PeoplehaveaskedaboutAdmiraltyTrilogygames(FearGod&Dreadnought,CommandatSea,and Harpoon)aretheyanygood,aretheytoohardtolearn,aretheyanyfunIguessmyintenthereis twofold:firstdescribeaFearGod&Dreadnought(FG&DN)sessionthatIplayedandcountersome potentialplayersfearsaboutcomplexitywithamoreaccessiblewalkthroughthanthegameitself provides. Tostart,perhapsabriefdiscussionaboutwhatFG&DNisandisnt.Yesitisawargame,butpossibly moreappropriatelydescribedasasimulation.Thedesignersdidasuperiorjobinmodelingthe equipmentandtimeperiodandthatflavorreallycomesthrough.Itreallycomesthough.Thisisnotan AxisandAlliesWaratSeatypegame:thisisnotamoveyourpieces,rollbucketsofdiceforabstract damagecounters,andrepeatuntilonefleetissunk.Youwillneedacalculator,aprotractor,and possiblyatrigonometrytextbookifyouhaveanyhopeoftorpedoeshittingtheirtargets.Andsome aspirinBUTyoureallygetafeelingfornavalcombatintheearly20thcentury.Withsomeappropriate backgroundmusic(maybethescoretoHuntforRedOctober,orsomeWagner)forthesefewhoursyou AREonthebridgeofashipinharmswayintheNorthAtlantic.Itslovely!Andforallthatitis,itis complex.Anditisaccessible.MaybeitslikeASLinthatwayandIdidchoosemywordscarefully.

Brokendowntoitssimplestterms,FG&DNisturnbased.Eachturnrepresentseither3or30minutesof realtime,dependingonrelativedistancebetweenopposingshipsandanypotentialcombat.Players plotorwriteinadvanceoftheturntheordersforeachshipsmovement,fire,communications,and otheractions.Thenshipsaremovedsimultaneously,detectionsaremade,anddicearerolledinanger. See,simpleisntit? Therestofthisarticleisawalkthrough/sessionreportofthefirstscenariointheFG&DNscenariobook. OneGermanminelayer,aconvertedpassengerlinerattemptstosneakintoBritishwaters,laysome mines,andsneakout.ABritishpatroloftwodestroyersandascoutcruiserarepatrolling,investigating reportsofblackedoutshipinBritishwaters.Setupisbyrandomroll,anditreallyfavorstheGermans thistime.TheKoniginLouisestartsabout2nmeastofthelimitsoftheintendedminefield,whilethe BritishstartfarnorthoftheGermans,agood14nm.Giventhecoverofdarknessinthescenario(0100 localtime)andlowvisibility(10%),IwasasoptimisticaspossibleabouttheGermanschancesfor success. Success,victory,andwinningmighthavedifferentmeaningswhenoneplaysFG&DNwithrespectto othergames.Besuretoreadthevictoryconditions,andthenreadthemagain.Somenavalandlotsof otherminiaturewargamesouttheregrantvictorysimplyonthebasisoflastmanstandingIrolled enoughdicetokill12ofyourfiguresandyouonlykilled11ofminesoIwinkindofthing.NotFG&DN, andnotbyalongshot.Accordingtothevictoryconditions,theGermansgetaTacticalVictoryforjust forlayingallthemineseveniftheminelayerislost.Adecisivevictorycanbegainedbydroppingallthe minesandescaping.NowtheBritishcanearnatacticalvictorybysinkingorcapturingtheGerman minelayer,andadecisivevictorybyobservingKoniginLouiseintheactoflayingminessinkingher.This shouldstarttheplayerthinkingabouthowthegamewillprogresstheGermansneedtogetallofthe minesinthewater,andthenthinkaboutgettingaway.TheBritishneedtofindtheGermansfirstand

