Mini game review: Victory at Sea

[joe_dracos]

Okay, to start, for all you people not "in the know" (which on this forum is likely to be a distinct minority) a mini game is slang for Table top Miniatures game. You take miniature versions of a tank or person, put it onto a table that has some minature terrain and use a measuring tape to move your models around and check to see if they are in range. Dice is generally used to simulate the more random aspects of warfare.

On to the game itself.

Victory at Sea, at least the core version anyways, is a miniatures game based on World War II naval combat. As with most historical miniature games, it falls short of an accurate representation of history. That now adays seems to be getting harder and harder to do as history is constantly being rewritten to suit the writers particular belief (the Neo-nazi declaration that the Holocaust did not happen is a good example of this). However, as far as ship to ship combat (guns and torpedoes) Victory at Sea does a pretty good job. The rules are based around the now defunct Babylon 5: A call to arms rule set. Unlike other mini games, victory at sea attempts to keep things simple. The bulk of the rules are contained within the first 18 pages. Its quick and easy to learn.

The core book contains small fleets for each of the 4 major naval combatants... plus France.
Instead of using the standard points system (you pay X hundred points for Y ship) each ship class is placed into a Priority Level with each ship costing 1 point at that Level. You simply choose which PL your playing at and then how many points you have to choose ships. You can purchase ships at higher PLs at a higher cost as well as multiple ships from lower PLs for reduced cost.

On to the Fleets themselves

The Royal Navy

This is an inaccurate description as it includes ships from the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Navies as well.

As far as ship selection is concearned, the Royal Navy has the widest selection. While most selections are not the best to be had, the RN can do anything. A few of the ships were mis-classified in the original but they were "fixed" in the Order of Battle suppliment described later.

The battleships are all sufficiently powerful. The Queen Elizabeth class is probably the best bang for you buck points wise as they carry the 15" guns. The royal Navy cruisers have a good balance between gunnery and Torpedoes. While most cruisers are of the lighter veriety they have the added benefit of being Twin linked and my personal favourite is the Fiji Class. RN light forces are with out a doubt the most plentiful as their torpedo boats (J,K,N class) tends to pack a particularily potent punch. As for Submarines, you have access to the powerful T-class submarine. The carriers are... well lets just say that the game is more focused on battleships then carriers. The core book is fairly limiting to the RN however. The true might of this fleet is in its veriety.

The Kriegsmarine

Ah the german navy. This is the most restrictive force available. The book contains all but a few of the surface vessels that the germans used during the war plus the Graf Zeppelin, one of the only german carriers. With a 5 point war (essentially the biggest game you can have) you can take the entirety of the fleet.

The Bismark class is a decent war level ship mounting the impressive 15" guns with a shocking range of 40". To top that Germans get a Gunnery bonus of +1 to represent its improved range finders. The restricted Forward arc only radar is a solid kick to the groin though. The Sharnhorst class Battlecruiser is great for killing smaller cruisers, but anything in its own weight class is beyond its capabilities (even the Renown class). Both the Hipper class and Duetchland class ships are excellent choices. While one might lean towards the Hipper class, you need one of the infamous pocket Battleships just for the advantage of its range and superior AD. As for the lower level choices, you only have one choice of surface vessel. You have three choices of U-boat, the type VII, type IX, and type XXI. All three are excellent with a very small difference between the type VII and type IX. The type XXI is probably the most scary of all the submarines out there. Its difficult to detect and its faster then any other submarine when its submerged.

The US navy

In the core book the US navy has an unneccesarily large selection of ships. The book contains the Iowa, North Carolina, and South Dekota class battleships, leaving nothing for the top end ships in future expansions (with the exception of the Montana class). As with the British, the Battle level warship is supurb. The New York class ship has 5 14" turrets and has the same firepower as the british King George V class ship. Its cruiser selection is extremely poor. Even though there is an abundance of 8" heavy cruisers, none of them have Torpedoes leaving them at a distinct disadvantage even when dealing with light cruisers. The only Cruiser to have torpedoes is the Atlanta class, and that ship has no primary weapons battery (being an AA cruiser). As for destroyers, the fletcher class destroyer seems to be the only real option for light vessels as the Clemson class has no advantage over the fletcher.

The Imperial Japanese Navy

This is probably the most difficult fleet to defeat. The Long Lance torpedo gives them a disticnt advantage (range and damage), not to mention the ships get to use reloads (which became limited to 1 reload in the Order of Battle suppliment).

The Yamato and Negato class ships are extremely potent. They have long range and powerful weapons. For the Heavy cruisers you have the frightening Mogami class and Takao class cruisers. Each carrying 5 8" turrets and a large number of torpedoes (with reloads). The Mogami and Takao are by far the best Heavy Cruisers in the game. At skirmish, you have an array of light and heavy cruisers to choose from, but the Kagero class destroyer is by far the best choice. Its fast and carries a large number of (reloadable) torpedoes. To make your opponent cry even more you can back these up with a host of Fubuki class destroyers which carry a similar armament (torpedoes are one-shot).

