Naval combat

[The Marcher Lord]

If you want something more along the 3d tactical side try Enigma: Rising Tide (Gold Edition)
It is set in a fictitious world c.1937+ assuming the first world war never ended and technological developments have advanced, but the ships are still pretty historically accurate and you get to play surface or in subs. There are campaigns for each of the main nations as well as singleplayer. Multiplayer is to follow. The accent is very much on tactics and some of the campaign missions are extremely tough.

[edyzmedieval]

How's about Silent Hunter 3?!

[Marcellus]

How's about Silent Hunter 3?!

It's a great game, but you can only play with U-boats, and I think that English Assassin is looking for a game where you can play with battleships in large sea battles.

[English assassin]

It's a great game, but you can only play with U-boats, and I think that English Assassin is looking for a game where you can play with battleships in large sea battles.

Yes indeed. I fancy myself as Beatty, not Doenitz. Fighting Steel was the game engine I was remembering from a few years back, so I've ordered Thunder at Sea and I'll post if its any good.

Enigma-Rising Tide looked OK but NO ROYAL NAVY OPTION. What is that all about? Voice command looked fun though.

[Puzz3D]

Yes indeed. I fancy myself as Beatty, not Doenitz. Fighting Steel was the game engine I was remembering from a few years back, so I've ordered Thunder at Sea and I'll post if its any good.

You have Fighting Steel to resolve the battles in Thunder at Sea? It's separate and cost $10. The Fighting Steel Project v10.1 update is free.

[English assassin]

Opps, I got confused between fighting steel, and the fighting steel project upgrades. I bet this would never have happened to Nelson. Never mind, both are on order now.

[Nelson]

Anyone remember an old Microprose title called Task Force: 1942? It is my favorite surface naval sim ever. This game has a great campaign that allows you to control DE to BB as USN or IJN as you try to influence the outcome ashore on Guadalcanal.

I would love to see a new big gun naval sim that gets you into the gun directors seat, the torpedo mounts and the AAA. The destroyer sims of late haven’t done much for me. SH3 is outstanding but sub games are way different from hammering surface shootouts. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as observing shot fall until you straddle your target and see the hits.

[English assassin]

I bet this would never have happened to Nelson

Blimey. No sooner do I speak than his Lordship appears... ;-)

[Puzz3D]

Anyone remember an old Microprose title called Task Force: 1942? It is my favorite surface naval sim ever. This game has a great campaign that allows you to control DE to BB as USN or IJN as you try to influence the outcome ashore on Guadalcanal.

I went with the Great Naval Battles series. It had its problems in the surface combat model and poor tactical AI. Even so, I found GNB II Guadalcanal quite interesting mostly for the carrier ops, and played it a lot.

There’s nothing quite so satisfying as observing shot fall until you straddle your target and see the hits.

That's the main attraction of Fighting Steel. The FSP has brought the realism of the combat model to a high level, and the AI is good. However, there is no land, aircraft or submarines in the tactical game. The Thunder at Sea wrapper provides those aspects at the strategic level. Damage to ships and other stats such as remaining ammo are passed between the strategic and tactical games. In a recent Bismark breakout scenario I played, the Bismark was hit by a torpedo during an attack by swordfish planes on the strategic map which slowed it to 10 knots (a very lucky hit). Later a British task force of 2 BB's, 10 DD's and 1 CA intercepted the two German ships, and Fighting Steel was invoked to play out the battle. The Bismark didn't stand a chance against such a force, and the 10 knot max speed prevented it from disengaging. At the end of the scenario, the Bismark was heavily damaged and dead in the water. The DD's which were left to finish her off failed because they needed one more torpedo hit than they got. However, the Bismark wasn't going to escape back on the strategic map because she was dead in the water. The British Task Force re-engaged, and when Fighting Steel was invoked again, the BB's quickly sank the Bismark.

[Sjakihata]

mmm.. I'd love a game that lets me play out the Battle of Jutland in a nice strategic fashion.

Ditto

[Seamus Fermanagh]

mmm.. I'd love a game that lets me play out the Battle of Jutland in a nice strategic fashion.

Ever tried Jutland?

CA and up individual, DD & CL flotillas and demi-flotillas...


Seamus

[Kraxis]

Ahh good...

I remember an old game that was similar to this. Can't remember the name really and everything was in 2D on a map. But there you could control the damage control (first you had to put out fires, then repair, before pumping out). And you could assign planes to patrol.
It was beautiful when you sighted a British fleet and sent 50 He111 to attack it with two torpedoes each. All those streaks.... BOOOOM!!!

Well, I might get Fighting Steel.

But wouldn't it be cool with an MP game where one guy controls the fire direction and rudder, and others control the weapons. I can just imagine the fire director yelling out loud "NONONO 200 meters UP!"

[Puzz3D]

The focus of Fighting Steel is on maneuvering the ships and deciding what to shoot at given the tactical situation and the strategic objective. You aren't taken away from that level of decision making by personally aiming the guns or managing a damage control team. You're thinking remains focused on that of a Captain or Admiral, and there are positive aspects to that in terms of immersion into that role and maintaining clear thinking about the decisions to be made.

A few other things about the game not all postive: Fighting Steel can handle up to 32 ships in a battle. Weather effects and sea state leave a lot to be desired visually. Ships don't slow down when they turn. I can't Alt Tab out of a battle in progress and return to it because the graphics don't all come back properly. You can save and reload ok.

[Kraxis]

Oh, so there will be no Jutland?
Damn... The only true big dreadnought battle and it isn't possible.

[Puzz3D]

Oh, so there will be no Jutland?

No Jutland. And, as far as I can tell Fighting Steel only has WWII ships. So, eventhough Thunder at Sea can handle battles from 1890 to 1946, I don't see how Fighting Steel can handle it. The plan was to put ships going all the way back to ironclads into Fighting Steel, but I think it turned into too much work to accomplish. I'll try to find out more about this.

[Kraxis]

Thanks... A Jutland would be some experience. Though I expect I would sail the High Sea Fleet to its glorious doom.