TURN TEN

WARNING MY SOAP BOX IN PLACE

Every role playing game I've run has had a lot of people pass through some briefly and some stay for years. Game interest, work school, and a hundred other reasons hard to say why they leave. Bottom line I tell everybody if you're having fun continue and if it seems like work or you dread the turn deadline move on to something else.

Gunther

Half the game players don't read the rules
Half the game players argue about the rules
Unfortunately, it's the same half.

Reading through the posts it seems you compile (copy/paste) all relevant game messages into a log between turns.

Bill
>>Definitely this allows players in different areas to keep up with game activities as the Squadron's Player Characters are currently split into two groups.
So their is some dialogue going on between some PCs at different times between turns.?
>>Quite a bit at times when ships are engaged or info is needed to move the turn along. Your post can continue until the GM  would need to make a decision or a die roll;  ie you want the harbor master to send the powder hulk out to replenish your ship and you send a fine bottle of wine to expedite matters. The GM would make a roll to see how he reacts. Other players can of course choose how their characters react. You send a signal to another ship, they claim they they never saw it ie Nelson using his blind eye. Get the idea
Gunther

OK, as long as you don't mind me pointing things out to you and you appreciate that it is done for the benefit of the game and others and is not some attempt to be "smart". In this spirit, I wonder why your other site is called "Damsels and Duelists and a Bridge to Far"; surely it should be a Bridge Too Far?

Pete

Gunther/GM V
>>>Pointing out WITHIN reason. Its been said I'm set in my ways... Been along time since I left Indiana University and the US Army. The flipside is I do need that other point of view on occasion.
  Spelling correction noted, if  TOO is good enough for General Browning I'll live with it. Web Site updates are usually done on the weekend. Angelfire has been awful busy lately.
FIRST BOOK OF RHETNUG VERSE ONE
  My other Site is actually the MAIN WEB PAGE, HBN is a link on that page.
As for the title the website has been up for a couple of years and gone through several reorganizations. Both Role Playing and War gaming. I always have way to many projects, as the titles on my site bare out; but I always come back to two main themes.

Role Playing
DAMSELS AND DUELISTS: I'm a longtime fan of the role playing game EN GARDE  since the 70's when it was first published. The Musketeers as portrayed in the Dumas novels are a favorite period to role play. Using systems such as ICE's Rapiers Point  and SJG GURPS Swashbucklers as well as TFG's Musketeers. Plus numerous dueling and miniature rules its a period I really like and hope to eventually run again.
A BRIDGE TOO FAR: Operation Market Garden has to be one of my favorite battles to research and game. I have numerous games and books on the subject up to and including SPI's massive four map 2000 counter "Highway to the Reich." I'm currently working on my own game design "Airborne Carpet to the Rhine" which will explore numerous What If  Variants and Alternate History options such as different drop zones, UK 6th Abn availabilty, US 17th Abn availabilty, transports flying two missions a day, Locust and Tetrarch glider deployed tanks, coup de main units as per Pegasus Bridge, and German defensive airdrops per a doctrine proposed by General Student to name a few.
  As a spin off to that I'm also researching "Kanev/ Dnepr River Crossings Sep 43" the Russian Market Garden if you will.

Gunther

Hornblower's Navy uses numerous sourses; References I use most often include Miniature Rules: Don't Give up the Ship, Ship of the Line Miniature Rules {WS&IM is a very watered down version of these rules}, and Heart of Oak , Board Games: Frigate and WS&IM;  Role Playing Privateers & Gentlemen, Swashbuckler, and Pirate. The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy Blake & Lawrence sets the basic guidelines. The Bolitho and Hornblower novels background and flavor to the game

Gunther

Some useful information from one of our gamers across pond

Gentlemen,

On the occasion of the celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second's Golden Jubilee, and also cognisant that (I think) I am the only English player currently playing, and also cognisant of the fact that you damned colonials would probably not recognise an aristocrat if you fell over one in the street (and that's not difficult in certain places!), I feel it behooves me to pass on one or two tips on how things were done in the time of Nelson's Navy.

