The Boardgamer’s Unofficial Guide To: WAR AT SEA

Sample file 2 The Boardgamer’s Unofficial Guide To War At Sea Why A Gamer's Guide To

I've heard the comments so often, I no beginner or casual players’ game are This guide is intended to be the first in a longer feel compelled to correct the not that extensive and are generally series of guides to some of the speaker. "Anyone with lucky dice can easily explained, ideal information for a previously overlooked Avalon Hill win at War At Sea", "I'd rather play a gamer’s guide. Also, many early games. If you are interested in helping game requiring skill than Yahtzee At articles in the General were generally to put together guides for other games, Sea", "What's the use of playing War At lacking in good War At Sea strategy. contact the BOARDGAMER and let’s get Sea, the Axis always wins anyway?", or Many articles focused on modifications started. "They ought to hold the War At Sea to the game’s order of battle or other tournaments near the end of variations, some articles advocated I hope you find the guide both enjoyable conventions so that players who are questionable strategies and the series and informative, and that if you have an knocked out of the ‘serious’ replays were impaired by Allied players interest in contributing to future guides tournaments can enter". who apparently were rusty and had just you’ll drop me a note. Good taken the game off the shelf. gaming! Years ago, I used to share many of these thoughts. I lost all five games I The goal of this gamer’s guide is to played during the first three provide a reference for new players to The BOARDGAMER’s tournaments I participated in, yet I was quickly become competitive and for still convinced that I could have won if more veteran players to pick up a few Unofficial Guide To: only the dice would have been a little useful tips. My father used to say that better. Then one day an acquaintance anything worth doing is worth doing right WAR AT SEA who tended to win much more often (actually I think he stole that quote). My than he lost sat me down and dissected personal corollary is that any game The BOARDGAMER’s series of unofficial all the mistakes I made in just one worth playing is worth playing well. If guides is published by Bruce Monnin, game. He made me realize that this guide can help improve anyone’s publisher of The BOARDGAMER. The although the game mechanics are play of or Sampleappreciation for Warfile At Sea, Unofficial Guide to WAR AT SEA is intended indeed simple, there were subtleties to then it has accomplished its mission. to be a compilation of quality articles on the the strategy and tactics of the game that strategy, tactics, and variants for the game.

I had never even considered. Of course, the guide will also provide Articles from contributors are considered for other miscellaneous information, such publication at the discretion of the editor. So I decided to take the game more as references to articles previously Rejected articles will be returned whenever seriously. I studied all the articles in printed in the General, rules possible. Potential authors should be past issues of the GENERAL, clarifications, etc. It will also carry on advised that all outside submissions become experimented with new tactical and the tradition of providing variants to this the property of The Boardgamer and may strategic ideas, and most importantly of game. For some reason, probably the only be reprinted with the editor’s all I began to play quality opponents by seeming simplicity of the game, there permission. Such permission will usually be freely given. mail through AHIKS (an organization have always been (and probably always dedicated to quality PBM gaming will be) attempts made to add more Unless otherwise mentioned, all game titles among mature members). Playing the ‘realism’ to the game. mentioned are trademark names of The game by mail enabled me to carefully Avalon Hill Game Company/Victory Games consider each move, drag strategy tips Much of this material has been (now owned by Hasbro), as is the GENERAL out of my opponents and take what I published in previous issues of the and Avaloncon. learned from one opponent and use it BOARDGAMER. Some of it has not. In against the next one. Now I find that particular, there is an Allied strategy All pictures within are copyrighted material of the Avalon Hill Game Company (and whenever I play against someone who article based on an old article from the Hasbro). refuses to consider War At Sea a GENERAL plus a strategy article and a serious game, I tend to win 4 out of series replay using the Mediterranean EDITOR: Bruce A. Monnin every 5 or so games. strategy which have never seen print. ADDRESS: 177 South Lincoln Street In addition, there are some statistics in Minster, OH 45865-1240 So, why a Gamer’s Guide to War At the back compiled from the first 8 years E-MAIL: [email protected] Sea? The information and ideas of Avaloncon. PHONE: (419) 628-3332 necessary to make improvements to a Copyright 1999 The Boardgamer’s Unofficial Guide To War At Sea 3 Inside The BOARDGAMER’s Unofficial Guide To

War At Sea

Victory In The Atlantic 4 Strategic Considerations and a Variety of British Opening Moves by Ray Freeman

Admirals Raedar and Doenitz Would’ve Been Proud 11 Axis Play In War At Sea by Bruce Monnin

Mediterranean Strategies 16 The Exciting Approach To War At Sea by John Pack

Why I’m A “Barents On One” Believer 18 Allied Opening Strategy For War At Sea by Jonathan Lockwood

Underwater Strategy 20 Use of U-Boats In War At Sea by Steve Packwood

Ten Hints Everyone Ought To Know By Now 21 Quick Tips For War At Sea by Tim Hitchings

War At Sea – Beginner’s Tip Sheet 22 Prepared For Avaloncon ‘97 by John Pack

Rules Clarifications For War At Sea 24 As Of July 1, 1999 by Vince Meconi

Improving Yahtzee At Sea Sample file 26 A War At Sea Variant by Rev. Jack A. Werth

References From The General 27 War At Sea Articles Through The Years

War At Sea Series Replay #1 29 Barents On 1 Challenged by Ray Freeman, Bruce Monnin & Ron Artigues

War At Sea Series Replay #2 36 The North Sea Gambit by Ray Freeman, Bruce Monnin & Ron Artigues

War At Sea Series Replay #3 39 The Rubber Match by Ray Freeman, Bruce Monnin, John Pack & Ron Artigues

War At Sea Series Replay #4 50 The Mediterranean Strategy by John Pack, Bruce Monnin, Ray Freeman & Ron Artigues

Avaloncon/WBC Statistics 73 From the 1991 – 1998 Tournaments by Vince Meconi