quickly,andthendealwithherlater.AnyoneoftheBritishwarshipsismorethanamatchforthe GermanconvertedGermanpassengerliner.ThusescapeandevasionshouldbetheGermanplan. IthelpsatthispointtowritesomeStandingOrdersforeachside.ACommandersIntent,ifyouwill. Thiswillkeepbothsidesfocusedonthescenariogoals,andifyouareplayingsolitaireasIusuallydoit canguideyourplottingforbothsidesandactasakindofAI.Turnsout,itworksprettywell.TheBritish StandingOrdersaretomaintainalineabreastformation,1nmbetweenshipswiththeCSAmphion(my flagship)inthecenter,DDLanceontheright,DDLandrailontheleft.1nmiscloseenoughtobe signaledbytheAmphionifIwanttodeviatefromtheStandingOrdersasthesituationdictates.The Britishwillsteamonasoutherlycourseat22knotsforroughly10nm,thenturnwestandheadback intotheharboratHarwich.TheGermanOrdersaretosteamwestnorthwestintothedesignated minefieldandcommencetheminelayingevolution.Onceallminesarelaid(theGermantactical victory),shewillturnsouthandevadeatbestspeed. AtthispointIhaveonecompletedshipformandonelogsheetforeachshipinthegame,aprotractor, ruler,anddice.Now,IshouldalsomentionthatImplayingthisgameongraphpapernogamingtable, noshipminiatures,nocottonballsorclearplasticshellsplashes.Iveplayedatconventionsandthese makeforgreatgames,butforyourownenjoymentyoucanjustaseasilymarkshipmovementongraph paperandaddsheetsasnecessary.Anothergreatthingaboutthisgame

Anyway,youcanseetheBritishstartingformationinthispicture.Amphioninthemiddle,withLance andLandrailonthesides.Theyaretoscale;Iusedonebigboxonthegraphpapertobe1nm.Youcan seehowIupdatetheirpositionseverygameturn(0100,0103,0106,)Also,thewinddirectionand speedisnoted.Alwaysgoodinformationtohaveatsea

TheKoniginLouisestartingpositionisshownhere,alongwithhertrackforthegame.Youcanseethat itgotprettyupcloseandpersonaltowardstheend.TheresashortsegmentofhertrackthatIdrewin red,startingat0115goingthrough0122.Thatwasthelineofminesshelaid.TheXinpencilandtwo linesthatextendfromitshowthelimitsoftheminefieldthatwerepartofthescenariosetup.The KoniginLouisehadtogetinsidethisareatostartdroppingmines. Gameturn1(0100localtime) PlottingPhase:Britishships(inaccordancewiththeirStandingOrders)course180,speed22.German course330,speed12. Thequestionatthispointiswhethertousea30minuteturnora3minuteturn.Idecidedtousethe3 minute.30minutesofmovementwouldputtheshipspasteachotheratthiscourseandspeed,andthe Germansonlyhavetogoashortdistance(lessthan30minutesoftravelat12knots)beforebeginning

theminelaying.Ifthescenariostartedwiththeshipsfurtheraway,thenbyallmeansusea30minute turntospeedthingsup.Youcanalsogobackandforthbetween30and3minuteturnstookeepthe gamemoving MovementPhase:Updateshipspositionsonthemap. PlannedFire:Noplottedfire. DetectionCheck:Cananyoftheshipsseeeachother?Thesightingrangetablesonpage54havea10% Visibilitytable(visibilityisfromthescenarioconditions).At10%visibility,theAmphion(SizeClassB) couldseetheKoniginLouise(SizeClassC)at3.4nm.Onmychart,theshipsarestill>12nmapartso thereisnodetection.Forcomparisonat75%visibility,i.e.daytime,AmphioncoulddetectKonigin Louiseat25.5nm.Atnighttimethough(10%Vis)thedetectionrangeis3.4(some,buttheystillarent closeenoughanywaysowellcalculatethatlater.Itsnotevencloserightnow,sodontwastethetime addingitupandrollingthedice.Keepthegamemoving). ReactionFire:None ResolutionPhase:None Gameturn2(0103localtime) Plottingphase:Nochanges.NothinghappenedtowarrantchangestotheStandingOrders,soIlljust stepthroughafewturns.EnoughtogettheGermansinsidetheintendedminefieldarea. Gameturn3(0106localtime) Gameturn4(0109localtime) Gameturn5(0112localtime) Plottingphase:Startingthe0112turn,theshipsareabout7.5nmdistant.Nodetectionshaveoccurred, soourStandingOrdersstillgoverntheBritishplotting:i.e.nochanges.TheGermanswanttostart droppingminesovertheside.ReadingChapter11,MineWarfare,wefindtwokeyrulesin11.2.6:one isthattheBritishcanobserveminelayinginthesamemannerasatorpedolaunch(see5.2.2.4)i.e.,they havetogetREALLYcloseat10%vis;andtheotheristhatmodifiedmerchantswithspecializedminerails (theKoniginLouise)canlay6minespertactical(3minute)turn. TheGermanKapitnzurSeehastwooptions:oneistoincreasespeed,pitchthelousythingsoverthe sideandgettheheckouttadodge;theothersneakyoptionistoplacetheminesinalinebetween Englandandhimselfandhopeanypursuersrunintoit,coveringhisescape.Forthattowork,weneed tomaximizetheprobabilityofahitonashipenteringtheminefield,andforthatweneedpage113. TheMineAttackTableforcontactminesshowsthehighestprobabilityofahitisfor50ydsdistance betweenthemines.Timeisoftheessencethough,soIoptforthe100ydsdistance.Timetogetout thecalculatorIfwedrop6minesin3minuteswithaspaceof100yardsbetweenthemines,howfast doestheshipneedtotravel?Ughwhereismyaspirin?6minesx100yds/mine=600yardsin3