The Italian Navy

Some of you may call these guys the British Punching bag. This fleet has a limited choice of ships, but Most of them good. The biggest worry for this fleet is its lack of a raid level ship. Both Battleships are decent choices. The Trento class heavy cruiser is (oddly enough) a skirmish level ship, it even has torpedoes. The Zara is... well, its pretending to be american with its lack of torpedo launchers.

The French Navy

I'm going to start off by calling the French completely Fricken crazy. Not the kind of crazy that lands you in a rubber room but Geneius crazy. Their Battleship and Battlecruiser have all of their armament facing forward (and still able to fire) so they never have to show their broad side (which would give the other fleet a +1 to hit the ship). The french cruisers seem a bit weak, but the heavy cruisers are all skirmish and even have torpedoes (which is not weak). The Le Fantasque destroyers are incredibly fast and have a large number of torpedoes. However the French also lack a Raid choice. Viva Le Revelucion, Viva Le Libarte, Viva Le France!!!

So with this much written down and two supplements to go, I will leave you wanting more and will add to this later.

Happy Gaming

 

[joe_dracos]

Continueing

Order of Battle

This book contains several IMPORTANT changes to the game. For one, ships with slow-loading torpedoes no longer have an unlimited supply. This was probably the most important change since the Japanese Kagero Class destroyer would typically drop 4 or 5 salvos into the water (the equivilant of 40-50 torpedoes). The addition of shallow water, shorelines and Islands adds the advent or terrain plus shore batteries.

The nightfighting rules got a slight tweek with sight ranges, which makes nightfighting a bit more hazzardous. The addition of Starshells increases the ability of ships to detect one another as a counter to the new restrictions.

Mines and Japanese suicide attacks add a new dimention to the game as well, though these two tend to be a minor point.

Motor torpedo boats were added with several variants for each of the 6 fleets (get to that later) with a veriety of armaments. Each group acts similar to aircraft with slight changes to fit the particulars of using motor boats to attack ships.

The ability to creat admirals was brought over from the A Call to Arms range. Unfortunately they are less glamourous then they are made out to be and most players will find it hard to sacrifice the extra point to bring an admiral to the table.

Aircraft got a much needed tweeking. You can now use fighter escorts to protect your bombers and equiping certain fighters with bombs. Also you no longer have to take the more expensive aircraft carriers to get your better fighters. You can choose to supplement your aircraft with more advanced ones (which is a great releif to players fielding the Royal Navy). The Aircraft rosters were also expanded to include most of the aircraft that coastal forces deployed throughout the war.

The Fleet lists

All of the fleets recieved a generous expansion and an new fleet. The Soviet Navy is now available for players to choose from.

The Royal Navy

Errata notes

Some improtant notes concearning a few ships. A great deal of them gain the radar trait as well as the correction of a few typos. The Queen Elizabeth class gains a point to the target score (making it harder to hit) and the Illustrious class carrier moves from Skrimish to Raid. The most important factor was moving both the Nelson class battleship and the HMS Hood down to Battle level.

As for the Fleet list itself their is a great many additions including 17 carriers ranging from Patrol level to War. The British fleet now has access to every battleship class that was deployed as well as those that were being built, but were canceled. At war level you now have the Lion class and the N3 (Saint) class battleships. Both of these designs are powerful ships and the N3 class actually has the capacity to give the Yamato a run for its money. The Queen Elizabeth class was divided into 3 different and unique designs (including the HMS Warspite) to represent the class more acurrately. The HMS Vanguard and G3 class battlecruiser were also added at the battle priority. At Raid you now have a host of Heavy Cruisers to choose from as well as 10 of your aircraft carriers. Your skirmish level choices have ballooned to a total of 29 ships from the original 5. Amung them are the Dido class AA cruiser and the Roberts and Erebus class monitors mounting a single turret with 2 15" guns. You now have access to a host of anti-submarine warships including the Loch class frigate and the Flower class corvette which mount the deadly Hedgehog/Double Squid anti-submarine mortars.

The Kreigsmarine

Not much was added for the german list (or could be). At War level you get the Powerful H-39 (Hindenburg) class battleship mounting 8 16" guns. At battle you get the Graf Zeppelin (moved from raid) and the O class battlecuiser which is essentially a poorly armoured but better armed version of the Sharnhorst class. At Raid you get the P class cruiser which is an improved version of the Deutchland class pocket battleship. At skirmish you get 3 more Z-plan ships but they are fairly lack luster. You do get a couple of historical ships, the Emden and the Schlswig-Holstien class Battleship. Something about a skirmish level battleship just appeals to me in all its rediculous glory.

