The (Unofficial) Great Battles of History

War Galley Variant Rules

Volko Ruhnke

02 Apr 98

6.12 Line Astern requirements are fulfilled as long as each ship following the leader has its bow in any stern or stern/flank hex of the ship ahead of it.

Reason: To allow kinks in the line (as in the Chios set up, for example) so that a line astern can turn.

6.22 MP expenditure need not be preannounced.

Reason: To avoid a bothersome procedure that raises play ambiguities (when enemy ships block movement) but otherwise rarely influences the course of play.

6.75 A SqC MAY transfer to a fouled or grappled ship.

Reason: Why not? It's sometimes the most sensible thing for him to do.

7.15 Replace Ram Table DRMs with the following:

• +1 if ramming galley at Max
• +1 if ramming galley expends more MP than current movement capability of target (Crippled=1; Grpld/Fould=0)*
• +2 if target is Crippled, Grappled, or Fouled (i.e., "Restricted")
• +1 if ramming galley has a better crew than a Nonrestricted target
• -1 if Nonrestricted target is at Max
• -1 if Nonrestricted target has better crew
• -1 if ramming ship has towers
• -1 for Anastrophe ram after failed rake

Reason: Current DRMs illogically compare max to cruise speeds of ramming ship rather than relative maneuverability of ramming and target ships.

7.16 & 8.11 Fouled ships may attempt to grapple one another regardless of facing.

Reason: Marines on ships in intimate proximity should have a shot at grappling, even if ram occurred near the bow or stern.

7.27 The (-1) DRM for higher target speed does not apply if the target is Restricted or at 1/2 Speed. The (+1) for being grappled is also applied if target is fouled or already crippled.

7.28 If a crippled ship is raked again on its other side, place a second crippled marker to indicate that the ship is dead in the water, MP=0.

8.23 & 8.25 Garrisoning: At the moment of capture, boarding galleys may voluntarily deplete their manpower by one or more and -- one for one -- increase the manpower of the captured galley (starting from M0), up to its printed M rating. (Any flame missile capability of the captured ship is retained.) Mark captured ships' M strength when above 0 with depletion markers, ignoring the minus sign.

Reason: To provide a realistic option to prevent otherwise overly easy recapture of prizes.

8.28 Depletion results after boarding are determined by UNadjusted (natural) boarding rolls.

Reason: Height advantage would not increase friendly nor decrease enemy casualties.

8.44 Delete the Height Disadvantage DRM (-1) from the Missile Fire table.

Reason: Towers offered better firing platforms but not better protection for the bulk of the ship's marines or against flame.

9.2 In addition to the lost Admiral roll, any SqCs/Admirals lost provide the enemy twice their command range in VP.

Reason: To reflect the value and morale loss from the death or capture of key leaders.