Origins 2022 - game 5 - Protect the Grain Convoy Fri 1pm

[TwoSheets]

Origins 2022 – game 5 – SOG Protect the Grain Convoy – Friday 1pm

9 captains signed on to sail the ocean blue to either protect or attack the abstracted grain convoy. Not wanting to clog the table with actual ships for the convoy I used a slowly moving 18” long Ruler as the convoy. The British were restricted to only being able to fire on the convoy from one direction. It moved ~3” a turn along the table’s long edge.

The starting positions and a shot of each Squadron.
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5 French ships escort the convoy with 4 Royal Navy vessels closing in with the wind advantage.
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The Royal Navy split up to confuse the French as to how to cover the convoy.
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One RN ship moves quickly ahead to cut off the convoy, two position themselves to attack the tail of the convoy with the final ship waiting in the center to see what happens.
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Two French ships go after the leading British SOL. One of the French entangles with the larger Royal Navy vessel.

Near the rear of the convoy things get hot. One French vessel takes down it’s sails to drift into a shooting position. It has furious exchanges with two British ships and ends up striking it’s colors. (see the top center French with the flag counter)

Another French ship entangles with the Royal Navy vessel closest to the convoy but not after two grain ships are set ablaze.
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In the van, the larger RN vessel forces the French ship entangled with it to strike.
The oncoming second French ship is too late to stop the surrender.
The British SOL leaves a prize crew on board and heads off to attack the convoy.
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Back at the convoy’s tail the entangles RN ship strikes but not until it sinks another grain ship.

The game ends with 1 RN ship and 2 French ships to have struck. The RN sank enough of the grain convoy to claim a legitimate victory.

Sadly I didn't get to take many photos of this game. I also have to be better at knowing what ship is where. Next time I'll have that fixed.

[Bligh]

Never mind the details Peter. The pictures of a well thought out encounter are enough. I always try to carry a spare cameraman for the battles which I'm hosting. You need all your effort put into running the game. Others can take the pictures and do the comments.
Rob.

[TwoSheets]

Never mind the details Peter. The pictures of a well thought out encounter are enough. I always try to carry a spare cameraman for the battles which I'm hosting. You need all your effort put into running the game. Others can take the pictures and do the comments.
Rob.

Unfortunately at the shows I run games at I am usually on my own. If any others put up any photos it is always a bonus.

[Bligh]

Thats a shame Pete. It's always good to have a Second Lt. on hand.
That makes your solo efforts at these shows even more impressive.
Well done sir.
Rob.

[TwoSheets]

Thats a shame Pete. It's always good to have a Second Lt. on hand.
That makes your solo efforts at these shows even more impressive.
Well done sir.
Rob.

I am quite jealous at all the clubs you have in Old Blighty. Teamwork goes a long way to make running games at show a lot easier and more fun.

[Bligh]

We started with a rule over here for the shows Pete, that if we were representing the Drome or Sails officially with our banners calling cards etc. there must be three people to man each game. A games master, greeter and spare was mandatory. This gave one person each game a break to go see the show, buy items or get a drink etc. From previous experiences over the years we had found it took time to gradually get accepted at the more prestigious shows, but once the grapevine got going it was very easy to become non persona gratia if you messed up at any show. One empty table with your clubs name on it, lack of takers for a game, non interaction with the punters, and you could soon find the club and show invites drying up.
Fortunately, as you say we are lucky that we are a small island, and members can easily get to most shows.
I know from experience just how tired we get at shows which last a whole weekend, and that is why I'm so in awe of your solo performance pulling in Sails games as well, over a long weekend.:hatsoff:

Rob.

[Capn Duff]

I can only echo Robs comments Peter, I have solo run a game at a show, but only for one day and that was tireing, you have my admiration sir, plus pics pretty cool too

[Baxter]

A good game. Every grain ship sunk or captured is less food in the belly's of the French. :beer:

[Argo]

Cool game! And an interesting idea using the ruler as a convoy.
And I can only second to my prevoius posters: Administrating a game with nine players PLUS thinking about the AAR PLUS taking photos sounds like quite a task!

[Vagabond]

I can only 2nd or 3rd the comments on running the games, well done Peter.