Game Night Light 23

The weekly game night and beer exchange was achieved last night! I'll admit that they haven't been as regular as I'd hoped. Winter is getting to me early this year.

First, the beer:

And the game, Wooden Ships and Iron Men:

I haven't unpacked the box in decades. Evidence of heavy use with lots of partially used data sheet and extra ship lists, plus half a dozen sharpened pencils(!).  It included my squadron sheet of HBS Hurley, Ryan, Buffy, and Xena. So I guess the 1990s rather than college was the last usage.

We had a meeting at sea between British and French squadrons totaling 80 points of ship.

On the one side was a French squadron of a large ship of the line, two large frigates, and one small frigate.

On the other was the British squadron with one large ship of the line, one medium ship of the line, and one small frigate.

The French approached with two columns with frigates leading. The British were in line ahead with the smaller SOL leading and the frigate trailing.

One French large frigate took the blunt of two British SOL fire. But the British squadron got stuck downwind with trouble maneuvering. 

When the lead French frigate struck its colors to keep the holed hull afloat, it provided a shield to get the large British SOL that had somehow maneuvered ahead to slowly heave around, shielded from rakes by the British frigate. The French squadron split by the wrecked frigate were delayed in regrouping.

While that took place, the large French SOL engaged the medium British SOL while both sides attempted to reinforce. While the British gunners killed lots of fish, their better crew quality kept the exchange pretty even. The British had to turn to avoid getting raked by the French ship. But the French ship was forced to turn into the wind to keep shooting.

The British large SOL finally caught up with the other British SOL, which had lost a mast by then. The British reinforcement ended up adjacent to one of the French large frigates racing in, and the first broadside exchange was brutal for the French frigate. In two or three turns the British would have two SOLs against the single French SOL. But the end of the evening arrived and the battle ended.

Amazingly, the basic rules came back to us pretty quickly. Although memories of some of the advanced rules had to be suppressed.

Truly, this would be a good multiplayer game as we discovered in college. And much easier than Star Fleet Battles!

Another fun game night with a game rescued from my shelves. And new beers.