The US navy

Errata

There is quite a bit of changes to this list. The Colorado class battleship is beat down to battle level with a huge nerf bat and the Brooklyn class humbly takes its place as a skirmish class vessel. Most of the rest is some minor tweeking of AA attack dice and adjustments to secondary weapons.

At the war level the only addtion of note is the Essex class aircraft carrier which was bumped up from the battle priority. At battle level you gain access to all of the Pearl Harbour Battleships and a few of the atlantic battleships (which are just toned down versions of the New York class). The Alaska class seems to be particularily noteworthy with its impressive speed of 7". At raid you get 3 new carrier classes and the Baltimore class heavy cruiser however it is lacking torpedoes but it also has an impressive array of AA weapons (11 AD) which exceeds the capabilities of many Battle level vessels. At skirmish you see the addition of yet more aircraft carriers and two new destoryers at patrol level. Both (Gridley and Porter class) carry an impressive amount of torpedoes which hels compinsate for the lack of torpedoes on there cruisers.

Imperial Japanese Navy

Errata

The Kagaro gets a serious Nerfing (which it deserves) dropping it down to patrol level. Thats it, but it really needed to be said.

Nothing new for the Japanese at War level (do they need anything other then the Yamato?) At Battle level you get several ships worthy of mentioning. The Akagi and Kaga class carriers with their 8" guns are added to your arsenal. These ships are more then capable of defending themselves from Cruisers of any size. You also recieve the Ise and Fuso class battleships which carry a huge arsenal of guns (6 turrets). At Raid level you get more carriers and even more heavy cruisers. The most notable of which is the frightening Kitikami class light cruiser. This little monster carries two batteries of torpedoes with 10 attack dice each, which more then doubles every other cruiser in the game. Thank gawd its a one shot weapon. At skirmish you get a large number of historical light cruisers and the Shimikaze class destroyer which topedoes only comes up shy of the Kitikami light cruiser by 2 attack dice. If you needed any evidence that the Japanese had torpedoes on the brain these two ships are it. At patrol you get a few Kagero-clone destroyers and two light crusier designs.

The Italian Navy

Most of the additions to the Italian Navy are pretty lack luster. At battle you get the old (but heavily refitted) Contre di Cavour class battleship... which is pretty average and has a slight speed advantage over other battleships. The Aquila class carrier was added at raid though she only carries fighters. At Skirmish you get a host of cruisers, of which the best is the Abruzzi class light cruiser. Good speed, good range on the guns and a decent torpedo battery. Otherwise there isn't much to write home about.

The French Navy

The French recieve 2 of the older battleships to choose from. They are OK but I don't see many people choosing them over the Dunkerque class (which its guns gained the Armour Peircing trait). Bearn was bumped up to raid. The French gain a few more of there "Crazy Idea" ships in the lower priorities. At skirmish you get the Sorcouf submarine mounting the Twin 8" gun turret on the front. It also posses port and Starboard Torpedoes which can be fired when this beast surfaces to surprise some poor smucks. Their new submarine at Patrol (which has three names so I'm just going to refer to it vaguely) mirrors the sorcouf, ony without the big gun on the front. They also gain access to the Mogador class Destroyer. Its fast, it has more guns then any other destroyers plus decent torpedo batteries. The only down side is its lack of Depth Charges, which seems to be a constant in the french navy. Its like they were expecting somebody else to do all the anti-submarine warfare for them.

The Soviet Navy

Ah, the new guy. Lets start at the top shall we. The Sovietski Soyuz class battleship is your only combat ship choice for war (the other being a carrier). Both ship class were never completed, but its fun to say "what if" sometimes. They bear a striking resemblance to the Iowa class battleships (which were started around the same time). At battle you the choice of 2 ships that were in service during the war and one that that suffered a similar fate as the Sovietski Soyuz (out there there is a T-34 made from the armour of a battleship... which just sounds tough). You have the old Gangut class battleships, which are..... (and I reluctantly say this) Ok, but I would much rather have an Arkangelsk class battleship (which is the Royal Navy Battleship Royal Sovereign). Its just got better guns. If you don't mind the A-historical aspect of this list you also have the Kronstadt class battlecruiser. These are (again) strikingly similar to the Alaska class battlecruiser. At raid you have the Tallinn class Heavy Crusier (which is in actuality a German Hipper class Heavy Cruiser). Your skirmish choices are pretty good as most of them are Heavy Cruisers. In fact the light crusiers are so terrible, you will likely only use the heavy cruisers (Kirov, Mixim Gorky, Krazni Kavkaz). The Novik and Tashkent class destroyers are extremely good destroyers. They have as many (if not more) torpedoes as the Japanese counterparts.

And that is the WWII Era Victory at Sea.

I hope this has been enlightening (if not grammatically poor)

Good Gaming