C&C Ancients Naval Variant

Mark-McG wrote:

I'm fiddling with a VASSAL module addition...
 

Mark, if you need help creating the Vassal module, I think it would be a great help in increasing the audience during playtests.
If so, let me know and I'll get involved!

alecrespi wrote:

Mark-McG wrote:

I'm fiddling with a VASSAL module addition...

 

Mark, if you need help creating the Vassal module, I think it would be a great help in increasing the audience during playtests.
If so, let me know and I'll get involved!
 

Also happy to help, with the module or better still play-testing.

Mark

Thanks, I will likely take you both up on your offers around December.

I'm seeking opinions here as well.

1. To date I have used the 13x9 Ancients map, but it seems a bit shallow and tight, especially for the trireme (Light) ship actions. Ideally an 11 hex deep map would be better, and making it either 15 or 17 hexes wide would give more flank options (bearing in mind most galley battles were constrained by a shore on at least one flank). I'd like to playtest both configurations.

2. Ship images. Generally I prefer top down images of galleys, but the C&C standard is generally side view images (or figures). What do people prefer?

 

Mark, were you thinking about using rules for ship/unit heading?

I'm just asking to start thinking about units (whether they should have exact heading indications or maintain the classic square wooden cube style).
 

no heading or facing, and the units are 4-6 galleys (a squadron if you like). I've always found it a little odd in games like Trireme or War Galley where units are up to 8 galleys, but facing and ramming are done as if the unit was an individual ships. What I'm aiming for is the fleet action, rather than individual ship duels, which are covered by many other rulesets.

technically formations did exist, primarily line and column formations, but as in other C&C games, formation and facing generally aren't factored in, and I personally prefer to assume these small unit decisions are made by the junior leaders on the spot.