The Channel Campaign

[Tonbo Karasu]

In his office, smoking a pipe, Sky Commodore Nicholas Wantwight studied the various dispatches, maps, spy reports and communiques.  "Blasted frogs," he muttered, "They're up to something, and hell's teeth if I can figure out what it is."  He pulled out several sheets of paper and scribbled off some orders.  "Adjutant, make sure these orders get to the right leviathans!"  He settled back, and sucked on the stem again, "Lets see what that does..."

Across the Channel a similar scene played out, but Contre-Amiral Pierre Alleman had his office several hundred feet above the ground, as his light cruiser steamed northwest. "That Englishman, we will see what he is doing, non?" he asked his purser.  "Of course sir," came the reply.

__________

Okay,  here starteth the first (that I'm aware of) online campaign for Leviathans!  [Fanfares, confetti etc].  If the two of you send me your deployment orders, I'll post a map for your patrol reactions to be done for.  Feel free to build, elaborate or contradict my first sketches of your characters

[neko128]

I'd like to rename him to Sky Commodore Nicholas P. Quirk, in protest f Worktroll's saying there are no Captain Quirks in the boxed set, even though he's such a nice guy.  I'll just give him a promotion!

[Tonbo Karasu]

Carry on, I was just punning on usernames...

[neko128]

Carry on, I was just punning on usernames...

I noticed, and I was amused.  But Commodore Quirk - formerly Sky Captain Quirk, of course, of Her Majesty's Sky Fleet - amuses me more. 

PM with my initial info and first turn sent in a couple of minutes.

[MrPete]

I don't mind having my Contre-Amiral named Pierre Alleman. Sounds french enough and gives the fellow a reason to hate those over-correct germans who dared naming their country after him! I'm just not really sure if he should have his office on board of a Leviathan... well, maybe a flying Battleship?
My first move should be leaving my desk in the next minutes (as you can see below)...

__________

As soon as the orders left the Contre-Amirals desk the well-trained french military went to work.
The messages were encrypted within minutes and radioed to their destiniations in less than ten minutes.
Another hour later a fleet of Leviathans pulled their anchoring lines and steamed of to show "those overly proud british" what real aerial superiority should look like.
Meanwhile known english contacts were fed false informations and the five Leviathans made sure to part their ways and set to different courses only when they were well out of sight of their homebase.

[Tonbo Karasu]

First Turn moves below.  Please send me First Turn reactions.



Hmm, I'll try to use a different blue for France next time.

[neko128]

Order sent.


"Sir, there are reports of a French incursion into patrol sector 2!"

Commodore Quirk almost choked on his tea, quickly standing up.  "What?!?"

Handing his superior officer a handkerchief, the aide checked his clipboard.  "Yes sir.  The Hertfordshire and Raven have been tasked to intercept."

He brushed off his shirt, trying hard to collect his dignity.  "Keep me informed."

[neko128]

Hmm, I'll try to use a different blue for France next time.

Oh, and if you can pick a color other than pink for the British, my family would be eternally grateful.  Give us a nice Royal Blue, or something, and give the French the yellow we've come to expect.

*ducks*

[neko128]

As an aside, my calculations - with my "campaign starting crews" - give me a total point value of 411, instead of the default value of 422.  Any idea what the French force looks like?

[Tonbo Karasu]

Hmm, I'll try to use a different blue for France next time.

Oh, and if you can pick a color other than pink for the British, my family would be eternally grateful.  Give us a nice Royal Blue, or something, and give the French the yellow we've come to expect.

*ducks*

Blame Catalyst for the pink, I'm just trying to stick to their colour scheme...

i wonder, can I turn the ensigns into arrows?

[neko128]

i wonder, can I turn the ensigns into arrows?

http://www.solidharmonys.se/images/backgrounds/union_jack_arrow.gif?

[MrPete]

I don't mind royal blue for english troop movement as long as you use a nice white for the french troops.
Thus the map will sport the colors of the tricolore 

Orders are out.
Contre-Amiral Pierre Alleman looked at the latest reports and smiled.
"So, the english decided to visit the Normandy, again? And Montpellier and Pelletier signal light resistance?
Well, this day surely gets better! Order the Ardent to intercept and show them that the English are no longer wanted in the Normandy. Oh, and order Montpellier and Pelletier to leave some lasting impressions. But they shall be careful, not that we destroy one of those tiny interceptors!"
The Purser repeated the orders and left to get them relayed.

[Tonbo Karasu]

Patrol Zone B2

HML Hertfordshire and HML Raven intercept the Montpelier and Pelletier (and a small fishing vessel with a large smokestack...)

Patrol Zone F4

Pontbriand intercepts HML Courser and HML Beagle

What I was proposing was the rules I used for the first scenario I ran here.  Each turn is Firing Orders and movement Orders.  It's a reversal of the normal turn sequence, but permits the completion of one full turn per player turnaround.  Is that fine?

Also, do you want to try doing the two encounters in parallel, or one after another?

[MrPete]

I'd say we go one battle after another (starting with Patrol Zone F4, since that should be over faster...).

If I got you right we declare firing and movement at the beginning of the turn which is then resolved.
For example: Pelletier is able to fire at Raven and receive returning fire, then both ships move according to the orders given at the start of the turn and including damaged engine... no, wait. Damage won't come into effect until the start of the next turn.
Correct? Would work for me!

[Tonbo Karasu]

Personally, I quite like damage taking effect between plotted movement and it taking place,  :evil grin:  but am willing to go with the player preference.

F4 Set up:  British ships entirely within 5 hexes of the centre of the North edge.
French ship entirely within 5 hexes of the centre of the East edge.