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[Kashyyk]

Ship of the Line

On the high seas, galleons duel amidst the rolling waves, the booming of cannon challenging the thunder itself. The screams of crewmen, the clash of steel on steel, and the crack of muskets threatened to drown out the bellowed orders of the captains. The fleets of RED and BLUE were once again embroiled in conflict. Only one side will live to see the next dawn...


Welcome one and all to the second playtest of 'Ship of the Line', an action-packed, tactical game set upon the high seas. I'm looking for volunteers to help test the mechanics of what will hopefully end up being an actual physical board game. Eventually there'll be lost of interesting things like terrain, special captains, player designable ships and the like, but for now, I'm keeping it (mostly) simple:

Spoiler: The Turn (click to show/hide)

Each turn is made up of four phases:
Orders
Movement 1
Firing
Movement 2
Each phase happens in turn, the only one being secret is Orders. Each ship takes their turn for that phase according to the initiative order, which is randomly chosen at the beginning of the battle.

Spoiler: Movement (click to show/hide)

Ships may move as many hexes as they have Sails. At any point in a Ship's Move, it may Turn once up to 60 degrees. If a multi-hex ship wishes to turn, it is considered to rotate around the front hex.

A ship may split it's movement in whatever way it likes between the two Movment phases, so long as it does not move or turn more than it is allowed.

Spoiler: Firing (click to show/hide)

After Movement 1, a ship may Fire it's Cannon. Each Firing is called a Broadside. Each Ship may Fire a Port and a Starboard Broadside. After Firing, a Ship must spend a full turn Reloading before being able to Fire that Broadside again. When Firing a Broadside, a Ship rolls to Hit with as many d10 as it has Cannon. Each successful Hit deals one point of Damage. The Hit chance depends on Range. If a shot hits another d10 is rolled. On a 10 the Ship receives Critical Damage instead. If the Ship is Firing on another's Prow or Stern it gains a +3 to Hit and to deal Critical Damage.


A graphical example of a ship and a number of targets. Note the ship who's Stern is facing the firer. It is also on the line between short and mid range. In any such case assume the result that is most beneficial to the attacker.

Spoiler: Damage and Death (click to show/hide)

If at any time a Ship's Hull or Crew is reduced to zero it is destroyed and can take no further part in the battle. If a Ship's Sails are reduced to zero, the ship is now Immobilised. It may not Move (even with the Wind) and loses it's 60 degree Turn. If a Ship's Cannon are reduced to zero it may no longer Fire.

Spoiler: Orders (click to show/hide)

At the beginning of every Round, each Captain may issue one Order. These effect the capabilities of the Ship in some way.

Hard a'Port/Starboard – Allows the Ship to make a 60 degree turn to the left/right in addition to it's free one. The Direction must be declared when the order is issued. (If a ship is immobilised it must receive this order to turn at all)
Full Speed Ahead – The Ship may move a number of hexes in addition to it's current movement equal to half it's Sails. (rounding up)
Prepare Broadside – Immediately reloads all cannon.
Brace for Impact – Ignore any Critical Damage received this turn.
Combat Repairs – For every two crew (rounding up) you may repair 1 damage to Sails, Crew, Hull or Cannon.
Seize the Initiative – Take first place in the initiative order. If more than one Captain chooses this, the one highest up the initiative order takes first, the next highest takes second etc.

Spoiler: Shot Type and Range (click to show/hide)

There are three Shot Types:
Round Shot – Deals Damage to the Hull
Grape Shot – Deals Damage to the Crew
Chain Shot – Deals Damage to the Sails

Ranges:
Point-Blank – 0 to 1 hex – Automatic Hit and +2 to Critical Hit Chance
Short-range – 2 to 4 hexes – 4+ to Hit and +1 to Critical Hit Chance
Mid-range – 5 to 8 hexes – 6+ to Hit
Long-range – 9 to 12 hexes – 8+ to Hit

Spoiler: Critical Damage (click to show/hide)

Each Critical Hit deals 1 damage to whatever was originally targeted, and an additional 1 damage to a random ship stat.

Spoiler: Ramming and Boarding (click to show/hide)

If a ship attempts to move into the space occupied by another ship, either intentionally or not, both ships immediately receive damage to their Hull equal to half the maximum Hull of the ramming ship.

If a ship starts it's movement adjacent to an enemy ship, instead of moving it may declare a boarding action. Neither ship may move until the boarding action is resolved. During the firing phase both ships roll a number of 1d10s equal to their current Crew stat and compare the total values. For every 10 full points by which the highest roll beats the lowest, 1 damage is dealt to a random stat on the losing ship. If the difference is less than 10, both ships take 1 damage to a random stat.

The ship with the highest roll then has the option of ending the boarding action. If it chooses to, neither ship may declare a boarding action against the other next turn.

