hear Thomas.
Keep those questions coming.
Rob.

Niek_vD
04-24-2017, 04:15
Currently I have 1 100-gun first rate and 1 118-gun Ocean class. However, I never found any (official) scenarios that use these ships?
Is Ares planning on releasing more scenarios that contain these ships?

The Ocean class ships, and also the British 100+ ships were meant to be fleet flagships. So historical squadron actions featuring any of them are rare. For the Ocean class, Santo Domingo 1806, with on the French side a 120, a 80, and 3 74's is probably the smallest. The Battle of the Nile 1798 (Orient 120) is next smallest in size.

For the Spanish biggies, Pursuit from Algeciras 1801 would qualify, with two 112-gun ships. Hard to simulate the historical outcome: they started firing at each other and both ships were lost.

I do not know of a historical small action featuring a British 100. Closest would be the hypothetical battle between the escort of Craig's convoy 1805, including Britania, versus the Carthagena squadron (with 2x 112).

The good news is that Ares is going to bring out French and British 80-s in the next batch, advertised for 'this summer'. Those were typical squadron flagships.

In addition, the 44 gun 2-decker is going to make its appearance. Dogger Bank 1781 and Arbuthnot vs Destouches 1781 will be feasible soon.

MacCollac
04-24-2017, 07:18
Thank you for the insights Niek!

Capn Duff
04-30-2017, 16:43
Official scenarios as you see nothing, however at some shows we have introduced three deckers into ganes when using three or four a side, so you can make up your own scenario to utilise you ships, dont need to be official scenarios do they ?