Upcoming Naval Campaigns refresh

[John Roddy]

If the ship has not already sailed, please allow me to suggest a possible creation of a Jutland scenario offering an alternative start for the game. There are already many scenarios that start at various points during the main action of the battle after the main fleets have deployed but none offering a way to start just before the main fleets deploy.

My group of players use an improvised scenario that starts at 4:45pm, and hour an a half in from the full battle start time of 3:15pm as this seems to be about the time each side usually starting deploying their battleship line. Our scenario is weak however in that we have not established the historical positions for the scouting forces that were already engaged.

The full battle scenarios is wonderful but sometimes one wants to instead focus on the battleship action possibilities but must instead play through an hour and a half of the scouting forces actions to get to the desired start point. Getting to that point can be a little overwhelming due to the intense concentration needed to avoid wrecks and it also results in a different situation than historically by the time one has reached the point where it is time to deploy the battleship lines.

Just a suggestion for consideration, however, of all the things we have often wished for or tried to improvise in the Naval Campaigns series, this is the one that would be of the most utility to our play. Thanks!

[GMcClellan]

I can make no promises, as we're pretty late in the process, but I'll see if I can piece it together. I've got a map of the situation at 4:40 that's focused on the position of the scouting groups, with the HSF just coming into view, but it also gives distance and bearing to Jellicoe. if it doesn't get into this build, it will be in the next.

ETA: Looking at it more, this will be more time consuming than I expected. If I do it, it will be down the road, we're too close to the patch, AND I'm working on other things.

[John Roddy]

Many thanks, looking forward to whenever it appears! Is the map you'll be using by any chance one of those on the https://www.jutland1916.com/maps/ website?

[GMcClellan]

I'd have to examine those. The one that I was focusing on is included in the British Naval General Staff History of the battle. The map was redone for the reprint, but they copied what had been there (just couldn't transfer it due to technical issues). The Staff History is fraught with landmines, but for that kind of specific detail is generally usable (if with caveats.)

[rahamy]

Here's the map Gary referenced, if you want to take a stab at creating a scenario, John.

Jutland_Map.png (75 KiB) Viewed 171 times

[John Roddy]

Thanks, creating such a scenario is on my long term to do list. That map certainly helps establish the basic overall positions of key fleet elements but will need to be supplemented with more position information for individual flotillas, there are so many!