Spoiler: Ship Squadrons (click to show/hide)

In order to keep each fleet balanced, both fleets will have an identical line-up. However, I also want some variety. As such, the fleets are made up of a number of Squadrons, as seen below.

Heavy Squadron (Available: 1)

Ship Type: Ship of the Line
Number of ships: 1
Sails: 6
Hull: 18
Crew: 18
Cannon: 10
Heavily Armoured – The first hit of each broadside received is ignored. This rule only applies when the Hull is 10 or greater.
Ungainly – The ship cannot turn without a Hard a'Port/Starboard order.

Medium Squadron (Available: 2)

Ship Type: Frigate
Number of Ships: 2
Sails: 8
Hull: 12
Crew: 10
Cannon: 6
Carronade – If firing a broadside at Short Range or less, the number of shots fired is double the Cannon stat

Light Squadron (Available: 2)

Ship Type: Sloop
Number of Ships: 3
Sails: 12
Hull: 4
Crew: 4
Cannon: 3
Nimble – This ship gains an additional 60 degree turn for free.
Accurate – All shots made by this ship gain a +3 to hit.

Now that that wall of text is out of the way, if you're interested, please fill out the Signup Sheet below.

Spoiler: Signup Sheet (click to show/hide)

Team Colour: (RED or BLUE)
Starting Position(s): (North/South/Central, Forward/Back, Exact location... )
Squadron:
Please select one of the squadron options above, and fill in this section with the stats of each ship, and their names. Please be aware there are a limited number of squadrons per fleet and it is first-come-first-serve.

Spoiler: Battle Map (click to show/hide)

It's pretty big, so I may end up shrinking it before we start

Red:
 - Heavy Squadron (-)
 - Medium Squadron (-)
 - Medium Squadron (-)
 - Light Squadron (Peradon)
 - Light Squadron (-)

Blue:
 - Heavy Squadron (Beneviento)
 - Medium Squadron (My Name is Immaterial)
 - Medium Squadron (Pencil_Art)
 - Light Squadron (-)
 - Light Squadron (-)

[~Neri]

I volunteer as tribute again. Sheet will be up later.

[My Name is Immaterial]

This was fun last time. I'll play again.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Team Colour: BLUE
Starting Position(s): 2/3rds down, at the front.
Squadron: Medium Squadron

Ship Name: H.M.S.S. Indomniatable
Ship Type: Frigate
Number of Ships: 2
Sails: 8
Hull: 12
Crew: 10
Cannon: 6
Carronade – If firing a broadside at Short Range or less, the number of shots fired is double the Cannon stat

Ship Name: H.M.S.S. Intrepid
Ship Type: Frigate
Number of Ships: 2
Sails: 8
Hull: 12
Crew: 10
Cannon: 6
Carronade – If firing a broadside at Short Range or less, the number of shots fired is double the Cannon stat

[Pencil_Art]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Team Colour: Blue
Starting Position(s): Forward
Squadron: Medium Squadron

Name: H.M.S. Sometimes Sinks
Number of Ships: 2
Sails: 8
Hull: 12
Crew: 10
Cannon: 6
Carronade – If firing a broadside at Short Range or less, the number of shots fired is double the Cannon stat

Name: H.M.S Needs Adjustment
Number of Ships: 2
Sails: 8
Hull: 12
Crew: 10
Cannon: 6
Carronade – If firing a broadside at Short Range or less, the number of shots fired is double the Cannon stat

[Kashyyk]

Cool. You are both added. Once Kevak does a sheet, he'll be in too.

[Beneviento]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Team Colour: Blue
Starting Position(s): Forward, in between Pencil_Art's squadron and My Name is Immaterial's squadron
Squadron: Heavy Squadron

Name: H.M.S. Mars
Number of Ships: 1
Sails: 6
Hull: 18
Crew: 18
Cannon: 10
Heavily Armoured – The first hit of each broadside received is ignored. This rule only applies when the Hull is 10 or greater.
Ungainly – The ship cannot turn without a Hard a'Port/Starboard order.

[Peradon]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Team Color: RED
Starting Position(s): Bottom left.
Squadron: Light Squadron
Name: U.S.S Rhode Island

Sails: 12
Hull: 4
Crew: 4
Cannon: 3
Nimble – This ship gains an additional 60 degree turn for free.
Accurate – All shots made by this ship gain a +3 to hit.

[Kashyyk]

Awesome, I'd almost given up on this. Peradon,  can I have the names of your other two ships?

[Peradon]

Oh, right. Sorry, I though I only had one ship.

U.S.S Principality
U.S.S Columbia

[lawastooshort]

Ooh, I liked the first and this kind of thing generally, but I don't have time to do a sheet for at least 24 hours I think, and have been increasingly unreliable recently. If I feel more reliable in the next few days I'll try to join.

Good luck with it though!

[Kashyyk]

That's Ok,  I suspect I'll have to rejig things due to overestimating  how much interest I'd get. I'll make sure everyone keeps the squadron type they requested though.