Broadsides (video game)

Broadsides is a strategy video game focusing on naval combat, typically set during the age of sail. Gameplay generally revolves around maneuvering sailing ships of war to deliver broadsides – coordinated firing of all guns on one side of a vessel – against enemy ships.

Core gameplay elements often include:

• Ship Management: Players control individual ships or fleets, managing aspects such as sail settings (affecting speed and maneuverability), crew assignments (impacting reloading speed and repair), and ammunition types (chain shot for sails, round shot for hulls, etc.).

• Naval Tactics: Success depends on tactical decisions, including wind direction, ship positioning, firing arcs, and target prioritization. Effective use of the wind and calculated maneuvers are crucial for gaining advantages over opponents.

• Damage Modeling: Ships usually have hitpoint-based or sectional damage systems, with damage affecting performance (reduced speed, less accurate firing, increased leak rate). Destroying sails, disabling guns, or holing the hull can lead to the enemy's defeat.

• Campaign or Scenario Objectives: Games may feature single-battle scenarios or larger campaigns with strategic objectives such as capturing ports, protecting trade routes, or eliminating enemy fleets.

• Historical Accuracy: Many Broadsides-themed games attempt to recreate the look and feel of historical naval warfare, featuring accurate ship models, realistic weaponry, and historically based scenarios. However, gameplay concessions may be made for the sake of playability.

The term "Broadsides" in the context of a video game explicitly refers to the game mechanics that emphasize the historical naval tactic of broadside volleys as a primary form of attack. It differentiates these games from more abstract or arcade-style naval combat simulations.