minutes.Thusourshipspeedshouldbe600yards(.3nm)in3minutes;theKoniginLouiseshouldlay minesat6knots.UnfortunatelytheKoniginLouisecanonlydecelerate4kts/turn(page32),soweplot KoniginLouisetohold330speed8. Movementphase:updateshipspositionsonthechart PlannedFire:none Detection:stilltoofarawayfordetection. Gameturn6(0115localtime) PlottingPhase:NochangesonBritishside;Germanordercourse330at6knots,commenceEMAcontact mine(theminessheiscarrying)layingatperiscopedepth(togetshipsandperiscopedepth submarines). Gameturn7(0118localtime) Plottingphase:nochangesoneitherside. Movement:shipsmove PlannedFire:none DetectionPhase:Theshipsaremuchclosernow,<5nmbetweentheAmphionandKoniginLouise.We makead10rollforvisibilityvariationandgeta10!Onpage55,crossa10rollwithasigmaof2(from the10%VisibilityTable(2)onpage54)andwegeta+2.Sotheatmosphericconditionsatthistime allowsightingtothe10%visibilitytablemaximumdistances+2kyd.Alloftheshipsarenowwithin sightingrangeandthingswillshortlygetreallyinteresting. Asanaside,youwillnodoubtdeterminethattheVisibilityVariationis,well,variable.Yes,youcanlose sightofshipsfromturntoturnifyouareatthemaximumdetectionrangesonthevisibilitytableand thevariationrollsgoagainstyou.ThatcanreallymesswiththeguncaptainsJustreadandapplyallof theappropriatemodifiers.Ifyouwanttomaintainvisualcontact,getclose! ReactionFire:None,theGermansaretoobusydroppingminesandtheirSecondaryBatteryisalmost uselessatthisrange.TheBritishareunderorderstoobserveandinspect,notblastanytargetthey acquire. Gameturn8(0121localtime) Plottingphase:GermanBritishwarshipstothenortharebadnews.Orderacoursechange270,speed 6tobegintoopentherangetotheBritishandunmasktheportSecondaryBatteriesincasetheshooting starts.Onemoreturnuntiltheminelayingiscomplete.BritishTheformationmaintainscourseand speed,althoughAmphionsignalsbyflashinglighttoLandrailtoboardandsearchthenewcontact.

