Naval Tactics Games: Angles, Range and Searching for Hidden Ships

Searching for hidden ships

• Search in a spread-out pattern first, rather than firing at neighbouring squares. It covers more water and finds ships faster.
• After a hit, probe the squares beside it. The rest of the ship is next to the hit.
• Remember how long ships are. When a gap is smaller than your smallest remaining enemy ship, there is no point firing into it.

Placing your own fleet

Vary your layout. Ships that are always placed in the same pattern or pushed against the edge are easier to find. Leave gaps, and mix orientations.

Free movement and firing arcs

When ships move freely, a gun can only fire within its arc and range. That means your position matters as much as your damage. Try to bring your guns to bear while staying out of your opponent's arc.

Range and damage

Damage often rises as the distance falls, but closing in also puts you inside the enemy's range. Decide whether you are trading shots at long range or committing to a close attack, and do not drift into the space between.

Use your fleet as cover

A friendly ship can block a line of fire. Positioning a strong hull between the enemy and a weak ship protects it for a turn.

A worked example: hunting a hidden ship

Your first shot at open water lands in the middle of the sea and misses. You then fire at a square a couple of squares away, spreading your shots across the grid instead of clustering them. On your fifth shot you hit. You now fire at the four squares beside the hit. A second hit in a line tells you the direction of the ship, and you follow that line until the ship is sunk. Having sunk it, you return to your spread-out search.

The idea is the same for free-movement games: look for the situation where you can bring more guns to bear than your opponent, and avoid fights where you are the one being targeted.

Games to try

Iron Tide is a duel between hidden fleets with one-use upgrades earned by sinking ships. Tide Breakers is a turn-based skirmish on open water with no grid. Pirate's Cove is a real-time sandbox where you sail, fight and dock at islands.

Common questions

Is it better to fire at the edges or the middle?

Ships can be anywhere, so spread your early shots, and do not spend them on squares that no remaining ship could fit in.

Why do enemy ships seem hard to hit in a free-movement game?

Because their position changes every turn. Aim for where they will have to be, and use the firing arc to your advantage.

How should I use my special abilities?

Save scans and sonar for when you have no leads, and use heavy attacks once you know where a ship is.

What is the best way to place a fleet?

Vary it from game to game, and avoid always using the edges or a tight cluster.