Confused

[Akmatov]

I've been aware of WCDB for some time and downloading the looking at the demo has always caused me to decide not the purchase the full game due to not understanding the presentation of the information. This weekend I finally went ahead and purchased it because I'm very interested in the subject matter. Over the course of several hours I have managed to figure out most of the information - which is wrong, I shouldn't have to figure out this stuff, I should be able to get it clearly from the documentation. However, you guys REALLY need to review your documentation and come up with a way to present information in a more accessable way. I am far from a novice at this and there are still things I haven't a clue about.

For example:
- the ship graphic has in the top left the info "R:##", example R:5. What does this mean? It is clearly not gunnery range or the range between the two ships/divisions.
- Perhaps related is the mysterious information
Battleline Division A
Speed/Range 5/4.5
- The 4.5 might be the 5 in R:5 rounded up; however, I sure don't understand what range it is when I have one ship on each side and one shows a range of 5 and one a range of 15. Hence, it can't be the range between the ships and I've checked and it doesn't relate to the range of any of the guns. What do you guys mean by Range?
- the rules mention 'Range Band'. I've never seen anything that I recognized as a Range Band. I see two ships or lines of ships divided by a line. I see no way to have any idea of range, which is a pain.

Assistance would be appreciated.

BTB, please understand I'm finding the simulation very interesting and I look forward to enjoying it more once I understand how it works. Also I'm quite excited about the future plans you have shared.

[Ed Rotondaro]

I've been aware of WCDB for some time and downloading the looking at the demo has always caused me to decide not the purchase the full game due to not understanding the presentation of the information. This weekend I finally went ahead and purchased it because I'm very interested in the subject matter. Over the course of several hours I have managed to figure out most of the information - which is wrong, I shouldn't have to figure out this stuff, I should be able to get it clearly from the documentation. However, you guys REALLY need to review your documentation and come up with a way to present information in a more accessable way. I am far from a novice at this and there are still things I haven't a clue about.

For example:
- the ship graphic has in the top left the info "R:##", example R:5. What does this mean? It is clearly not gunnery range or the range between the two ships/divisions.
- Perhaps related is the mysterious information
Battleline Division A
Speed/Range 5/4.5
- The 4.5 might be the 5 in R:5 rounded up; however, I sure don't understand what range it is when I have one ship on each side and one shows a range of 5 and one a range of 15. Hence, it can't be the range between the ships and I've checked and it doesn't relate to the range of any of the guns. What do you guys mean by Range?
- the rules mention 'Range Band'. I've never seen anything that I recognized as a Range Band. I see two ships or lines of ships divided by a line. I see no way to have any idea of range, which is a pain.

Assistance would be appreciated.

BTB, please understand I'm finding the simulation very interesting and I look forward to enjoying it more once I understand how it works. Also I'm quite excited about the future plans you have shared.

Hi:

Perhaps I can help. When see a range number, that tells you what range band your ships are at as well your opponents. Soo let's say you are at range band 5 and your opponent is at range band 13. Subtract the higher number from the lower number and this will give you the range between targets. Each range band is 4,000 yards. So in the above example the ships are at range 8 which equals 20,000 yards for firing purposes. It is possible to get to less than 4,000 yards in which case the range bands would identical for each group of ships. By the way that is the best range band for torpedo attacks not withstanding the Japanese Long Lance torpedo's vaunted range. I hope this answers your question. If not feel free to ask for additional information. Oh and welcome aboard.

Sincerely,

[Akmatov]

This may be starting to make sense. Thanks.

So the R:# in the top left corner of the ship graphic is the range band number?

So if Ship #1 has R:5 and Ship #2 (opponent) has R:13, then they are 13-5=8 range bands apart, or 8 x 4000 yards = 32,000 yards apart?

If that is how it works, I finally have a handle on range.:D

[Warship NWS]

To Akmatov, that is correct. If you scroll to the bottom of the manual you will see the explanations for all of the figures and icons around the ship graphic. Trying to pack a lot of info in a small spot did prove interesting. ;)

The advanced range band system works from a top down set of ranges.. 20 to 1.. 20 at the top to 1 at the bottom which in turn covers 40nm. Also, if you move your mouse icon over an enemy ship during targeting you will see the range to target and other general information printed on the right hand of the dialog bar in the middle of the screen. This makes it quick and easy to find out how far away your target is.

If you have any questions at all just ask. Sorry I could not reply earlier today.

[Akmatov]

Really appreciate your getting back so quickly.

I'd found the section at the end of the Rules, but frankly it still left me a bit confused. Something you might really consider would be a ship graphic with little arrows pointing to the different parts with a label.

On a different subject, is there any chance you folks will be adding the navies of other nations and some of the ships that 'almost were', like the ships scuttled by the 1921 Washington Naval Treaty and the German Plan Z? Although they were never actually fielded, they were designed, and some largely constucted, and represent the continuation of the naval development of their types. I would love to pair off a 1919 South Dakota with a Brithish N3 or a BC Lexington vs a G3!

Obviously, I'm having fun with your game.:)

[Warship NWS]

Really appreciate your getting back so quickly.

I'd found the section at the end of the Rules, but frankly it still left me a bit confused. Something you might really consider would be a ship graphic with little arrows pointing to the different parts with a label.

On a different subject, is there any chance you folks will be adding the navies of other nations and some of the ships that 'almost were', like the ships scuttled by the 1921 Washington Naval Treaty and the German Plan Z? Although they were never actually fielded, they were designed, and some largely constucted, and represent the continuation of the naval development of their types. I would love to pair off a 1919 South Dakota with a Brithish N3 or a BC Lexington vs a G3!

Obviously, I'm having fun with your game.:)

Glad your having fun with WCDB. There are plans in the works to add a lot more ships and navies to the design after WCDB v2.0 is completed. :)