Salute 2013

[David Manley]

I have just seen confirmation that I will be running a naval game at Salute 2013 in London next month. The subject of the game is the Cod War of 1976, where players take on the roles of plucky Icelandic Coast Guard vessels seeking to arrest British, Irish and German trawlers or cut their nets, or RN frigate and tug captains seeking to protect the trawlers. It is a participation game so if you are along at the show please stop by to say hello and maybe give the game a spin

(Andrea, if you are there we can always bring along a visiting Italian frigate for you :drinks: )

[Capt P]

Sounds like a good game. Have to give us a AAR on how things turn out.

[7eat51]

It sounds fun. I second the request for an AAR. I hope it goes well, David, and that you and everyone have a good time.

[csadn]

. o O ( Operation Cods' Wallop? ;) )

[David Manley]

Don't forget, Operation Cod's Wallop will be underway at Salute tomorrow :)
Hope to see a few of you there.

[7eat51]

Don't forget, Operation Cod's Wallop will be underway at Salute tomorrow :)
Hope to see a few of you there.

Pictures please.

Hope it goes well. :thumbsup:

[Berthier]

Good luck with the show tomorrow, may your Cod not get Walloped.

[Jack Aubrey]

Have fun and let us see some pictures.

[7eat51]

David, how did your event go? Hope everyone had a good time.

[David Manley]

Well the event was a blast (although of course not literally as in the game no-one is shooting at anyone :happy: ). We played four games over the day, with about 30 punters taking part driving Icelandic Coast guard Vessels (ICGVs), warships and defence tugs. We left the trawlers as umpire controlled, which worked well. It was mayhem from the start, with collisions both accidental and deliberate on a regular basis. Highspots included a "jolly" discussion between opposing players in the first game over the interpretation of the IMO Collision Regulations in trying to determine who's fault a particularly vicious ram had been, a defence tug that seemed to be working for the "other side" as it rammed a friendly tug, cut his nets and then took out the side nets of a second trawler, and Cdr "Bumpy" Heweitt's "red mist" charge at the end of the game that saw him drive HMS LEANDER head on into the ICGV Tyr at high speed with "porcupine" rails deployed; a combination of circumstances that, when coupled with a maxed out die roll left the poor coastguard ship in a sinking condition (and which turned a drawn game into an instant British loss!) So, over the day the score was 3:1 in victories to the plucky Icelanders.

Of course the other high spots were all about the people we met. In one game we had the joy to meet a US Navy veteran and former sailor in the destroyer Charles F Adams, and he'd been based in Keflavik during the final Cod War in 1976. And it was great to meet "Decapod" and his children who took part in Game #3; I hope he thought I'd done his lovely Shapeways models justice.

As always I came away thinking of various tweaks and adjustments that'll make the running of the game better and easier, and we got some useful pointers in designing scenarios to maximise the playing area and increase the action - very important for a game at a show where the aim is to go from explaining the rules to ENDEX in an hour or less.

From a SOG perspective I was able to see the demonstration set and the models in the flesh for the first time - very nice (although the depth of the bases did seem even more substantial IRL than from pictures; hopefully something they've thought about for final production). I'd hoped to meet Andrea as he was down as attending the show, but he wasn't able to make it in the end :sad:

I've added a few pictures from the games.

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4255&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4265&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4264&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4263&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4262&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4261&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4260&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4259&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4258&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4257&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4256&d=1366526534

http://www.sailsofglory.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4266&d=1366526534

[Cmmdre]

Lutefisk all around. :eat:

[Berthier]

Nice pictures, nice ships. Dare I ask what the roll of toilet paper was for...:embarass:

[David Manley]

Nice pictures, nice ships. Dare I ask what the roll of toilet paper was for...:embarass:

Mopping up after seasickness. We make things pretty reaslistic in the NWS you know :happy:

Actually it was for cleaning off the playsheets after each game. I'd laminated the ship and manoeuvre cards so we could use dry-wipe pens, clean and reuse.

