Last night, my son walked in and loaded a game into my computer. He'd
found it while he was out shopping, and knew I would want it. Boy,
was he right!

"Age of Sail" is a real time naval combat game. It features ships
from 1775 to 1820, 101 different scenarios, including the battles of
Trafalgar, Camperdown and Cape St. Vincent. You can play via modem
against a live opponent, or against your own computer, which can be
set to varying levels of expertise.

Reload times can be set for historically accurate or varied from about
5 minutes to 1 minute, from what I've seen so far.

I've fought two training battles, just to learn how to control the
ship and fight it. Turns are limited to 45 degrees, which is a bit
crude. You can load a single ball, double-shot (reduces range), grape
or chain shot. A display button turns on a graphic that displays the
range you can hit at around your ship. Sounds effects can be basic or
enhanced. Background music can be thankfully shut off (it is a loop,
and after a bit gets annoying).

It took me more than an hour to win the first battle, 25 minutes the
second time. When I tacked to port and came across his stern, I had
my starboard guns double-shotted (it was a planned manuever). When I
fired, it was awesome! I had the screen zoomed in, so I could see
both ships well (a captain cannot go far wrong if he lays his ship
alongside the enemy--it's true!). The game shows damage on both ships
(or fleets, haven't tried that yet), and I scored 41% damage to the
enemy in that single broadside. I had 12 6-pounders, they had 14
8-pounders. A tremendous victory!

This is damn good fun, and I wanted to share it with you. Apparently,
the game has been out for a while and somehow managed to avoid my
attention. While you have time to give Santa a *HINT*.

These folks also make battle games based on land battles, Waterloo,
American Civil War, etc.

AGE OF SAIL is from Global Star Software. They have a web site, I
haven't visited it yet.

www.globalstarsoftware.com

If anyone else gets this, let me know. We can help each other learn
the fine points. Know I have to get back to it. "There is not a
moment to lose." 8)