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Castles in the Sky- Raiders of the Storm- Balkan Uprising Campaign  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
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Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

It has been a few months since I played Castles in the Sky and I have returned to it to continue the Balkan Uprising Campaign. This hiatus from the game has been great, as it allowed me to come back to the rules with some new eyes and give me a chance to kill some of my babies. Castles in the Sky was intended to be a game of flying battleships fighting it out across the globe. That being said, I wanted to capture a bit of the feel of WWI naval battle. Therefore, not every ship can beat every ship, and these big flying beasts can take a pounding before suddenly crumpling under fire.



Castles in the Sky- Raiders of the Storm- Balkan Uprising Campaign

After the Ottoman League’s victory destroying the Balkan Leagues main radio relay, the Ottoman attack on Thasos proceeded as planned. The Balkan League fleet was unable to coordinate a counter-attack and the landing went in unopposed. Thasos fell quickly back into the hands of the Ottoman forces.

With the loss of Thasos in the Aegean and so close to the mainland, this essentially put pressure on the frontlines as the Balkan forces attempted to break through to the Dardanelles and push the Ottoman’s out of Europe. However, Admiral Ivanov was still aggressively pushing eagerly trying to achieve Russia’s goal of access to the Mediterranean. The Ottoman League Admiral Al Reis was also buoyed by their recent victory. Both Admiral’s decided now was the time to go on the Offensive.


Both Admirals chose their orders, and revealed them to be Offensive. Admiral Al Reis rolled the dice and found that the next scenario would be a Raid, with the Ottoman’s again attacking. They rolled up a scenario and it was to be a Raid, and Admiral Al Reis coordinates his attack to occur during a storm again.

Forces:

Ottoman League- 21 Armor Points
Sultan Mehmed II- Fatih Captain: Seyid Al Reis Command: 3- Flagship
Class: Sultan Osman-I Evvel Category: Battleship Armor: 9
Experience: 15- Disciplined Crew

Barbaros Captain: Murat Pasha Command: 2
Class: Berk Efsan Category: Torpedo Boat Armor: 4
Experience: 7

Italians:
San Bartolomeo Captain: Paolo Revel Command: 1
Class: Vettor Pisani Category: Armored Cruiser Armor: 8
Experience: 12- Airship Handling

Balkan League
Imperator Pyotr Captain: Pavel Ivanov Command: Flagship- 1
Class: Imperatrista Mariya Category: Battleship Armor: 8
Experience: 6

Pallada Captain: Matija Yumashez Command: 1
Class: Bayan Category: Cruiser Armor: 7
Experience: 2

Albatros Captain: Feliks Golokov Command: 3
Class: Krasnoye Category: Gunboat Armor: 5
Experience: 5

Kondor Captain: Nikolay Konovalov Command: 3
Class: Krasnoye Category: Gunboat Armor: 5
Experience: 3

Sova Captain: Vladimir Greig Command: 1
Class: Krasnoye Category: Gunboat Armor: 5
Experience: 6

French:
Brennus Captain: Theo Aube Command: 4
Class: Charles Martel Category: Heavy Cruiser Armor: 8
Experience: 14- Blow Smoke

Primauguet Captain: Jean de Vienne Command: 4
Class: D’iberville Category: Cruiser Armor: 7
Experience: 13- Marksmen



Mission:
After the success of the Ottoman Raid on the Balkan radio tower Admiral Al Reis wished to keep the pressure up on his enemy. He received word that the Balkan Fleet was beginning to amass near Salonika in order to begin their own operations. Admiral Al Reis quickly assembled a strike force of nearby craft in order to launch a Raid to disrupt the Balkan plans to assist operations near the front.

The Ottoman Forces skirted the Aegean at low altitude to avoid detection. They then loitered over the horizon until a forecasted storm rolled into the region. They simply followed the storm in and began their attack. The Ottoman Forces would be out-numbered but they put their faith in surprise and a quick strike.

The Ottoman’s must do more damage than they take.

Set-up:
A storm is raging across the board at Altitude 5.

