Attack, Defend, Plan and Organize your fleet and then Attack some more! Modern Naval Battles – World War Two at Sea is an easy, fast and fun game offering accessable gameplay, a host of options and tons of naval action!
Modern Naval Battles- World War II at Sea is based off the Dan Verssen Games’s Modern Naval Battles Card Game. The rules have been kept very close to the original game, so if you learned to play the original release, the computer game is going to be very easy to learn. If you never played the Modern Naval Battles Card Game, here is the general gist of the mechanics and a taste of the rules.
You start by choosing a nationality to play: Germany, Great Britain, France, United States, Italy, or Japan. You then create a fleet from the ships available to that nationality during WWII. Take command of mighty Battleships like the Yamato and the Bismark, Aircraft Carriers such as the Hiryu and Yorktown, cruisers like the Admiral Hipper, destroyers like the Fletcher class and the stealthy and deadly attack submarines. The ships at your disposal represent the very best of the fleets of their day.
Once you have picked out your fleet, the ships are then organized into formations of one to three rows. The rows simulate the battle range between opposing fleets. The closer a ship is to the front, the more weapons it can bring to bear and fire, and the more attacks that can be targeted against it. You can arrange your ships depending on how you want to use them. Protect the carriers with smaller picket ships out front, make one massive battle line so every ship can shoot or even create an entire fleet of subs. The choice is yours!
Each ship in your fleet mounts impressive weaponry including 4” to 18” guns, torpedoes, special abilities like air cover, anti-aircraft guns, torpedo guidance systems, and air raid attack capabilities. Submarines can choose various attack postures or use their “Run Silent” special ability. Aircraft Carries can send out Air Raids freely each turn and the massive battleships stand ready with their impressive armaments, ready to broadside the enemy out of the water.
After your initial fleet deployment you are allotted an assortment of Actions to use during each turn. These allow you to Attack, Defend, and Maneuver your individual ships and generally harass your opponents. It is this Action and Reaction system which lies at the very core of the Modern Naval Battles game system.
The actions you are given tell you everything you need to know. Each action describes a form of Attack, Defense, or Tactical Decision. For example, If an action calls for a 16” Main Battery gun mount to inflict 4 points of damage, any ship you own with a 16" gun can play that action and deal out the resultant damage. Choose any opponents ship you want to attack and that target would takes 4 points of damage unless they can react with a action of their own.
So, what do you do if someone is attacking one of your ships? There are several defensive actions you can use. They range from stopping the attack outright to maneuvering out of the line of fire or even redirecting the attack to another ship under your command. You can also retreat from the battle for a turn and repair some of your damage or call in reinforcements to replace ships you have lost.
Attack several fleets during the same turn, save up actions for a large assault, retreat while your opponents attack each other. The interplay between action and reaction results in fast, easy and exciting gameplay!.
Those are the basic rule highlights. We have purposefully kept the core gameplay very close to the original card game, except that the cards and dice are being replaced with a beautiful and action-packed 3D environment! For the first time, you will actually be able to see as your ships engage one in another in thrilling animated combat.
But we haven't stopped there, in addition to the graphical enhancements, Modern Naval Battles- World War II at Sea will feature many new special features including full online/multiplayer support.
Players will be able to choose different historical settings and campaigns to play. Competent commanders can expect to earn medals and gain experience for themselves and the ships under their command. Players will be able to place themselves as “task force” commanders, starting off with a small fleet filled with inexperienced crews and increase in rank until they have huge fleets manned by battle hardened and experienced crews.
One of the great things about having an online game is always being able to find someone to battle against. In fact, Modern Naval Battles- World War II at Sea will allow you to battle with up to four different players at a time online. You can also play a quick game with just you against the AI.
Modern Naval Battles- World War II at Sea will also include all new advanced features like secondary damage to ships including critical and catastrophic hits. You will also be able to damage and disable specific ship systems like weapon mounts, cause flooding and fires and crew casualties.
Modern Naval Battles- World War II at Sea, in all of its 3D animated glory, will be available in 2005.
Click here for info on the original board game version...
