Federation Commander

[Jean]

The second edition of Battlewagon is now available on e23!

http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=ADB2011

Back in 1980, someone around the Task Force Games office saw a really great photograph of an Iowa-class battleship firing its guns and said: "That would make a great game cover!" Then someone else said "Since Star Fleet Battles [which we had published a year before] is based loosely on [the Avalon Hill game] Jutland, why don't we just re-reverse engineer it into a World War II battleship game?"

The result was Battlewagon, first published in 1981 as a pocket game, then republished in a larger 8.5"x11" format in 1984. This is the second (1984) edition, which corrected and expanded the rules of the original pocket game. (The scan includes 48 pages plus the counters and the hex map.)

The game is hex/counter-based and was not really intended for use with naval miniatures. It covers everything from the smallest destroyer to the largest super battleship, and covers World Wars I and II. Data includes Austrian, British, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Russia, and US battleships. Scenarios include (among others): Falklands 1914, Dogger Bank 1915, Jutland 1916, River Platte 1939, Denmark Strait 1941, and Guadalcanal 1942. There are rules to create your own scenarios.

Rules cover movement, maneuver, gun combat, ammunition quality, gunner skill, ranging, shifting targets, shell types, torpedoes, observation, visibility, star shells, coastlines, ship systems (bridge, radar, engine, floatation, rudder), damage, repair, fire, crippled ships, and sinkings.

Originally published by Task Force Games, ownership of this game transferred to Amarillo Design Bureau Inc. as part of the 1999 "divorce" between the two companies.
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Business Manager/RPG Line Editor
Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.

[phdillman]

Guess We might now see an expansion to Battlewagon that will include CVs, fighters and land-based defenses? Maybe even the blimps and derigibles used to hunt down subs?

[brucesim2003]

Is there anywhere we can get the various articles about this game that were in the nexus magazines?

A copy of the countersheet would be good as well. I guess the odds of them still being in stock are all but zilch?

Cheers


Bruce

[Steve Cole]

I doubt there will be expansions, although all I can tell you for certain is that nobody in the office will design them. I guess if someone designed an expansion we could certainly print/post it.

Articles in Nexus. Well, I have a copy of all of the nexi but I'm not absolutely clear who owns the rights to them. Let me check on that.
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The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander

[brucesim2003]

[Steve Cole]

Haven't had a chance to look. The broken leg has cut my hours back and priorities of new product work and Origins will eliminate any non-essetial work until July.
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The Guy Who Designed Fed Commander

[Jean]

You asked for it, you got it. We are putting the articles from Nexus about Battlewagon, 2nd edition (including scenarios) up on e23, DriveThru RPG, and Wargame Vault. The first one is Rulers of the High Seas from Nexus, no. 1.

I've re-typeset it, correcting obvious typos.

Tell us what you think.

e23: http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=ADB2011-01

DriveThru RPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/121645/Battlewagon-Article-%231-Rulers-of-the-High-Seas

Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/121645/Battlewagon-Article-%231-Rulers-of-the-High-Seas?src=FrontPage

This is the first in a series of historical articles going back to the original edition of Battlewagon. Published originally in Nexus Magazine no. 1, Rulers of the High Seas discusses the historical background for the game. Focusing on the history of the dreadnoughts, this is a fascinating glimpse of history for anyone playing the game as well as for people interested in naval history or World War I.

The second Battlewagon article from Nexus is now available on e23, DriveThru RPG, and Wargame Vault. "The Battle of San Bernardino Straits - A Battlewagon Scenario" was published in May 1983, this scenario was written for the first edition of Battlewagon, but can be easily adapted for the second edition of Battlewagon.

HISTORICAL NOTES: In 1944, McArthur returned to the Philippines. His return precipitated the greatest sea battle in history: the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The battle consisted of four separate but interrelated sea battles, one of which was the Battle off Samar.

e23: http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=ADB2011-02

DTRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/122012/Battlewagon-Article-%232-The-Battle-of-San-Bernardino-Straits---A-Battlewagon-Scenario

Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/122012/Battlewagon-Article-%232-The-Battle-of-San-Bernardino-Straits---A-Battlewagon-Scenario
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Business Manager/RPG Line Editor
Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.

