GQ3 is a lot to look at, but it’s not that tough to play small games once you get used to the charts. The more stuff you want to add, the more complex it gets, but anyone should be able to pick up the mechanics very quickly when playing something like the Denmark Strait or River Plate actions.

I'm liking GQ3. Although I printed off and mounted the optional 1cm=200yds ( 1/2 scale from default) turn and torpedo angle tools from their site in order to avoid needing more play area. Not gonna bash the others, just like the mechanics of GQ3 for the balance between detail and playability. With that d24 I mentioned not long ago the only issue I had (rounding the odd barrel down) is solved too. The pre-plotted movement is also simplified in doing so by Division, as recommended in the rules. So plotting larger numbers of ships is still doable without getting bogged down in movement plotting.

For ships look at the 1/6000 scale from Magister Militum (formerly Figurehead range from Hallmark). They are surprisingly good for the scale although they are a little pricey for what you get. But they do allow you to have a pleasing game visually, but maximizing the space so you don't have the slightly absurd situation of WWII capital ships being an inch apart, which is a bit of an immersion killer.

Well, this is cool.. I've had a huge Avalanche Press collection for years, including Leyte Gulf (the huge 2k piece game). And for the last couple months I've been collecting other systems, including General Quarters and War at Sea.. I've been comparing them all myself over the last few weeks, and thinking of getting topside minis, and other stuff too. I log in today, and you've got this video up, coincidentally. I'm not even sure why I collect any of it... My son just turned 6 and I don't have anyone else to play with much. I've got a ridiculous war game collection, and I pretty much just have them sitting on a shelf, waiting for the future I guess.

Great video. My club are defos in the simulation camp. Love GQ3 but we use 1/3000 scale as works well with the ranges and scales. Used the WW1 set they do to fight jutland once was and it took a full weekend.

Thank you for the run down this really helped me make some decisions. I likely will choose the beer and pretzel version.

The World War 1 version of General Quarters are also very similar - but obviously no radar rules. They are called Fleet Action Imminent

If looking for a WWI game try and find a copy of Avalon Hills Jutland from the 70's/80's. The counter sheets have all the ships in the battle in a top down view and plays like a Mini game. Matter of fact I have seen it played using minis in place of the counters. It also has a campaign game you can use to generate battles. Other older rules sets were Seapower III, Avalon Hills Bismark, and Seakreig

Don't know if you've ever been interested in sci-fi starship combat but I'd recommend checking out 'Federation Commander'. It's a more streamlined version of the old Star Fleet Battles system. The power management, damage detail, and different weapon systems are cool. Marco Wargamer did a YT vid review awhile back if you're not familiar. It's hex & counter battles by impulses but with a lot more detail than that in something like Bismarck. It also comes ship data cards for two different scales so you can get more detail in 1v1's and smaller battles or switch to squadrons with the more compact scale without needing to change the rules (or play faster games). That similar GMT game in which you mark damage on the counters obviously took a lot of cues from SFB/FC. Although the GMT one looks to be on the simpler side of the bunch.

Big thanks for the video, exactly the comparison I was looking for! Agree on how expensive the ships are. I'm not much of a visual guy and really like keeping distance more realistic - looked at topside minis but honestly, at a scale of 1:6,000 it's very hard to see the ships altogether, so instead I've started making my own generic counters (probably 2"x1") with generic symbols that I'll be able to use for all time periods (and sci fi). I've got a good system of printing and laminating my counters now and they stay pretty durable. Also printed off a generic hex board (again, laminated) so will be able to play on this one, with hexes helping me counting distance. Thanks to your vids I'll be picking up GQ3 (and possibly Naval Thunder) and Find, Fix and Strike for a quicker game (looks more menageable then No Safe Port I've already tried and more varied then Advanced Salvo from Minden Games). Seekrieg and Command at Sea both go too "charty" for me - I'm not a big fan of flipping multiple pages of rules. On the subject of Minden Games, have you tried their Battleship Captain? It comes with a full set of counters for period 1900-1945, so might be another interesting one. Plus, it's available on amazon at a reasonable price for a set (£17 game system, £15 counters) Also, big thanks for the Bismarck overview - I have Bomb Alley (Mediterranean) in the same system and didn't like it, especially flipping the pages for ship damage tracking and annoying "damage moving to the next section" rules.

Hey there. Just now finding your channel as I start looking at Naval Tabletop Wargames. I wanted to take a quick sec and thank you for all you have done on KZfaq and that I hope you’ll return soon. Your videos are awesome and I hope you are doing okay.

Hey, I have GQ3. Just got the Warlord Games Victory at Sea rulebook Friday. Just taking a peek at work, I'll catch the full vid later tonight after work.

I played Seakreig for years,and rated Ace, it is very complex. more than ASL, I would suggest Rising Sun Series ( Comand at Sea). is has flats and land, air, sea been around 30 yrs and you can use minis: , Vol. 1 in the series, covers the Pacific 1941-43. The boxed set now comes complete with the 3rd Edition Basic Rulebook (perforated for three ring binders) and the 2nd Edition Ship Data Annex enclosed. The 3rd Edition Scenario Book offers over 50 scenarios, from small ship actions, to carrier vs. carrier attacks, to midnight battleship encounters at Guadalcanal. Plus 140 ship counters (1/2" x 1") and over 280 aircraft counters and markers are included, along with a jump-start book to get you up and playing in less than half an hour

Really helpful video! One little quibble: You gave WW1 too much credit for less complexity, you have wing turrets, casement batteries, too many different types of gun on a single ship, and most capital ships actually have torpedoes, admittedly torpedoes much shorter range compared to WW2.

All the ships are out of scale no matter the rules. The ships are representational anyway. You measure distance to a point on the model. It’s only a visual difference. Also, you can play any of those games on any size table. Just adjust movement and ranges. Again, the actual ship is only a point on the model, not the entire model itself.

To play minis on my table I'd need a 1:20000 scale. 🤣

So many choices. What have you heard about Command at Sea?

What are your thoughts on War at Sea first version? I understand the only difference is the miniatures warlord games added.

We play a modified VarSea on a patio battle deck. 1/700 scale models. Mult evertthing x3. Scale is that the bridge is the actual size of the ship. Cause we like our models.

Sorry for taking this comment section out of it's sleep... Did you ever test/play "Naval Thunder - Clash of Dreadnoughts"?

A question , has there been any collection editions combining Air , Sea and Land ? Ps i finaly got a hand on GQ3.3

What is the best for solo play?

I have only 2. 7mm warships but I still want to play this game,then I have to make paper ships, I also want to buy the rules 😢Oh god I have so much disadvantage