Compass Games:Silent War

[nikimcbee]

http://www.compassgames.com/silent_war.htm

Hey, didn't Neal do a review of this game a while back or was it another game? It looks pretty cool Looking at the pieces, it looks like you might be able to play as other nations, such as Holland or Britain.:hmm: And the best part is, you don't need to worry about vista ruining it or your graphics card specs. Although 3 year olds might cause a system crash to your table top :rotfl: .

[TheSatyr]

It's a very good game actually. Using British or Dutch subs is optional. They just get added into the force pool on the dates they became active in the pacific theater.

Compass Games is also doing a U-Boat one,from 1939 to 1942.

[Blacklight]

I have this game. It's very good and a lot of fun to play. I'd say it's not for everybody, but it's a pretty elegant and interesting game system and the fact that it's a solo game means you can break it out when you don't have an opponenet.
Everything Compas Games produce is excellent.

[joegrundman]

Does it have much in the way of tactics and strategy, as a 2 player game would?

[Blacklight]

It has kind of a unique system that pretty well simulates what the submarine war in the Pacific really was like. Sometimes you'll send a sub out and get mega tonnage, while other times, you may get nothing. It even takes into accounts the use of dirfferent weapons and skippers as well.

They have the rule manual for download on the Silent War page as well as a cyberboard module with a single small scenario on it. There are strategies in it. It's not a tactical sim if that's what you're asking. It's more like an abstract type of Strategic scale. It doesn't fit well into any one catergory.
I would say, download the rulebook and the Cyberboard module at the bottom of the page.
http://www.compassgames.com/silent_war.htm

Download a copy of Cyberboard

http://cyberboard.brainiac.com/

And give the scenario a try with Cyberboard (Make sure to read the instruction manual for Cyberboard first).
I used to LOVE playing wargames with Cyberboard. I just havn't had opponents in a while.

[nikimcbee]

I printed out the rule manual. I'll read it over. i haven't played a game like this for a long time. I still have my copy of B-17 Queen of the Skies. That's a fun game.

[nikimcbee]

Here's B-17:
http://home.earthlink.net/~flyingwombat/id23.html

hhmm 1983, feeling old now.

[nikimcbee]

AAHH, here's the official review:
http://www.subsim.com/ssr/silent_war...silent_war.php

[Blacklight]

Compass Games is also coming out with an Atlantic version of Silent War called Steel Wolves.

http://www.compassgames.com/steel_wolves.htm

Here is the Boardgame Geek page for Silent War.
There is are reviews, several session reports and play aids. The wargamers at Boardgame Geek really like this title.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/17484

[Smecty]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I printed out the rule manual. I'll read it over. i haven't played a game like this for a long time. I still have my copy of B-17 Queen of the Skies. That's a fun game.

If you've played AH's B-17, Queen of the Skies, then you have an approximate idea as to Silent War. Like B-17, it's more of an "experience" game for subheads like ourselves than a tactically (or even strategically) engaging game (though there is indeed strategy in it ... just not as much as in some other solitaire board wargames that I can think of). It's more complicated than B-17, however.

Another PBEM app you might try for Silent War (and it's my favorite way to play it, not having the space for a dedicated board to be kept up all the time - and the campaign game takes a l-o-n-g time to play) is VASSAL. VASSAL is a java app (and hence cross platform, Mac and Linux users rejoice) that does the same thing as Cyberboard, but also has the built-in capability of playing games over the internet (via the VASSAL server). This obviously isn't needed for a solitaire game like Silent War, but there are other naval game modules available for VASSAL, not just Silent War, that you might like to try, e.g. AH's Attack Sub and Submarine.

To read about VASSAL, go here: http://www.vassalengine.org/community/index.php

To install VASSAL to your computer, go here: http://www.vassalengine.org/ws/vassal.jnlp

To download the Silent War module, go here: http://www.compassgames.com/downloads/SWvassal.zip

Have fun,

Smecty

[Blacklight]

I will agree. Vassal is also very good (And they do have a Vassal module available for Silent War).

Cyberboard lets you play the games with other people via email only where as Vassal lets you connect and play real time with someone. I've used both and they are both good utilities.

[joegrundman]

So I read the rules and downloaded the cyberboard, and it seems like there is a LOT of dice rolling involved. And while the results looked plausible, and it had a certain "feel", i couldn't make out what role strategy and tactics have in the game.

So for those who've had experience at it, does strategy and planning have a big effect on the outcome, or is it more just for the atmosphere?

[Blacklight]

Yes. Where you go, and the rout you have your subs take can have an influence. Just like in real life, there are routs which can work out better or for the worse. Also, the weapons used can have an influence. As previously stated, this game is more of a simulation than a strategy game. It's still a lot of fun to play and try to beat your top score with. Also, just like in real life, chance plays a HUGE role with this one.
If you're looking for something "Tactical", I'd look elsewhere, like the old Avalon Hill games Submarine, or Harpoon Captain's Edition. This game is more an abstract view of the entire Pacific sub war.

[joegrundman]

Harpoon i have, I have the original pc version and the paper and dice version - but it's 2 player so there is always a strong element of skill involved.

It would be quite cool to have a 2-player grand campaign boardgame where one is the submarine manager and the other is the ASW/convoy manager

i noticed that in silent war the 2-player game is with both players competing against each other in a freindly match against the ASW.

ANyway i'll give Silentwar some more time to decide if it's for me

thanks for the feedback

[Blacklight]

If you own a copy of Avalon Hill's Submarine, they have solitare rules here. That's a great tactical WWII subsim. Sub vs convoy. It also has a link to buy used copies.

http://doniphann.net/tsculler/

I don't know if what you're looking for specifically exists, but the best place to check and ask around is the wargame forums here:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/

Someone here is BOUND to be able to point you in a direction and maybe even answer your questions about Silent War more precisely.

There's a fun little travel sized WWII solitare convoy game here for downloading and printing. It's actually fun to take with you on a long trip (I've played this quite a bit on trips while my wife was driving). All you need is print outs of the playing sheet, a pencil, and 1-2 six sided dice.

http://www.angelfire.com/games2/warpspawn/MaltaC.html