COD -- command checks, damage, game markers?

[cartier76]

Maybe this is too much for one thread?

My younger son and I played a first game of COD this weekend; his British force handily dismantled my German force. We had to bend the rule about mixing ship types within a division, since we only have 3 ships per side, a BB, BC, and a CL. The game was a great deal of fun, but I'd like to check our rules interpretation with those who know better.

First, on the command rules, is the command level of a ship adjusted only when the ship receives a bridge critical hit, or does cumulative damage or other critical hits also affect this? What else can generate a command check at the end of the turn? In the game, HMS Royal Oak was hammering SMS Oestenburg within an inch of its life, and it seemed like a morale check would have been reasonable when damage exceeded 50%. After 4 turns of punishment I finally chose to turn her out of the line of battle with fewer than 10 hull points left. The CL Leipzig was essentially disabled while trying to lay smoke to cover her retirement.

Also, are there suggestions for making flooding markers? We used a penny to tilt the ship stands and suggest a minor list, and 2 stacked pennies for a severe list, but some of you may have a more elegant game table marker for this?

I have a couple of photos, but don't know how to insert them in this text.

Thanks for what help you can provide.

--Matt

[Bluebear]

Matt,

I would love to see your photos. There is a thread about how to post photos in the FORUM DISCUSSION section. Here's a link to it:

www.steeldreadnought.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=349

I like your "penny tilting" idea . . . of course it would help if they were painted a blue (perhaps slightly lighter than the playing surface?) . . . are your ships on bases, or just by themselves? And what scale ships are you using?


-- Jeff

[joe]

I will leave the command check question to those who know the rules better, but for flooding markers I think several people use these www.litkoaero.com/products/Naval-Listing-Tokens.html I don't have any (yet) but I have some other stuff from them very nice quality.

[BattleshipOverkill]

I had Litko make me some custom markers for the game specific markers they don't make. They already make listing markers and the Micro Splash and Micro fire markers work great.

Here's some pictures for reference:



In my experience you shouldn't need more than 10 of each.

[afilter]

Hello,

Yes bridge hits are the one event that forces a command check. The other routine one is when a ship is operating independently(not in formation). A player can voluntarily make a command check at any time as a ship that retreats is only worth half VPs IIRC.

As for markers my experience is litko is the best source. After playing last week I contacted Jim and he is making e some customs that look similar to the markers that come with the rules. I mentioned there might be some demand and he said he will put them on his "Jim's lab" page and see how they do.

HTH,

[shigure]

While I certainly like the look of the litko markers, they make it a lot easier to keep track of what kind of damage had happened. In addition, you don't forget to roll at the end of the turn to see if the damage has been repaired or if the ship incurs additional damage.

[warchariot]

Yea, I like them so much, I have had markers made by Litko for almost ever game I play!

[fastgit]

Mar 22, 2011 17:00:21 GMT -5 afilter said:

As for markers my experience is litko is the best source. After playing last week I contacted Jim and he is making e some customs that look similar to the markers that come with the rules. I mentioned there might be some demand and he said he will put them on his "Jim's lab" page and see how they do.

HTH,

Cool.

[cartier76]

Thanks for the all the information everyone.

I'll try to post some pictures this evening. Looks like my company blocks the photobucket page so I have to do it on my own time!

--Matt

[warchariot]

At least you can get the forum, my work blocks everything.

[TheDreadnought]

I think that its awesome that despite being blocked from accessing the forum at work, you still have the highest post count of anyone here.

[warchariot]

Well I do get good vactions only working (paid) 200 days a year!

[cartier76]

ok, here's trying to insert the pictures.



The British line and German line close on each other from opposite directions. This is the second turn of the game. Fire from Royal Oak and Indomitable have already damaged Ostfriesland and set Von der Tann's topsides afire. Von der Tann was able to extinguish the fire in the damage control phase.

The British are BB Royal Oak, BC Indomitable, and CL Weymouth.
The German are BB Ostfriesland, BC Von der Tann, CL Leipzig.

Models are GHQ.



Next turn, the British lay more damage on the Germans, and a fresh fire on Von der Tann. Range is medium to short for the heavy ships, but the CL were not able to engage while in company with their larger sisters.



The curtain is about to fall. CL Leipzig laying smoke as Ostfriesland and Von der Tann desperately turn away from the British. Leipzig is not exteremely fast, so her smoke screen does not completely cover the German dreadnoughts who receive more damage from Indomitable and Royal Oak. Both are listing severely (2 pennies) and will sink next turn. In the foreground is Indomitable, who is listing slightly (1 penny). Leipzig is hit, crippled and set afire by the secondary battery of Indomitable.

The Kaiser will not be pleased tomorrow.

[Bluebear]

That is certainly a wonderful "wild ocean" surface you're playing on. Good photos of the action too.


-- Jeff

[cartier76]

Jeff --

First, I'd like to compliment you on your blog, you have many good ideas for me to borrow, and an attractive fleet for inspiration! This is a nice group of knowlegeable people here.

The Litko markers are clear, professional, and attractive, so no wonder they are popular. But I'm trying to experiment with markers that indicate the ship status on the table, but a little more subtle and natural? Well, home-made, then?

So for flooding markers maybe a couple of odd-shaped disks that are blue and wet looking (I know, just like the Litko markers!)

The other markers are my interpretations of suggestions from users on this board, TMP, and other blogs. The splash markers are a bit of white yarn glued to a washer, then the fibers combed out to suggest a spray of water. The fire markers are similar, bit of orange and black yarn glued to a black plastic bead from the local crafts store. Torpedo markers (didn't get to use them in this game) are 2-in lengths of light blue pipe cleaners to suggest the torpedo wake. Smoke is just cotton balls here -- I'm probably going to use some small black and grey fabric balls from the craft store.

My wife does quilting and sewing, so she found this "watery" cotton print at her fabric store and made me a gaming table cloth with a couple yards of fabric. It looks surprisingly dramatic in photos. She made a similar one with a dappled green cotton fabric for our land wargames that also serves very well.

[Bluebear]

Matt,

Thank you for the compliment, sir.

And, yes, fabric stores (like craft stores) are a very good place to find things for our gaming tables. And you are fortunate to have such a helpful wife (something not all have -- although I am also one of the fortunate ones).

As for making your own markers, I think that that is splendid. On a side note, I've never been as fond of painted armies I've purchased as I have of those I've painted myself . . . even when the purchased paint job was much better than mine. The point being, things we do ourselves mean more than those we merely purchase.

I look forward to your future posts and game reports.


-- Jeff

[warchariot]

Love the water, great report with pictures