Re: Naval Game

From: jas@rdii.com (Jim Smith)

Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1993 16:31:27 +0000

In article <CAHJ4B.514@freenet.carleton.ca> ac829@Freenet.carleton.ca (Andrew Hopkinson) writes:
>I've been working on a game for a while and want to run it as a pbm. The
>game is basically naval warfare designed somewhat like Star Fleet
>Battles(tm). Basically I had an old module which had all these incredibly
> detailed boats and a few rules but nothing substantial, so I built a game
>around it. However my problems are this:
>
>1. Am I going to get my butt sued off? I mean if I changed a few names
>here and there, would there be a problem.

As long as you don't use the name and identical layouts for the boats I
don't think there would be a problem.

>2. I can't decide to make the game tactical or strategic, or both. I tried
>combining tac with strategic but it was too cumbersome. The boats are VERY
>detailed and would make an okay game if you just beat the crap out of
>people, but I always find those kind of games rather pointless. I want to
>have to SOME point (like looting an enemy fortress and returning safely or
>whatever) but where do you draw the line?

I have played in WWII naval miniatures games in conventions for many years,
and I have yet to see a game that successfully combines both tactical and
strategic elements.  The best games I've played are the strategic types
where you have teams of players acting together to accomplish a mission,
while the opposing team is attempting to stop them.  The problem with this
is that most wartime missions usually involved landing troops or gaining
air superiority via the carriers, both of which really complicate a game if
you are trying to do things at a tactical level.

Sometimes, we will have a Japanese vs. Allied forces scenario where there
are something like 4 Yamato class Battleships, a dozen heavy and light
cruisers and a couple dozen destroyers against an equal force of Montana
class battleships and similar American and British ships.  It gets pretty
crazy, and though this type of scenario is not very realitic, it tends to
be better suited to a tactical type of game.  I agree, though, that it does
seem rather pointless.

>3. I need a map that I can send via e-mail. My paint program isn't very
>good and I don't have a scanner. I know there's some decent software that
>could do a good job.

I can't help you here, but I'm sure someone else can.

>If anyone has any suggestions, just e-mail me. I can send you the rules I
>have worked out already and you can tell me what you think.

You might want to contact Roger Lincoln at rhl@valhalla.mitre.org. He runs
the Star Empires game and last time I talked to him, he was interested in
trying to run some sort of naval simulation game.  If you don't know about
Star Empires, you might want to look at it also, since it could theoretically
be used as a naval simulation pbm.

If you would like to send me the rules, I'd be happy to take a look.  I have
played *some* Star Fleet Battles, but I'm no expert by any means.

>Thanks
>
>-AH

Hope this helps some.

Jim Smith
--
jas@rdii.com               | aka Mundamugu, witchdoctor, headshrinker and team
James A. Smith, Sr. Engr.  | manager of Zulus from Hell in Delarq Tor (DM 58).
Racal-Dana Instruments Inc.| Currently: 16-25-3 (8 DA). Founding Member of the
#include <std.disclaimer>  | Brotherhood of Nasty Killers (BONK) Local 58.

References

Naval Game
ac829@Freenet.carleton.ca (Andrew Hopkinson)
Tue, 20 Jul 1993 22:43:23 +0000