ShiptoShipcommunicationsarecoveredin2.7.IreallylikethisaspectofFG&DN.Inaneraofinstant wirelessdatatelemetry,itshardtoimaginethattheyhadtousesignalflagsorMorsecodeflashing lights.Forthepurposesofthisscenario,signalflagsareoutbecauseitsnighttime;wirelesscouldhave beenusedtosignalbutitsprettyprimitiveatthistime.Thetableon214showstheresabigdelay betweenpre1917wirelessmessagesending,messagereceiving,andunderstanding.Flashinglight signalsarethebestoption. Landrailwillreceivethesignalinthe0121detectionphaseandunderstanditinthe0124plottingphase, whichmeans,Landraildoesntchangeherordersforthisturn,butcan(andwill)moveofftoboard KoniginLouiseonthenextturn. Movement:Updateshipspositionsonthechart. PlannedFire:None Detection:AnotherfavorableVisvariationrollmeansallcontactsaremaintained. ReactionFire:Nonetakennoitchytriggerfingersoutthere.Playitcool Gameturn9(0124local) Plottingphase:Germantheminelayingwillbecompletethisturn.Maintaincourseandspeed.British Landrailchangescourseto200andincreasesto25knots.AmphionandLancewillmaintaincourseand slowto14knots.5.2.4.1DescribestheShipbasedsearchlightsavailableinthegame.TheBritishships allmountforwardandafter60cmsearchlights.Illuminationwillbeimportantoncetheshootingstarts, soAmphionorderstheforwardsearchlighttoilluminatetheKoniginLouise. Movement:Updateshipspositionsonthechart. PlannedFire:None(yet) Detection:ThisisthelastchancetheBritishhavetoobservetheGermansintheactoflayingmines. 5.2.2.4Coverssightingoftorpedolaunchesandlongstoryshort,theBritsneedtobeinsideof1nmto seeanything.Toofar,toobad.TheregoestheDecisiveBritishvictoryAlltheshipsarewillwithinthe detectionrangessoeveryoneseeseveryoneelse. ReactionFire:None Gameturn10(0127local) Plottingphase:Landrailchangescourseto170tointerceptKoniginLouise,ordersspeed15knots; AmphionandLancealtercourseto200,speed14knots.TheGermansdecideitstimetogo.Itwould benicetothrowtherudderhardleftandspeedawaywithyourfootonthegas,butshipsjustdontsail thatway.TheKoniginLouisecanaccelerateat3knotsperturnifshesunderhalfspeedandonly2 knotsperturnifshesoverhalfspeedalsoturnsgreaterthan45degreesincuraspeedloss.Thatsjust physics,folks.Maneuveringdatacanbefoundonpage32.ForamerchantsizeclassC,shewilllose3

knotsfora45degreeturnwithstandardrudder.Shecanaccelerate3knotsperturnfornonetgain. TheGermansreallywanttogetsomespeedhere,soweordera40degreeleftturn.Course230,speed 9(6+3).Wecanalsoguessthatthejigisupatthispoint.EithertheBritishboardandfindtheminerails, orwerunwhentheytrytoboardandtheyguesswereuptonogood.Eitherway,itslookinglikeweve gottoshootourwaybacktoGermanysowellplotsecondarybatteryfireattheLandrailusingNHE ammo. Movement:Updateshipspositionsonthechart. PlannedFire:AstheKoniginLouiseisntaproperwarship,shedoesnthaveamainarmamentassuch. ShesportsaLightBattery(orSecondaryBattery).Rulesforthesesmallergunsarefoundin6.1.6.I selectedtoshootHEammoratherthancommon(CP),givinguparmorpenetrationforaniceHEpunch. Rangeisshort(<1.5kyds),40%tohit2%LightBatteryRating,noothermodifiers.Tohitrollwas93, yikes.NohitbuttheBritsnowarecertainsomethingsup. Detection:nothingnew ReactionFire:LandrailwilltakereactionfireatKoniginLouise.Heytheyshotfirst,right?Reactionfire isdefinedin2.2.4.6.Basically,gunswilldohalfdamage.IgotexcitedandrolledbeforeIcalculatedthe tohitnumberandgotan80.Nowaythatisgonnahit,sowemoveon. Gameturn11(0130local) Plottingphase:GermansWewanttokeepturningtoopenthedistancetotheBritishwarshipsand hopefullyputtheminefieldbetweenusandtherestofthesquadron.Course190(rememberthespeed lossthing),increasespeedto13knots.PlotLightBatteryfire(HE)atLandrailagain.BritishTheex cruiseshipwontlastlongagainstthreeproperwarships,soletsjustputtheKoniginLouiseonthe bottomandsailhomefortea.AmphionandLancemaintaincourseandspeed,plotmainbatteryHEfire onGermans.Landrailwillcomerightto190,maintainspeed15knots.HEfireattheGermanShip. Movement:Updateshipspositionsonthechart. PlannedFire:Allgunfireissimultaneous,soitdoesntreallymatterwhatorderthingsaredoneit.All damageisappliedattheendofthePlannedFirephase.Imustrecommendatthispointtopurchasethe JutlandForm10sortodownloadtheFG&DNversion1.1GunfireTables.Allofmycalculationswillbe donewiththeserevisedtables. LandrailGunneryStandard2atShortRange50%tohit.Applyalloftheappropriatemodifiersinthe tableatwegetatohitnumberof56.Irolleda54.Smack.AmphionandLancebothmissed,asdid KoniginLouise. Landraildid9pointsofdamagetoKoniginLouise,with13pointsremaining.KoniginLouisehasno armor,sopenetrationisntanissue.Chapter8isallaboutDamage.Thepossibilityofcriticaldamage resultingfromhitsisalwaysadanger,soarollismadeontheDamageRatioTable(section8.1.2)with theresultbeing4criticalhits.ThesefourarerolledontheCriticalHitTable(page81),

