The Glorious 17th December

Ralph put on a game of Black Seas on Thursday, so it would have been rude not to play. 

Four of us played, whilst Ralph and Caesar, (who have read the rules) adjudicated.

The scenario had a Glorious 1st June vibe. A combined force of French and Spanish vessels were escorting an off-table convoy. The Royal Navy had to exit a couple of frigates from the south edge of the table (nearest the camera) to attack the convoy. The Franco-Spanish force had to exit a couple of ships of the line off the same edge. The forces were set up as below (clockwise from the front left): Two Franco-Spanish frigates and one SOL, three British SOLs, four British frigates, four Spanish SOLs

A special rule meant that SOLs could not fire on a frigate unless the frigate was ungentlemanly enough to fire on the SOL first. This made for some intersting dynamics in terms of how the ships engaged each other.

Two French frigates shadow the British SOLs. In the distance you can see two Spanish SOLs, both 1st rates. Unfortunately a change of wind very much kept them out of the battle, which was something of a problem for them, since over half of the Franco-Spanish points were tied up in those two ships.

I was running the mixed squadron. I sent my frigates off to intercept the British frigates, whilst my lone SOL closed up on the rear of the British SOL line.

The British quickly sailed two frigates off the table (I'm not sure we could have stopped them to be honest). The battle then shifted to preventing the French/Spanish doing the same with two of their SOLs

A wonderful confused fight developed, but eventually gary managed to get two of his ships off the table, and we finished up for the evening with a satisfying draw.

Black Seas offers some beautiful models, and everyone picked up the gameplay fairly quickly. I can't say it's my favourite set of rules, to be honest, but I'd certainly play again. It was certainly an interesting scenario, and it kept everyone engaged for the evening, so thanks to Ralph for that, and to Ralph and Caesar for providing all of the ships.