[Sneaky Scot]

I used to own the pocket edition, but never got the revised one.

However, Jean's post got me thinking. If you can provide NEXUS articles on BW as an e23 product, would it be possible for other NEXUS articles to be provided? Specifically SFB stuff and in particular scenarios (although some of those were replaced IIRC in other SFB products) might be of interest.
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Nothing is quite as persuasive as a disruptor pistol on slow burn and a rotisserie......

[brucesim2003]

Just as long as it doesn't interrupt the battlewagon article schedule.

[brucesim2003]

Are we not getting any more battlewagon articles as pdfs? Or are you waiting for the warehouse 23 to sort itself out? I have to say, I don't like their new layout much.

Cheers


Bruce

[Jean]

Bruce, they are not selling as hoped. We'll continue to evaluate the situation as I do have two more stockpiled.
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Business Manager/RPG Line Editor
Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.

[brucesim2003]

Well that's a shame. There was several articles that had new ships, including the ones that the Washington treaty killed of, and those were the articles I was really looking forward to.

Cheers


Bruce

[Jean]

From the vaults of Nexus, we've released another historical scenario for Battlewagon!

Battlewagon Article #3: Battlewagon Scenario - The Last Sortie of the Yamato

You can get it on Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/ADB2011-03

DriveThruRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/128420/Battlewagon-Article-3-Battlewagon-Scenario--The-Last-Sortie-of-the-Yamato

and Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/128420/Battlewagon-Article-3-Battlewagon-Scenario--The-Last-Sortie-of-the-Yamato

Historical Notes: On April 1, 1945, allied forces assaulted Okinawa. The assault was not unexpected by the Japanese, hence extensive defensive positions had been prepared on the island and plans for naval and air attacks on allied ships had been developed.

On April 5,1945, the Yamato in company with a light cruiser and eight destroyers -- the last functional naval units of Japan -- began their voyage toward Okinawa. The voyage was intended to be a tokko (kamikaze) operation and only enough fuel for a one way voyage had been provided. Their object was to cut their way through screening forces until they reached the transports -- particularly troop transports. After sinking as many transports as possible they were to beach themselves on Okinawa. As long as power lasted they would serve as additional artillery. Nonessential crew members would join army units defending the island.

Published in April, 1984, this scenario depicts what might have happened in the action between Admiral Mitscher's battle group and the Yamato's tokko operation.

This scenario requires the second edition of Battlewagon.
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Business Manager/RPG Line Editor
Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.

[brucesim2003]

Added to the collection. Thanks Jean.

Cheers


Bruce

[Jean]

From the vaults of Nexus, we've released another historical scenario for Battlewagon!

Battlewagon Article #4: Battlewagon Scenario - Operation Regenbogen

You can get it on Warehouse 23: http://www.warehouse23.com/products/battlewagon-article-number-4-battewagon-scenario-operation-regenbogen

DriveThruRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/128700/Battlewagon-Article-4-Battlewagon-Scenario--Operation-Regenbogen

and Wargame Vault: http://www.wargamevault.com/product/128700/Battlewagon-Article-4-Battlewagon-Scenario--Operation-Regenbogen

Historical Notes: On December 31, 1942, a German force consisting of the pocket battleship Lutzow, the heavy cruiser Hipper, and two divisions of destroyers intercepted the British convoy JW51B. The convoy was defended by five destroyers and four corvettes. In addition, two light cruisers were 30 miles away and closing to join the convoy.

The battle began as the HMS Obdurate, which had been shadowing the German destroyers sighted thirty minutes earlier, moved to protect the convoy.

Published in October, 1984, this scenario includes all the ship cards that are used in the scenario.

This scenario requires the second edition of Battlewagon.
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Business Manager/RPG Line Editor
Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.