Merchant/Auxiliarycolumn.KoniginLouisesuffersoneWeaponcritical,2Fires(alwaysbadnews),and oneEngineeringHit.Theeffectsofcriticalhitsarespelledoutinthechapter.KoniginLouiselostone minerailfromtheweaponhit,atotalof7%fire(justMinor,butnotbymuch),andtheengineering spaceshit.Fortunately,theboilersdidntexplodebutwelostsometopspeed. Detection:Nothing.Detectionmodifiersapplynow,withtheburningshipandgunfire.Iftherewere othershipsinthescenario,detectionrangeswouldchangewiththesenewmodifiers. ReactionFire:None,allofthegunsthatcouldshootdid. Gameturn11(0133) Thegameisaboutovernow.KoniginLouisecannotescapedamagedlikesheis,thoughshedidgetthe minefieldlaid.Onemoreturn Plottingphase:Germansdamagehasreducedthetopspeedoftheship,sowelllimpawayatbest speed.Britswillcontinuetocloseandturntounmaskallbatteriesforafinishingbroadside Movement:Updateshipspositionsonthechart.Amphionjustmissestheendoftheminefieldlaidbut Lanceisntsolucky.Shesailsrightthoroughunknowingly.BacktoChapter11andtheMineAttack Table.Welaidcontactmines100ydsapart.LanceissizeclassC,whichgivesa14%hitprobability.I rolledan08andsweetrevengeontheRoyalNavy!Lancetakes34pointsofdamagefromthemine whichleaves2pointsremaining.Thats>75%damageandad10rollof3showsthatthekeelhasbeen brokenfrommassivedamageandshewillsink. PlottedFire:LandrailunloadsintoKoniginLouiseforanother18pointsofdamage(allthreebarrelsat shortrange)andthatstheend SUMMARY: HopefullythisgivesyouanideaofhowaFG&DNwouldtypicallyprogress.Itisrelatively straightforward:Plot,Move,Shoot,andDetect.Therulesectionsforeachoftheseareprettywelldone. Iknowsomepeoplewanttoreadtherulesbeforetheystart,thencomplainthattheyaretoo inaccessible.Thisis,Ibelieve,thewaytolearnthegame.Setitupandplaythroughit.Applyandread therulesforthephaseyourein.HopefullyIstartedyoualongthatpathhere. ThescenariothatIplayedheresomemightargue(rightly)washardlybalanced.TheGermanswere outmatchedandoutnumbered,withhardlyachanceofadecisivevictory.TowhichIwouldrespond thatyouareabsolutelycorrect.However,theGermansthoughlosingtheirshipstillachievedatactical victory.Ofcourse,theBritishdidalsobysinkingtheGermanminelayer,Winwin,IguessFG&DN (andtheotherAdmiraltyTrilogygames)donotwastetimewithgamebalance.Warishardlybalanced orfair.Readthescenariovictoryconditionsandacttoeitherfulfillyoursordenytheenemytheirs. Seriously,ifyouwantexactlybalancedforcesandevenprobabilityofwinningorlosingagame,you couldcertainlydesignthat.TheDataAnnexescontaineveryshipclasstosailbetween1914and1918 forsure,andyoucouldabsolutelymakewhatyouwant.