Firstly, the correct response to any order, demand or request made by any senior officer is "Aye aye sir". Doesn't matter whether the person making the response is a captain or a ship's boy, and the person making the request is an Admiral or a midshipman, the lower rank always says "Aye aye, sir", especially when in front of other members of the crew or anyone else for that matter. In very exceptional circumstances, "Aye aye, Captain" is just about acceptable but you wouldn't say "Aye aye, Lieutenant" for example. "Sir, yes sir" is a revolting American abomination and has no place whatever on one of His Britannic Majesty's ships.

Please note that the previous paragraph ended with a reference to "His Britannic Majesty's Ship" because, believe it or not, there were other Majesties about at the time and the Royal Navy referred to them as His Britannic Majesty's ships to distinguish them from the King of Spain, Sweden, Morocco or anywhere else for that matter. Incidentally, ships were rarely referred to as "HMS Watcher", for example; generally just "the Watcher" followed by the captain's name. HMS came in somewhat later.

Right, on to the difference between ranks and appointments! Below the rank of Rear Admiral, there are only three ranks; Midshipman, Lieutenant and Captain. All the others are appointments. A Midshipman passed an exam to become a Lieutenant and that was the only way that he could achieve that rank; he could be an Acting-Lieutenant but, unless he passed the exam, he couldn't become a Lieutenant any other way. There were Midshipmen aged over 40 in some ships! If a Lieutenant was given command of a ship, he still has the rank of Lieutenant, but is called a "Master and Commander,” out of courtesy, is addressed as "Captain" both in writing and in speech. He is promoted to the rank of Post Captain and, although their seniority was distinguished by epaulettes above and below three years' seniority, they were all referred to as Captains. A Commodore, unlike the American Navy, is an appointment not a rank but the Captain appointed Commodore was entitled to the uniform of a Rear Admiral and was also saluted with the same number of guns.

Finally, aristocracy. "The Honourable" is a written title used for sons (and daughters now but not then) of anyone who has a title (eg Earl, Marquis) not a knighthood. So a letter would be addressed to Captain the Honourable Sir Willoughby Ponsonby-Smythe and commence "Dear Sir Willoughby" but the honourable is dropped in speech so then I am referred to as Captain Sir Willoughby Ponsonby-Smythe and again addressed as Sir Willoughby. The situation becomes even more complicated when the Captain has a title above a knighthood but I won't bore you with that!!

The title of the e-mail was "Tongue in cheek" and that is how it was meant. I just thought that it might add to the flavour of the whole game if people had an understanding of the subtleties of rank and title which have very little meaning in the modern world, even in this country. The Royal Navy at the time however was riddled with aristocratic officers and duels could be (and were!) fought over slights of honour, imagined or otherwise. Duelling was, of course, illegal but hadn't been for long and duels still took place, although generally with some attempt at secrecy. Hornblower himself has a duel early in his career, as does Bolitho in the Alexander Kent books and Maturin in Patrick O'Brian.

I hope you take this in the spirit in which it was intended and I will happily answer any questions you may have. Now let's get on and whip those damned Yankees!!

Peter

##&##

Gentlemen,
Turn Ten will picked up with the Buffonia and her convoy leaving Kingston, Watcher and the flotilla wrapping up the dinner party, and Sunnydale and lator Crab enroute from Bermuda.
There will also be a naval engagement to the south that we will resolve using SPI's Frigate wargame rules. {Do to computer difficulties in posting the rules this was resolved locally}
Administrative Turn Notes

Watcher/Janna/Willow
Dinner party was concluded with a pleaseant viewing of the sunset; and all officers have returned to their respective ships.
All guests an prisoners are assumed to have remained aboard the flagship Watcher.
Lieutenant Macdonald has assumed command of the Willow with Lieutenant Wallace and Commander Callaghan transfered to the Watcher. {ED I need a write up of your:  Reading Yourself  In / assuming command}
Time Line we'll move forward to Day 7 out of port the flotilla has been nearly becalmed for the past day it has been very hot and the ships are barely averaging 1-2 knots.
Buffonia  Convoy
Your clipper has diasappeared and the two frigates have been shadowing you for the past day from 6-10 miles out. Refusing any attempts to close or engage. Weather has been good with fair winds averaging 4-5 knots