[Berthier]

Mopping up after seasickness. We make things pretty reaslistic in the NWS you know :happy:

Actually it was for cleaning off the playsheets after each game. I'd laminated the ship and manoeuvre cards so we could use dry-wipe pens, clean and reuse.

Of course I knew that:erk:

[Jack Aubrey]

Great pictures, thanks.

[Nightmoss]

Very cool! Thanks for the pictures!

[Bligh]

Nice one Dave.
This is the first report from Salute I have seen.
Bligh.

[Coog]

Nice photos David. It's an interesting and different scenerio from the usual themes.

[csadn]

and Cdr "Bumpy" Heweitt's "red mist" charge at the end of the game that saw him drive HMS LEANDER head on into the ICGV Tyr at high speed with "porcupine" rails deployed; a combination of circumstances that, when coupled with a maxed out die roll left the poor coastguard ship in a sinking condition (and which turned a drawn game into an instant British loss!)

http://thatschurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/headdesk.jpg

:)

[7eat51]

Very nice pics David. It looks like folks were into the game. I like the closeups of the ships. I am not too acquainted with 20th century naval minis, so it was nice seeing these. Thanks for sharing.

I am interested in hearing some of the pointers you picked up about scenarios and running event games. I plan on running WGF and SoG tables at our local convention this fall.

[David Manley]

OK, here's some thoughts.

Firstly, keep it simple. Just use basic rules, and a fun, simple scenario that everyone can get involved in. If its an escort based scenario, have the umpires drive the bomber/2 seater and let the players have fun with the fighters.

Just use the basic rules, don't try to extend to the advanced rules; your players will probably never have used the rules before if you are reaching out to newbies so don't risk confusing them.

Have your scenario(s) prepared in advance, and only take the models and other items that you need (other material in a display is fine, but if you only have the models you need for the game it makes setting up much quicker and easier.

Make sure you have someone with a good voice acting as "mater of ceremonies", calling in players and running the game. I'm actually not that good at doing that, so I try to make sure I have people along who are. It really does help.

But above all, have fun!

[DeRuyter]

Nicely painted ships - great details!

Eric

[7eat51]

OK, here's some thoughts.

Firstly, keep it simple. Just use basic rules, and a fun, simple scenario that everyone can get involved in. If its an escort based scenario, have the umpires drive the bomber/2 seater and let the players have fun with the fighters.

Just use the basic rules, don't try to extend to the advanced rules; your players will probably never have used the rules before if you are reaching out to newbies so don't risk confusing them.

Have your scenario(s) prepared in advance, and only take the models and other items that you need (other material in a display is fine, but if you only have the models you need for the game it makes setting up much quicker and easier.

Make sure you have someone with a good voice acting as "mater of ceremonies", calling in players and running the game. I'm actually not that good at doing that, so I try to make sure I have people along who are. It really does help.

But above all, have fun!

Thanks David - this is good advice. I find it interesting that you recommend keeping to the basic rules. That is very helpful. I probably would have included more out of fear of players being bored, wanting more, etc. I like the idea of an umpire flying a bomber; this would allow the players to play together on the same side, which for new players, I think would be more fun.

Do you think it is worth it, if possible, to run two tables/timeslots - one for newbies, one for veterans? If I can have only one table/timeslot, I will gear it toward newbies.

[Sea Gull]

I think David's advice is spot on. Not everyone is suited to getting punters into the game or explaining things to them. Having helpers is always a good idea.

If you have the luxury of a couple of spare bodies during the game, use these to offer advise to those players new to the game. While the game is in progress, don't forget about catching hold of those punters standing and watching the action. Have someone engage them, maybe pull them into the next game.

I've found that running the game is only part of the show. Explaining things to the public while the game is in progress may not have immediate results as far as the game is concerned. But that person could just turn into a new member of your gaming group.

Enjoy it and don't forget to drink something between games. :rum: