GF3 looks as though it will provide a much-needed rule set to cover the gap in "re-fighting" fleet actions.  I cannot wait to try it for some of the engagements in the Med. in WW2 between the Italian and British fleets - there are some really interesting "rolling" battles with cruisers, pursuits and battleships

I am also looking for rules to replay Jutland next year and hope GF3 will do the trick.  So far the rules I have used - GF2, Naval Thunder, GQ3, Micronauts, Stations Manned & Ready (1 &2) and Command at Sea are better for squadron sized actions and cannot handle larger number of vessels well (in terms of time added to the games, as play is slowed, more than mechanisms).  While I have had some good fleet actions (including some novice admirals and squadron commanders) with Battle Stations, No Safe Port, and All at Sea these designs are TOO abstract and are also hard to usefully convert to a campaign game with a system of repair and refit etc.

BTW will GF3 include a simple repair system for use in a campaign game?  The sorts of things we have cobbled on to various tactical/operational rule sets for this purpose include:
- For BA/BB/BC, we say it takes 5 days work to repair each "box" of damage.  For cruisers and destroyers we make this 10 days; as the damage proportionally is more significant.
- When a ship has received hull damage, but no damage that reduces speed), we allow repairs at any port with facilities, or an anchorage with repair ships etc. 
- Any ship taking hull that reduces the ship's speed we require to be repaired at a dockyard/major port/designated ports.
- Main battery gun turrets we require to be repaired at naval dockyards and take 20 days to repair.  Secondary battery gun turrets etc require 10 days to repair.  We allow this work to be done at the same time as work to the hull.

What I have seen from the reference sheet, ship cards and discussion on the forum makes me think GF3 will hit the sweet spot - I cannot wait

Thanks,

Andy.

Hi Daniel,

Just wondering if there was any update on when you will be releasing GF3? Are you still aiming at a pre-Christmas release? Please let us know...

Thanks,

Andy.

This looks like welcome news.

I have been hoping for a fastplay version of WWII naval combat for some time - hence the attempts at converting files for Grand Admiral and Starmarda. This could be just the ticket.

My only question is this: when do you think we GF III might become available?

Thanks

Ando.

Hi All,

Please find attached a copy of the ship data files we have been using for our Royal Navy BB and BC.

Once again, the gunnery figures seem a bit rubbery, but I thought these might form a useful starting point for other players and a discussion point. As with the German warship data posted earlier, all comments and criticism gratefully received in improving these things.

The classes covered are:
BB KGV, Nelson, Ramilles, Queen Elizabeth
BC Hood, Repulse/Renown

This lets us fight most engagements. I have taken out the graphics in this file to keep the size down. I will post the files for the RN cruisers soon.

Regards,

Andrew.

Hi Dan,

I was wondering if there is any update for a WWII in the Atlantic module for Grand Admiral? Is there any news on a gunnery and penetration table at least? then we could do the rest ourselves...

Thanks for a great game system.

Whiteylegs.

Agreed on all counts - it was indeed an ammunition handling and flash protection arrnagement issue! In our campaign game that is exactly how we are using this rule for British BC. We still apply the magazine hit rule to all other classes though. Makes for an interesting game and, combined with possible turret CH, means the ships with the most hull points and gun factors are not always the winners.

We have been experimenting with some house rules of our own for GA to introduce a very simple approach to critical hits. These add a little to complexity but add a dimension of fun as well.

What we do is this:
1. Divide the gun factors of ships that are AC or larger by the number of turrets and round to the nearest whole number. This gives you a ratio of attack dice to turrets.
2. When a penetrating hit is scored on a ship during a salvo, roll 1d10.
3. If a 10 is rolled, this means a critical hit was scored on the target vessel. For each extra penetrating hit scored on a ship from one salvo, we add a +1 drm to the CH roll.
4. If the ship is a BB or German BC, 1 turret is destroyed and the gun dice are reduced by the appropriate number
5. If the ship is a British BC or ship of a lesser type, another 1d10 isrolled. If the result is a 10, the ship blows up. If not, a turret is destroyed as above.
6. When a ship is crippled, halve the remaining turrets to reflect the new damage state.

These rules allow us to simulate the fragility of battlecruisers in WWI, while also giving a more random reduction of fire power by knocking out turrets. While we have not tried this for a large battle, it has proved a fun addition to the rules for battles of about 8 ships a side. We roll the d10 when we roll for the penetrating hits. 1d10 if the target is a BB, and 2 different coloured d10 if target is AC or BC. The first indicates the CH (or not) and the second if it is a magazine or turret hit. This speeds play. Please try them and let me know what you think!

Andrew.

Maybe you should just try Gluckstein

AW

August?

Hi All,

Any update on when we may expect to see CoS?

Thanks,

Andy.