The Balkan League is placed in column heading towards one of the short board edges. The Russian Flagship leads the way with the French Heavy Cruiser acting as the rearguard. Between these two solid pillars is the rest of the fleet. Therefore they form a rough line:

· Imperator Pyotr
· Albatross
· Palada
· Sova
· Primauguet
· Kondor
· Brennus

They are travelling at speed 3 and altitudes of 6. This puts them above the storm.

The Ottomans are approaching from the rear of the Balkan column at Altitude 5, through the clouds. They are closing at Speed 6. Their column is:

· Sultan Mehmed Il-Fatih
· San Bartolomeo
· Barbaros



You can read the rest of the report, get a game break down, and links to the rest of the campaign here: https://bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2018/06/battle-report-castles-in-sky-raiders-of.html

Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in us
[MOD]
Solahma






RVA

Very interesting stuff. Did you ever play CGL's Leviathans?

   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

No, I never did but I heard the background was amazing.

I tried to pick up a few fleets from my LGS but I was too slow and they got clearanced out before I got there. They had been sitting onteh shelf for a long time, and seeing their box art got me interested in the topic. I think they are now OOP, but I could be wrong.

Once I get the rules sorted, I want to pick up some appropriate models to use for games. Any suggestions?

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Made in us
[MOD]
Solahma






RVA

TBH if you can scour ebay it is really worth getting the actual Leviathans box sets, which usually go for very cheap. CGL planned a Levianthans reboot via KS but I doubt it will ever happen.

As to flying ships generally, you probably already know about Brigade;s famous aeronef line. I don't know much about flying ship ranges TBH.

   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

Oh, I missed that I had a different thread for this too! Anyway, here is the battle after this one.....

The Ottoman ground forces have been pushing their way back into Europe. They have planned an offensive to re-take the Greek city of Salonica. The generals had requested the aid of Admiral Al-Reis to support the attack with a heavy bombardment of the Balkan lines. Admiral Al-Reis was reluctant to help, but an order from the Sultan overrode his objections.

In the meantime, the Balkan League fleet was also assembling near the city. With the Balkan ground troops being slowly pushed back, Capt. Aube counselled Admiral Ivanov that the next obvious objective for the Ottoman’s would be Salonica. Therefore, Admiral Ivanov began to mass nearby to help repel the ground offensive and attempt to smash the Ottoman League forces in a decisive battle.

The stage was set for one of the largest air clashes of the Uprising.




The Ottoman League has seen their lead slip in the last battle, but they are one decisive victory away from winning the campaign. They still have a strong lead and seem to have the edge in resources. Admiral Ivanov of the Balkan League has been given clear instructions by the Tsar to try and achieve the Russian dream of access to the Mediterranean via the Dardanelles at any cost. Both Admirals reveal their strategy for the turn, and the Balkan League is Offensive, while the Ottoman’s switch to the Defensive.

Forces

Balkan League: 48 Armor Points
Russian
Imperator Pyotr Captain: Pavel Ivanov Command: Flagship- 1
Class: Imperatrista Mariya Category: Battleship Armor: 8
Experience: 6

Pallada Captain: Matija Yumashez Command: 1
Class: Bayan Category: Cruiser Armor: 7
Experience: 2

Albatros Captain: Feliks Golokov Command: 3
Class: Krasnoye Category: Gunboat Armor: 5
Experience: 5

Kondor Captain: Nikolay Konovalov Command: 3
Class: Krasnoye Category: Gunboat Armor: 5
Experience: 4

French
Brennus Captain: Theo Aube Command: 4
Class: Charles Martel Category: Heavy Cruiser Armor: 8
Experience: 13- Blow Smoke

Primauguet Captain: Jean de Vienne Command: 4
Class: D’iberville Category: Cruiser Armor: 7
Experience: 13- Marksmen

Greek
Georgios Averoff Captain: Sofoklis Dousmanis Command: 3
Class: Vettor Pisani Category: Armored Cruiser Armor: 8
Experience: 5

Ottoman League: 48 Armor Points
Ottoman Empire:
Sultan Mehmed II- Fatih Captain: Seyid Al Reis Command: 3- Flagship
Class: Sultan Osman-I Evvel Category: Battleship Armor: 9
Experience: 13- Disciplined Crew

Basra Captain: Hasan Rami Pasha Command: 2
Class: Barbarous Heyreddin Category: Heavy Cruiser Armor: 8
Experience: 6

