Fred T. Jane's naval wargame

[ffutures]

Someone told me that Fred T. Jane's naval wargame is on line somewhere, and is in the public domain. It occurs to me that it might be worth investigating for FF XII - I need some naval rules anyway and I'm going to be using some of Jane's illustrations.

Anyone know anything about this?

Comments

[aisb23.livejournal.com]

Considering Amazon is selling it, I doubt it's available in the public domain.
http://www.amazon.com/Naval-including-Royal-Navys-Wargaming/dp/1409244091

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Q: Shakespeare is sold by Amazon; Does that mean his work isn't in the public domain?

A: No.

Jane died long enough ago that all of his works published before 1941 are now out of European copyright. Anyone can publish facsimiles etc. of copyright-expired books. I can't simply scan the book that's currently on sale because there's a thing called editorial copyright that covers some aspects of it for 25 years after publication, but if I can find an older copy of the rules there's no reason why I can't use them.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

There's some images from it here:

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25095/the-naval-war-game

Apparently it used the actual Janes Fighting Ships publications as the game cards for the ships in the game, the ship pages included codes that related to the game, for armour, firepower, etc.

Haven't been able to find the game itself yet, but I'm looking. Sounds like great fun.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Looks like the current edition is still in editorial copyright, I shall have to see if I can get hold of an earlier release.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Another game apparently used by naval war colleges:

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12569/fletcher-pratts-naval-war-game

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That's still in copyright, unfortunately.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I believe I may have found it:

http://www.btinternet.com/~david.manley/naval/Instructions_for_Tactical_and_Strategical_Exercises_1921.pdf

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

But if not, a large resources of assorted free naval games of all eras:

http://www.btinternet.com/~david.manley/naval/rulesonline.html

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Not quite what I'm after - but I have a couple of wargames designers looking at adapting their games to this setting, so even if I can't get hold of Jane's rules I should end up with something.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That's the 1921 Royal Navy rules, which I think are a lot more complicated - I really need something pretty basic that can be adapted for space warfare.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was just having a look through it, pretty mind-bendingly complex.

The Janes one is apparently highly complex too. And requires a very large playing area.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Ah... not so good. OK, thanks.

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

What you need is something like Frank Chadwick's Ironclads and Etherflyers, I think.

Might be worth contacting him — he may let you adapt the rules for charity (it's a good cause, and he's a nice chap).

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That probably wouldn't be my first choice - I don't want to over-emphasise similarities between this setting and Space 1889. I have a couple of other possibilities lined up.

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

I was thinking in terms of the rules, not the setting. As a Victorian naval game I&E is fast and fun. In fact, I've never played it with the weird science, just as a straight naval game. (Just as Soldiers Companion makes a nice set of skirmish rules.)