So now that I have a good starting army for the land, I need to look at the other theatres that we’re going to be playing in. I have the starter set for Cruel Seas, which gives me a good start for that game, but I have nothing for Victory at Sea. We’re going to need to be able to do both for the campaign (not really, but I’m being ambitious) so I need to figure out how I’m going to expand.
The Big Ships
So what makes a ship a ship and not a boat? Well, ships have giant molded bases with their names printed on the sides. I’ll be honest, this was a reason that kept me from really getting into Victory at Sea from an aesthetic perspective. I wasn’t a fan of the design of the miniatures with the included bases. It just felt like the ships were lost in the raised sea.
But, having finally gotten my hands on some, I’m willing to admit I was wrong. The base gives you something to handle while playing, the name makes reference easy, (I have to say I’m not the best at visually identifying WWII ships yet. Give it time.) The models end up looking like they’re meant to be display models, which gives an air of sophistication that I am convinced only I can see.
Time to Swab the Deck
But, while I’m sold on the look of the ships now, they are not without work. The ships are resin, and as such come with a film of release agent on them. It is essential to give them a bath with warm water, dish soap, and the gentle caress of a (not currently in use) toothbrush.
Once you’re sure you’ve cleaned them, and let them dry for a good long while, you can tackle the second part of laying down your fleet, assembly!
There are very few parts that need to be added to the miniature bases, but be careful that nothing broke during transit. Since these pieces are resin, they’re fairly easy to repair, but it is best to watch out for any errant pieces when opening the individual baggies. There will be a nice slip of paper telling you where turrets and castles end up, but it might also help to reference finished images.
Ship Shape, but now what?
Once you’ve slapped some paint on these guys, which is really as quick a thing as you want it to be, there’s not much to it. Fleet actions are going to be dictated by the size of everyone’s fleets, and at the moment, all we have access to are various starter fleets. So I guess that means it’s time to dive into the rules, and time to make sure my Cruel Seas flotillas are in good shape too!
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