Turgut Reis Captain: Abdul Kadir Command: 1
Class: Resadye Category: Battleship Armor: 8
Experience:

Austro-Hungarians:
Prince Eugen Captain: Anton von Sterneck Command: 2
Class: Tegethoff Category: Battleship Armor: 9
Experience: 8

Bravo Captain: Anton Pock Command: 4
Class: Huszar Category: Destroyer Armor: 6
Experience: 5

Italians:
San Bartolomeo Captain: Paolo Revel Command: 1
Class: Vettor Pisani Category: Armored Cruiser Armor: 8
Experience: 13- Airship Handling

Mission:
The Balkan League will be the attacker in a Fleet Action between the two fleets near Salonica. The board is covered by a layer of clouds at Altitude 3. This battle will last 8 turns, and then the fleet with the highest remaining Armor points is the winner. Severe damage counts as a -1 to armor points.

Set-up:
Both fleets are set-up on opposite board edges. The Balkan League is to the west, while the Ottoman’s are arriving from the East. These are the long board edges respectively. The Ottoman League has brought a number of their heavy hitters to the party, including their latest reinforcements in the form of the Turgut Reis a Resadye class battleship.

The Russian gunboats, the French cruiser, and the Greek cruiser are on the extreme left flank of the Russian force, acting as a smaller flotilla. The Greek, Captain Dousmanis is placed in command of that wing of the fleet. They are moving at altitude 3 for stealth. Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet is center right on the board, and arriving in echelon with the Imperator Pyotr leading the way. Their slanted approach should allow them to get broadsides in early. They are at Altitude 5 and Speed 4.

The Ottoman force is stretched across the board with the battleships anchoring their right steaming forward, and looking for the right time to make the turn into line of battle or alternatively use their better armor and guns to simply close and Melee with the Balkan Fleet.



You can read the results here: https://bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2018/12/battle-report-castles-in-sky-balkan.html

Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka





West Michigan, deep in Whitebread, USA

Looked over the rules for Castles, and it looks like something I'd like to try, it gives a bit of a feel of Battlefleet Gothic from years back.

I'm not sure how you go about choosing forces for each scenario? I don't see where each ship has a listed value. Do you just use the "Armor" value?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/12/09 14:36:36




"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."  
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

That is correct. The Armor value also doubles as the "points value". Most Scenarios say to take up to X amount of armor value.

Therefore, for up to 25 Armor value you could have 3 armor 8 cruisers, two armor 6 Destroyers and a armor 9 Battleship, or whatever combination you wish.

I started with a BFG base, but you will find MAJOR differences, especially with altitude and the Firepower vs. Armor mechanic. Let me know what you think or if you have other questions.

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Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka





West Michigan, deep in Whitebread, USA

Thank you for the info!

I definitely should have grabbed the Leviathans fleet boxes that were 25 bucks on Amazon last year, even though they are light on cruisers, with only one per box. (Probably not too bad if using the Battleships as either Battleships or )Heavy Cruisers, but one Battlesship per two escorts/one cruiser is kinda wonky for suchngames where the cruisers are the workhorses.



"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."  
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

I would also love to hear some feedback on Friction Markers, the Initiative system, and the Turn Structure.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.

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Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

I just uploaded a version with some minor but important tweaks to the rules.

https://bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/

.....Look in the right hand section called Free Wargames.....

1. Heavy Batteries can no longer target Escorts
2. Ships with Aerial Mines are automatically minesweepers as well.
3. Escort ships within Point Blank of a friendly airship can combine their Point Defense firepower against munitions.
4. Escorts in a fleet add a Command Dice for the Initiative Phase

These were all implemented after play-testing revealed that Escorts were a hindrance to a fleet instead of a help. These rules were put in place to make Escorts useful and more survivable.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/12/19 02:33:21


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Made in us
Shadowy Grot Kommittee Memba




The Great State of New Jersey

This is probably irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, but Hungarians are not slavic (2nd paragraph under The Dual Monarchy), they are a Finno-Ugric people. Referring to them as slavic is a quick way to piss them off.

CoALabaer wrote:
Wargamers hate two things: the state of the game and change.
 
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

Good to know. Thanks!

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