>>>Willow is available if anyone is interested in a command.
>>This position has been filled

NEW PLAYERS ENROUTE TO THEIR SHIP ASSIGNMENT

Lieutenant Franklin Pierce received a dispatch to report to the admiralty. He was told he will be joining the Bermuda Fleet and leaving on the merchant transport Waverly bound for Kingston and Admiral Hendricks fleet. He bid goodbye to his family once again, his son Nelson now 12 is ready to join the service as he did at that age. He wished him well and said that maybe one day he may sail with him. Franklin spent a lot of time on deck of the Waverly, staying out of the way of the seamen as they went about their duties. When they got closer to the Caribbean the wind was as it always is, a steady 15-25 knots out of the northeast, and the Waverly picked up speed. The Captain once past Bermuda took a bearing for Turk's Island, going to the east around Turk's Island, then headed to the western side of the Windward Passage then south into Kingston. Aboard the merchant vessel brought back memories from when he was a child- and his first experience was aboard a merchant, although the men performed well enough their was a lack of discipline at times, and a lackadaisical attitude that would not be tolerated in the Royal Navy.The trip was uneventful and arrived with good wind at Kingston. Shortly after the Waverly dropped anchor, a boatswain's mate delivered a message to Pierce to report to the flagship Caesar at his earliest convenience.Thoughts went through his mind as to what ship he would be billeted to as it's First Lieutenant, but it really did not matter as long as he was at sea again. A long illness had kept him from the War of 1812, and that was a major disappointment for him. He missed the action with his friends, those that did not return brought sadness, he was sure it also retarded his advancement in rank, to where he might have a command of his own by now. But he did not let it discourage him, all good things come in time he thought. Deciding to go in full dress, the navy had slightly updated the officers uniforms allowing them to wear epaulets on their shoulders.Lieutenants were to only wear one epaulet on their right shoulder, his uniform fit his slender body well. Reporting to the Officer of the deck he showed him the message to report to the Caesar and climbed down the ladder to the waiting boat. Aboard the flagship he addressed the Officer of the deck. "Sir, I am Lieutenant Franklin Pierce and I received this message to report to the flagship at my earliest convenience".

Aboard the flagship he addressed the Officer of the deck. "Sir, I am Lieutenant Franklin Pierce and I received this message to report to the flagship at my earliest convenience".

The OOD introduced himself, "Lieutenant Defenic, your expected, Rear Admiral Hendricks will see you in few minutes, but you are to report to the Flag Lieutenant to pick up dispatches for the Buffonia Convoy and Rear Admiral Medicus aboard the Sunnydale 74.

Pierce, "Thank you Lieutenant Defenic, a worthy ship you have under your feet". Picking up the pouches he assures the Flag Lieutenant they will be guarded with his life.He was given two weighted pouches and strict instructions that they must not fall into enemy hands. He was then shown into the main cabin of the massive 80 gunner.

A Rear Admiral and half a dozen Post Captains were clustered around a large chart of the North Carolina Coast. Hendricks excused himself. "Welcome aboard Lieutenant,"

Pierce, “At attention and a smart salute... "thank you sir!". [Pierce] - "Yes sir, I have the pouches here for the Buffonia and Admiral Medicus. The admiral gestured to the steward, "get the young man a glass of this tolerable Claret" he continued; You will sail on schooner Starfish 6, Lieutenant Carter commanding, with dispatches for Buffonia and Sunnydale. My fleet sails within the hour...we will rendezvous with a sizable reinforcement from England and strike a decisive blow against the Americans. I'm sure our blow will be a staggering one for the Americans." Franklin thanks the steward for the claret and raising his glass "good luck to your fleet sir and our venture"...and takes a sip, it's a welcome one at that.

So tell me what news from England?....

Pierce, "Sir the spirits are high, both among the military as well as the civilian population, many of my mates are sorry to be on the homeland, they would much rather be here to assist the fleet." Hendricks, “ Indeed good to hear, well I won't detain you any longer. And tell Medicus we're finally getting some First Rates released from the Channel Fleet. Several of the post captains let out a loud Here! Here! and drained their glasses. The Starfish will sail as soon as your aboard.

