Battlewagon

WWI and WWII

Review by Bill Shefski

Designed by Stephen G. Wilcox and David W. Crump
Task Force Games 1110 N. Fillmore, Amarillo, TX 79107
Released: January, 1985
Catalog No. 2011
Price: $8.95
Complexity: Intermediate
Solitaire Suitability: Moderate

Battlewagon, a reworked version of the pocket game of the same title, is a tactical simulation of naval surface actions involving ships of destroyer class and larger in both world wars, excluding aircraft carriers. It is a game that explores the rare encounters between the mammoth fighting ships and its purpose hinges on what the designer calls the "romance of the battlewagon."

The Task Force Games catalog describes the packaging format of this title as "Pouch," ostensibly because the triptych folder in which the components are sold has its right panel glued back onto the middle section along the bottom. This forms a completely inadequate envelope open on two sides -top and middle. The package is useless for storing or transporting the game. Also in the game is a puzzling piece of brown cardboard which serves absolutely no other purpose than making the whole thing a little stiffer.

The cover is a striking color photograph of the New Jersey unleashing a salvo. Purchasers may want to frame the photo and commit the game components to something more practical.

The counters contain no information other than a class designation (BB for battleship, BC-battlecruiser etc.) and an ID number. The ship silhouettes are black on blue for Axis and red on the same blue for Allies. Counter facing in the game is important, but there is no effort here to establish an easily recognizable facing. On most counters the bow is distinguishable from the stern, but on many it is not. Players will use the Class letters-side point of the counter as front facing. There is a rule (and not an optional one) in which all WWI ships except British are required to leave stack smoke in their wake throughout six impulses. Players may have to provide their own smoke counters as enough are provided here for only four ships moving at top speed.

The 18 X 22 inch map is pale blue with a hex grid in light gray. Remember, this is a naval game. Some scenarios demand that a coastline be represented and the authors suggest drawing one in with light pencil marks. The players are also told to use any maps they have handy or to cut the map provided into sections for "leap-frogging" along with the action.

But the rules are the core of any game and herein lies the strength of Battlewagon. The component listing on the back of the package mentions a 40-page rule book, but there are only 14 or so pages of actual rules. The rest of the space is devoted to charts and detailed ship statistics.

The rules are written in an easygoing style, and the reader is not inundated with game legalese. The concepts are put forth with ease and thus, truly, the player may sit down to play this game after one reading, even if he has never attempted a game with this much detail. There will still be a certain amount of page turning on the first few plays, but that has more to do with the poorly placed charts than it does the rules themselves. Play will be greatly facilitated if the players photocopy the charts and mount thern on card stock thus eliminating much of the page turning during play.

If the player can wade through the packaging flaws, some minor ommissions in the rules, some proof-reading mistakes, and the slightly awkward tree-branch style of combat resolution system, the game works. The Ship Data Charts provide statistics for every class of destroyer, cruiser, battlecruiser, and battleship in all the major navies that saw action in both wars. Values include top speed, flotation, armor (belt, deck and turret), main guns (and their firing arcs), secondary guns, tertiary guns, and torpedoes.

This is enough information to allow for significant differences among classes. The players transfer all this information to their Ship System Display (SSD) charts and the game is on. The SSD's are graphic representations of the ships with various boxes and symbols representing the guns and systems. At one glance you can tell how badly damaged a ship is and which guns can be brought to bear. Once the somewhat boggling run and torpedo firing arc chart has been committed to memory, play will proceed fluidly with players taking turns blasting away at each other. And blast away they will since they have only paid nine dollars for the privilege.

Scenarios include the WWI actions at Falklands, Dogger Bank and a Jutland preliminary. WWII actions include River Platte (Graf Spee), two involving the Bismarck, Cape Matapan, Java Sea, and the two Guadalcanal battles.

Battlewagon with all its problems and misplaced romance will appeal to naval gamers who are interested in an easily- learned, fast-paced, gun duel game. The extensive ship stats are a double-edged sword when playing the provided scenarios. Since both sides know which ships are to he involved in the coming action, much of the drama is missed. The greatest suspense may be provided by building your own scenarios since the charts do include a Squad Leaders style point value system for each class of ship. Pick a point total, let each player buy a squadron, set them up in some random manner, and have at it.

For novice gamers with an interest in naval surface actions, this game is easily absorbed and the optional rules can be layered on as one sees fit. It may be a good place to start blasting.

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