Black Seas Modifications/house rules

Some changes I have made to the game to help make games a bit more interesting or handle issue that seem to come up frequently. 

1) No Firing High or low. Roll a 1-6 for each critical hit 1-3 = Low hit 4-6 = High Hit. Subtract 1 from the roll at short range.

2) French receive a +1 to shots over 10”

3) Cracking On: Make a skill check if you passes add 1d3 inches of movement per level of sail. If you roll a 1 roll 1d3 on the high critical table and take 1d6 points of damage. Ships Cracking on can only fire their chase guns.

4) Ships may try to grapple instead of avoiding entanglement/collision (if one ship is trying to grapple and the other does not wish too the play with the higher modified skill check wins, ties go to the more skilled crew or reroll if they are of the same skill)

5) Spanish ships of the line (large 3rd rates, & 2nd rates) may take over gunned the same way their 1st rates can (with the same penalties) 

6) Ships may "Back Stays" reducing their speed by 1 inch per movement.  

Huzzah 2022

 Last Weekend was the first convention I have attended(in Person) in two years.   I ran two games based on the 1795 Biscayne campaign Cornwallis's Retreat and  the Battle of the Groix 

"Cornwallis" lost two ships but took down two French Ships and damaged several others before making his escape.  

The Battle of Groix had the French Fleet hold together but the English where much more aggressive the end result was a historical result three French ships lost.  The French took out two English Frigates that got too aggressive but in the calculus of war two frigates for three ships of the line is a good trade. Both games played well thought the second one needs some additional work. 

The next day I got t play the Roll of General Scott at the Battle of Chippewa 

The English where Driven form the field though a Americans suffered serious casualties. 

Then a game of the Battle of Teugen/Hausen in 6mm its a good game the set of rules are forth coming (Soldiers of the Empire I believe) 

Then the a game of Medival Patrol Aztecs vs Spanards on lake Titicaca  

Sunday I finally got to Play civilizations of the Inner Sea and I really enjoyed the game and not just because the my Egyptians won. 

Huzzah was great fun I'm already looking forward to next year. 

The Battle of Groix

 We tried the second battle of the Bay if Biscayne campaign.

The French decided turn on the pursuing British.

Arofan had some of the wort luck with dice I have ever seen and while the English took hits the French took more damage with each exchange.

I felt turning away was a bad idea but the French persisted.

The side hit the pursuing English hard but too little too late.

Rohirrim and the Turn of the Tide 12th Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (13)

 Some more Tolkien Goodies 12 Rohirrim fighting on foot.  For me the moment in the Lord of the Rings that Turns the tide is when Gandalf shows up with Erkenbrand and the men of Westford to relieve the army at Helms Deep 

First up are 4 Archers I'll have to mix them in with other archers to make them work as a unit for most Wargames but they should help out nicely. 

The 8 men armed with hand weapons are great mix prefect for a point of warriors in Saga.  I used some Roman shields for a few to keep them form looking too generally Games Workshop.  They should mix well with some other Dark age troops I have without standing out too much but also they should stand own their own too.  All and all these fellow should net me 60 points plus 20 points for the Luna's theme.  They should get me a squirrel point.

Finally a bunch of terrain that is also part of a Games workshop set.  I don't have too much to say here its gray stone dry brushed a lighter gray.  It should be great for Frostgrave its 9 inches by 9 inches and about 2.25 inches high that is about 85% of a 6x6x6 cube so about 17 points.   I should now have enough terrain points to claim another Squirrel point 

Terra the Ship as Home:12th Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (12)

A ship is usually how one travels away from home but for some it becomes a home and here are two examples from the Audrey-Matuirn series.

So I present HMs Surprise and HMS Leopard. Both ships are 3d prints (both Simmon Mann I believe).

HMS Surprise is what I consider the 5th key character of the series (Jack, Steven, Sophie and Diana being the others). As Jack say Surprise is a "Fine Sea Bird.. Stiff, weatherly and very fast if well handled." Steve calls her the "Dear Surprise" and goes so far as to buy her as private yacht (privateer) when she is sold out of the Navy. She is always spoken of with reverence and love. Jack especially seems more at home on board then he ever does ashore. One of Surprise's characteristics is a tall mainmast and you can see her here with Leopard who's height she almost matches.

Unlike many other 3d prints this one has a fine stern gallery. She's a fine 6th Rate to add to my English Fleet.

HMS Leopard is possible the most famous 50 gun ship in history thanks to it's attack on USS Chesapeake. Jack gets command of her some time after this but before the war of 1812. He and Steven both refer to her as the "Horrible old Leopard" but do so with what can only be called increasing affection. The suffer one of their most grueling cruises in the Leopard but despite almost sinking several times she gets them to safety a good ship despite her age and checked past.

I used some old plastic stern windows to finish her look. This is a great addition to my collection 4th rates of this type where a mainstay of the Royal Navy in the American Revolution.

Another 3D print a sh shore fortification based on the Château du Tourneau. You can get the file here https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3936544

It's a simple design and paint job not a lot to talk about but it's the last piece I need for a game I am running on Friday.

Based on the dimensions I think it's fair to ask for 2 points. And one more ship...

So Evelyn has been asking me to let her paint a ship... After some discussion she agreed it would be Ok for her to suggest the colors to use. Purple and teal (changed to sky blue) So I present the First ship of the D'Argent Navy the Princess Evelyn.

The ship is a 3D print based on Santisima Trinidad. I did some modifications and added a figure head (where I used the sky blue)

The stern was another leftover from my plastic 3rd rates. Evelyn is quite happy with how Her ship looks.

The D'Argent Navy flags are still in development but I may rechristen her the Infanta Evelyn and have her join my Spanish fleet.

Points:

HMS Surprise 15 Points

HMS Leopard 15 Points

Terra 20 points

Château du taureau 2 points (?)

Princess Evelyn 25 points (and 1 Squirrel if you let me count her D'Argent Imagination Navy 'persona')

That comes to 77 points