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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you! They will be available as a pdf via Ganesha Games or as a printed book via Amazon.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you for the kind words!

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 5d

When compared to historical results in early 1941, this was actually a good show by the Royal Navy, who had great difficulties in catching and sinking E-boats at that time. The campaign works well and shows the frustrations of shepherding a convoy through what was called E-boat Alley. 3/3

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 5d

During the course of the night, 11 E-boats attacked in several waves. One was scuttled by its own crew after critical hits immobilized it and two were sunk, both by the gallant HMS Guillemot. 5 were battered but able to return to base. 2/3

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 5d

2 German S-boats use the Hearty Knoll light vessel as cover to approach an East Coast convoy. I've just finished my convoy mini-campaign with mixed results: Of 12 freighters, 4 were sunk by the E-boats and one by a mine. One of the freighters was an easy target because she had run aground... 1/3

Table with a cloth representing the ocean and model ships in 1/1250.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 6d

The SS Queensland, one of the convoy's largest ships, is torpedoed and sunk. At least the escorts heavily damaged and drove off four boats. But the night is still young, the moon is bright and the escort commander fears that more is yet to come... 2/2

Table with a cloth representing the ocean and model ships in 1/1250 scale.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 6d

Mayhem on the East Coast! A southbound convoy is attacked by E-boats off Cromer. I'm trying out a mini-campaign/scenario generator for Torpedoes and Tides. Will I be able to safely escort the sluggish merchantmen through E-boat Alley? 1/2

Table with a cloth representing the ocean and a number of model ships in 1/1250 scale.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 13d

I got Harpoon after I saw The Hunt for the Red October in the cinema. It turned out to be much too complicated and crunchy for us, though. The first naval wargame I regularly played was GW's Man o'War, and I still prefer simpler, quick-play rules.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 13d

Look what I found at my parents' house. We didn't play either much, to be honest. I must have been 13 when I bought D&D on a holiday trip to England. Didn't find people to play it with though. Two or three years later, I had found some and we played GURPS instead.

The "red box" of the Dungeons & Dragons RPG.

Box of the 3r edition of Harpoon modern naval wargame rules.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 20d

In my game, this is exactly what happened: Due to the high speed of the Italian cruiser (represented as a high Q value in this game), the British torpedoes that could be launched didn't hit. One MTB was destroyed and another was heavily damaged. Very quick and fun scenario! #navalwargaming

Two ship models in 1/1250, one representing the Italian cruiser Scipione Africano and one representing a British Elco MTB, on a table covered with a cloth representing the ocean at night.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 20d

A small and quick scenario for Torpedoes and Tides: In the night of 17 July 1943, Italian cruiser Scipione Africano encountered four British MTBs while through the Straits of Messina. In a high speed encounter that lasted three minutes, she sank one MTB and heavily damaged another.

Fotography of Italian Capitani Romani-class light cruiser Scipione Africano.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 23d

To be honest, the French didn't always use assault columns, that's also a cliché. Especially at the scale depicted in SP, the Austrians were often out-skirmished by the French, so you might give the French more skirmishers or decrease the quality (or leadership) of the Austrian skirmishers.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 24d

Some of my students were involved in this huge charity bundle for legal aid in the US. Lots of stuff in there, from indie RPGs to video games: itch.io/b/3276/hello...

HELLO//GOODBYE Charity Bundle for Legal Aid by swanandravenstudio and 114 others

HELLO//GOODBYE Charity Bundle for Legal Aid: 203 items for $12.00

itch.io

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 26d

Thank you!

Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 26d

Some East Coast Colliers and a tanker. Scratch built in 1/1250 out of cardboard, balsa wood and plastic, as I'm working on a short campaign (or series of linked scenarios) about East Coast convoys for Torpedoes and Tides. I'm especially interested in exploring the escort's side. #navalwargaming

Six scratch built model ships in 1/1250 scale on a table surface.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 26d

The next installation of @kaptainkobold.bsky.social's coastal forces sage is here! Lt. Harvey Knight is doing well indeed: hordesofthethings.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-... #navalwargaming #torpedoesandtides

The Adventures Of Harvey Knight - 6

A blog about wargames. Mostly miniature wargames. Focusing on 'Hordes of the Things'.

hordesofthethings.blogspot.com

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · 29d

Good luck! Looking forward to reading your report. And bumping to #navalwargaming

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 28

Very interesting thoughts on game design by Avery Alder: bsky.app/profile/half...

Naomi Clark (@metasynthie) 暗悪直美 @halfrobot.com · Sep 27

At @qgcon.bsky.social for like one whole hour this weekend and managed to catch this amazingly titled @lackingceremony.bsky.social talk which unlike her I am 100% certain also applies to boardgames (and 45% sure for digital experiences)

Slide: loose touchable design for leaky, excitable creature - strategies for tabletop roleplaying game design that stays embodied and immersive (Avery Alder)

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 26

... but a fun game with @battlebrushstudios.bsky.social! I hope to wrap up the rules and submit them to Andrea next week. It will then depend on his schedule how fast the book will be finished.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 26

SGB 8's torpedo attack also missed, and while Albrighton's gunnery had badly damaged the freighter, it managed to limp to safety. Subdued, the British ships disengaged, but not before the plucky little sub chasers damaged the destroyer. Not the Royal Navy's finest day...

Table with cloth representing the ocean and ship models in 1/1250.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 26

Fire from the ex-French CH-5 class sub chasers (now used by the Germans) sank SGB 7. Albrighton shelled the freighter, while SGB 8 tried to get into position for a torpedo attack. This was a historical result, as in reality, SGB 7 exploded due to a hit in its unprotected boiler room.

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 26

This #Torpedoes&Tides scenario was based on a historical action: in the early morning of 19 June 1942, three Steam Gun Boats of the 1st SGB flotilla, reinforced by the Hunt-class destroyer HMS Albrighton, attacked a German convoy. In our game, the first torpedo attack by SGB 8 missed the freighter!

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Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 25

Thanks!

Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 25

Thank you!

Thomas Brandstetter @thomasbrandstetter.bsky.social · Sep 24

Thank you for the kind words!

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