Matrix Games Forums

Can anyone here recommend a modern (e.g. currently printed) wargame to scratch the naval/airforce itch? I played IAF and Dollitle's Raid, but these are solitaire experiences and I would kill for something that I could play with other people.

Command and Harpoon both exist so they are the most "Command/Harpoon" like games.

Of you are talking about paper/miniature rules the new (3021 I believe) version of Harpoon (Harpoon 5) is the best probably. For computer I'd give Command the edge.

I've already spent 300 hours in Command, you can hardly convince me to love the game more than I already do

I do however still look for something I could play with friends on the old school wargaming table.

I cannot recommend any, but Blue Water Navy has a very good rating.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220 ... vy-war-sea


The vassal module to take a look.

https://vassalengine.org/wiki/Module:Blue_Water_Navy


Consimworld link, with rules, etc.

http://talk.consimworld.com/WebX/.1dd5a85b

GenNikolaj wrote: Wed Oct 25, 2023 7:32 pm I've already spent 300 hours in Command, you can hardly convince me to love the game more than I already do

I do however still look for something I could play with friends on the old school wargaming table.

I can't blame you there. I got addicted to that as a kid and never have lost it either.

There was a series of games from Victory Games built around different regions.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/485 ... t-far-east
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/409 ... h-atlantic
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/492 ... fic-caribb
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/492 ... dian-ocean
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/207 ... iterranean

I owned 5th Fleet at one time. I'm not sure if they are still published but you can find some of them on ebay. Most also have VASSAL modules. Don't know the quality of them.

VG also pubbed these games that was semi-related to the Fleet games as to scale.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/207 ... stern-medi
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/207 ... stern-medi

As to native PC naval games with hex/chit, its a very limited field. I own Carrier Battles 4.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1163 ... l_Warfare/

Its WW2 so doesn't cover modern. But I find it fun now and then.

But I don't think there are many modern naval hex/chit games out there.

thewood1 wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 11:22 am There was a series of games from Victory Games built around different regions.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/485 ... t-far-east
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/409 ... h-atlantic
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/492 ... fic-caribb
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/492 ... dian-ocean
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/207 ... iterranean

I owned 5th Fleet at one time. I'm not sure if they are still published but you can find some of them on ebay. Most also have VASSAL modules. Don't know the quality of them.

VG also pubbed these games that was semi-related to the Fleet games as to scale.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/207 ... stern-medi
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/207 ... stern-medi

To add to TheWood1's post:

All of these games are out of publication but can be found on Ebay or other boardgame trading sites. They are also available for VASSAL which is a great app that allows players to get together and have a virtual setting for old chit-based games. I personally play a lot more VASSAL stuff then I do Command, as my brain works a bit slower and I need that. But games like NATO, The Third World War, MBT, as well as the Fleet series are very fun to play and most of the game rules are readily available on the game producers' websites (along with their VASSAL Modules).

If you want to use VASSAL, you need to download the software at: https://vassalengine.org/

At that site you will find a long list of modules that have been created over the years by the many users. I personally have taken the VG Fleet Series and compiled all five games into one module and have written it so that it operates with the 5th Fleet game rules - although you might need the rules from the other games for special features that were part of that particular box game (i.e. Soviet starting aggression levels). There is one caveat - I did not incorporate the 3rd Fleet maps, though the game pieces are all included. This is something I might add at a later point. The module lets you play in any of the other four regions - Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. You will also need to get copies of some forms, such as for logistics - though I have built this function into the module - for ease. A lot of this stuff can be found on Boardgamegeeks or on the Victory Games Facebook fan page.

I have attached my FLEETS vmod should you decide to download VASSAL and want the compilation game. Install VASSAL and then open the Vmod and it will bring up your game setup options.

[EDIT] It looks like I cannot add a VMOD file to this board, so if you are interested in the module - DM me.

You have to zip it.

thewood1 wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 4:20 pm You have to zip it.

Thanks! That makes sense. Either way, it still doesn't matter as the file is too large - Zipped it is 44mb.

If you want to share it publicly you may post a Dropbox or Google drive link.

Or use an external uploading site like WeTransfer,...