Aboard the Starfish he addresses the OOD: "Lt. Franklin Pierce reporting to your Lt. Carter from HMS Caesar". The Starfish is Baltimore Clipper (Top sail schooner) mounting 6-6 pdr and 4-44pdr swivel guns. The ship is immaculate and the crew appears highly energetic. A young midshipman Mr Phoby has the deck, "welcome aboard sir, I'll send a runner and let Lieutenant Carter know you've arrived." he paused, do you have your gear sir or do we need to send a boat for it? Then he continued, "The Captain said to clear harbor as soon as you were aboard, we have to catch that wallowing tub Buffonia and then the beat up old Sunnydale." When the midshipman said wallowing tub in referring to the Buffonia Piece straightened up and his eye's turned to a glare.And in a stern and irritated voice.

Pierce didnt like rebuking the young lad, but the reference to his ship being a wallowing tub struck a nerve- and not something that a young midshipman looking to become an officer of the line should be saying to a senior officer. Hopefully the young man may learn something from this.

Midshipman Phoby didn't seemed to phased by the rebuke, strange to say the least for a 16 year old being address by a senior Lieutenant, "as you say sir, of course you would know more about that than I, "as he had a detail take Lieutenant Pierce's sea chest below and sent a runner to notify Lieutenant Carter. Lieutenant Carter came up on deck shortly, barely in his 20's he said, "Welcome aboard Lieutenant Pierce, Mr Phoby let's get some sail on her so we can catch those slugs... Mr Phoby you seemed pleased with yourself, so kindly get this vessel moving unless you have a date with the Gunner's Daughter." The midshipman started giving loud deliberate orders to weigh anchor and set sail. The Starfish quickly cleared the harbor and was making almost 10 knots as she caught the sea breeze....A master mate took a quick navigational fix and disappeared below. Lieutenant Carter after a glance aloft told him everything was going well said, "Lieutenant Pierce would you join me for dinner?"

Pierce doesnt consider himself a disciplinarian but does feel their is a protocol to be followed, but he didn’t say anything further. The captain himself is young and Mr Phoby went about his business in a quick and seemingly efficient manner, a happy crew makes a good ship.

"Yes captain I would like that thank you, how long do you suppose it may take to reach the Buffonia and the Sunnydale". Carter took a look at the sky, gauged the wind, thought for a couple of minutes, and said, "two days tops to catch Buffonia, that's a slow convoy she's escorting. For a razee she can hold her own but she carries some heavy metal that slows her down. The Sunnydale that's hard to say, those former frog 74's show a good turn of speed but enroute to Bermuda she got hammered pretty hard by a big Yankee Frigate. Based on her course and convoy she's babysitting a week anyway." His gaze swept the deck again, Mr Phoby this is not your Uncles flagship kindly have those sails trimmed..." Franklin just nodded his head. The more he thought of the manners of young Phoby the more angrier he got. Not one to keep things bottled up, but always saying what's on his mind, has also let him sleep better.

"Lieutenant Carter, I must say I am dismayed at the lack of protocal aboard your vessel, and the off handed way that the midshipman has in addressing a senior officer. If he does so again he shall be carrying a bootprint where the sun does not shine, and the same goes for you sir. This is a man of war not a party boat in some tranquil bay, do you understand me Mr. Carter"

{OOC}
Both officers are a bit out of line, but as Hornblower once commented  discipline in smaller vessels was much more lax. I try toss RP challenges along the way in even routine circumstances.

{IC}

Lieutenant Carter raised an eyebrow and the redness in face clearly showed he was annoyed as he waited for several seconds to reply. “Lieutenant with all due respect to your seniority I’ll thank you to remember I am the captain of this vessel. She is not a ship of the line nor do I run her like one. Mr Phoby’s uncle is a retired Vice Admiral and he was placed aboard this ship to learn iniative and responsibility. He spent considerable time on the Caesar where he improved his navigational skills but little else. Now sir we have an excellent beefsteak for dinner if you care to join me and the junior officers for dinner.” After that we shall get where you need to be as swiftly as possible.