Destroyer Commander

[DM]

Being the inveterate rules-tinkerer that I am, and having come across my collection of 1/1200 models the other day I started drafting out a set of variant VAS rules for destroyer actions with the working title "Destroyer Commander". They use (at present) a "scale" of 1 point of damage per 100 tons (although after a few deadly and quick sessions I'm thinking of changing this to 50), ground scale approx. 3" to 1000 yards (but may change to 250) and time about 2 minutes per turn (but with the application of "friction" saying that a turn is about 5 minutes.

They are a long way from being finished, but I thought I'd post this now to see whether there was any interest in the idea.

 

[Leadman]

DM,

Sounds interesting. It would have greater appeal to me if you expanded to include CL's as well.

Dannie

 

[DM]

That is a distinct possibility

 

[juggler69uk]

DM

Definate interest here for med wars

When do you forsee a trial version ?

Terry

 

[DM]

Hopefully by the weekend. I've been mucking about with models this afternoon and it seems to work well. Of course thats because I understand what I've written - I suspect that if anyone else has a look they'll be scratching their heads a lot!

Anyway, Ill make sure it works for CLs. Aircraft too (not sure about subs, but it occurs to me that I could fold my ASW rules into it too!)

 

[Happy_Wanderer]

Yep,

I'd say the fight for the narrow seas is a subject you know well and it'd be very warmly recieved.

Cheers

HappyW

 

[juggler69uk]

I suspect that if anyone else has a look they'll be scratching their heads a lot!

If you want any proofreading done just say

Anyway, Ill make sure it works for CLs. Aircraft too (not sure about subs, but it occurs to me that I could fold my ASW rules into it too!)

Subs would be good, i have convoy attack and destroyer defence in mind. :lol:

 

[Captain_Nemo]

Hell I'm in!

 

[juggler69uk]

DM
How will torpedo's work?

VaS or other ?

 

[E Nicely]

DM if you write it I'll read it! Hey I might play it too.

 

[DM]

re torpedoes, I'm working on a system that has markers for each "fish", which then drive across the table. This is the hardest bit to get right (and if it doesn't work I'll cop out and just use a simple VAS-based approach) but at present I have "long" markers showing where the torpeso will be for the nexy half-turn's move, which seems to fit nicely with the "half move then turn" philisophy of ship movement. Its worked well in my test games but we'll have to see how it fares when it goes "outside"!

I'll try to get the surface-ship only draft sorted out for later this week.

 

[Lord David the Denied]

Sounds intriguing. How feasible would larger ships be? Up to heavy cruisers? Fun as destroyers are, I just loves my cruisers...

 

[DM]

First draft posted:

http://www.btinternet.com/~david.manley/naval/VAS/Destroyer_Commander.pdf

No subs, MTBs or bigger ships yet, and the data is fairly generic, but I'm trying to teas out the combat system aspects at the moment so the detail can follow on later.

 

[juggler69uk]

DM

The Gun Data part starts with "Gun ranges are determined using the scale above."

Do you mean a direct translation of the ground scale for the guns actual range.

 

[DM]

DM

The Gun Data part starts with "Gun ranges are determined using the scale above."

Do you mean a direct translation of the ground scale for the guns actual range.

Eventually yes, although the numbers in the table at the moment are indicative and liable to change

 

[juggler69uk]

Cheers DM

Like the torp ideas

Will have a more thorough read and get back to you

Terry

 

[Lord David the Denied]

No subs, MTBs or bigger ships yet, and the data is fairly generic, but I'm trying to teas out the combat system aspects at the moment so the detail can follow on later.

Does that mean you haven't done the bigger ships yet or that there won't be any until you've altered the rules? I wants cruisers!

 

[DM]

A bit of both really. I think the system will work for cruisers but I'm being cautious. Actually the variant rules as they are now should allow you to work up light cruiser hulls. The gun range may need tweaking a bit though as its based on thise awful German 5.9" guns on the 1936s

 

[E Nicely]

I'm looking forward to seeing the end result, David. A DDs/DEs/CLs only game sounds like fun (submarines?) . Will it only be playable for 1/1200 or will 1/2400 be an option?