Rule the Waves 3 | New Game | First Look | Italian Campaign | Part 1

Rule the Waves 3 - Get it Here: store.steampowered.com/app/20...
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Build Your Navy, from pre-Dreadnoughts to Aircraft Carriers and Missile Cruisers!
Rule the Waves III is a simulation of naval ship design and construction, fleet management and naval warfare from 1890 to 1970.
It will place you in the role of 'Grand Admiral' of a navy from the time when steam and iron dominated warship design up to the missile age.
Rule the Waves III will let you design and build the ships of your navy, and lead them into battle when war erupts. You will guide your navy's deployment, construction and operations during a period of great technological innovation and political tensions. While the game derives much of its technology and events from 'actual' history, you will find that you forge your own new history each and every time you play!
Features
Campaigns start in either 1890, 1900,1920 or 1935 and can run through 1970.
Monthly strategic turns with Battles resolved in a realistic tactical naval battle resolution system.
Manage your naval budget, and deal with interfering Kaisers, presidents or navy ministers as well as a variety of historical events including naval treaties.
Realistic design of ships ranging from corvettes to battleships and aircraft carriers.
Research and technical development will determine ship design and tactics.
Espionage will keep you up to date on the progress of competing navies
Submarines, airships, aircraft and missiles will all appear and change the naval balance of power.
Build, train, maintain and fight with your own 'ideal' navy.
Construct coastal fortifications, airbases and other defenses
Play as USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, Spain, Austria-Hungary, or China.

[@SonesBen]

"Inconsistent Naval Policy" doesn't just affect budget changes--it also serves up some pretty hilarious events. In my current Italy game, the prime minister asked me to divert part of the naval budget and staff to build and man a private yacht for the King. And also build him a new palace. I was like "Uhm, we're on the brink of war with Austria-Hungary, but sure, I'll put one of my battleships on hold to build a yacht for King Umberto."

[@Altair1243WAR]

Man was simply living the *insert rich entitled person here* life before corporations and such existed

[@mot.schutzen9079]

"Build a palace using naval budget" is a real thing in Qing China though, so it is not THAT outrageous

[@MarkoDash]

i'll suggest the same challenge here as i did to Tortuga. Keep at least one pre-dread alive into the missile age so you can refit it into a BG.

[@maneatingpickles]

What is a BG?

[@MarkoDash]

@@maneatingpickles RTW uses B for pre-Dreadnought battleships and BB for post Dreadnought battleships. So like a guided missile destroyer is listed a DDG, a BG would be a guided missile pre-Dreadnought.

[@collinhicks37]

2:30 The reason it's considered a limited democracy is because according to the Statuto Albertino of 1848, one of the two chambers of the Italian legislature was popularly elected. While the king theoretically had wide-ranging executive power, by this period, he almost always deferred to the Chambers when appointing ministers. The most notable exception to this is the appointment of Mussolini in 1922.

[@Trifler500]

The Re Umberto isn't an illegal design. It was just built in the UK, which is why it has the 13" guns.

[@mrflibble9783]

I found in early game rule the waves 2, that having a bit of extra ammo could mean the difference between sinking a ship and 2 battle fleets just leaving with no sinkings. 2 battle fleets with 80 - 90 shells might not sink each other. If i have a ship with 130, i have a bit more and found myself chasing enemy ships that can't return fire.

[@2710cruiser]

I’d say I welcome the new ship diagram updates. Looks many nautical miles better than RTW. You know what would be hilarious? Play IJN, build torpedo boats and send them to the Baltic

[@aussiepilot7886]

Do you see torpedo boats?

[@SonesBen]

Also: the different turret styles are just aesthetics. You can choose whichever ones you prefer, and it doesn't affect the design. There are actually a ton of visual bits that you can tweak on ship designs--you can change the shape of the hull, draw your own superstructures, etc. I usually go with the standard ones, though I do like to change the deck color for the ships of every nation to a wood color (you can do that in preferences).

[@SonesBen]

Officer quality: it apparently affects the crew quality of the ship they command, and for division officers it also affects the likelihood of misunderstanding orders. So "average" officers will have no effect, but above average or brilliant officers might push crew quality into the next highest category if its close enough, and below average or incompetent officers might push it down a category. And crew quality affects a bunch of things, like gun accuracy, rate of fire, AA effectiveness, etc.

[@francescogreggio6712]

Very happy to see a new playthrough of the newest Rule the Waves. Despite the spreadsheet graphics, I think this game hits the perfect spot between simulative accuracy, historical accuracy and concessions to gameply. And of course, doubly happy to see Italy being the chosen nation for the playthrough ! PS: Italy had a two-chambers system, with an upper Senate being non-elective and a lower Chamber of Deputies whose members were elected via a limited voting system. Only wealthy male citizens could vote for it, but it was technically present. It was estabilished in 1848 with the Albertine Statute. So, a very limited democracy overall, even though the role and power of the lower chamber, as well as the number of people who could vote, were expanded gradually over time.

[@Altair1243WAR]

As long as the people think they have power, they're less likely to complain lol! Not criticizing any one Govt, though. Pretty sure all of then are guilty of it, or something similar, at one point or another

[@domisPL_01]

Getting some Victoria II vibes here :)

[@stanleyrosella7042]

I agree that it kind of missing that extra start-era 1945-50 to perhaps better cover that Missile era. I do hope they can handle the differences with the new carries and cold war era of sea warfare. Like the thing that now AI handled nations can start war between each other. Big thing.

[@dougjb7848]

If an officer has + ability and other “buffs,” put them in command of a CA or larger, replacing a captain of - ability unless that captain is “connected.”

[@Trifler500]

- If you're going to use Low Freeboard anywhere, the Med is it. It has the smoothest seas. - I read elsewhere that the Turret Era is purely aesthetic. - I agree with others that 2.5" of deck is too much for 1890. You're not starting in 1900 like RtW2.

[@Gustav_Kuriga]

Even in 1900 it's a bit much for a starting battleship. You can make do with 2" max in 1900, and in 1890 1" or 1.5" are plenty.

[@deeznoots6241]

@@Gustav_Kuriga2 inch is still preferred in 1890 because any less than that and splinters can go through and cause damage to machinery and other systems

[@Gustav_Kuriga]

@@deeznoots6241 I knife fight in 1890, so I need that for belt

[@boskinght]

Been waiting since the "expansion" board went up on the forum. can't wait

[@ALEXANDER1318]

At least in RtW:2, the "Cautious" trait translated to heavier penalties from your head of state when you lose too many ships in a battle (so they don't like you taking risks with their expensive battleships).

[@Altair1243WAR]

I wonder why, lol. Being expensive in both cost and manpower, you're telling me we shouldn't play tag with the enemy fleet?

[@Gustav_Kuriga]

2.5" deck is OVERKILL in 1890. By a wide margin. Guns are lucky if they can even pen 1" at max range.

[@dougjb7848]

42:05 You don’t really need 2” deck armor in 1890. At the ranges where incoming fire would hit the deck, fire control is so poor that hits are vanishingly rare.

[@Gustav_Kuriga]

And that's assuming they can even penetrate the deck at max range.

[@cormallen]

Agree that super large fleet size not really super enough, I had to edit the turn one save file to boost it for my own RN campaign in RTW2.

[@Scarp7141]

Italy was a constitutional monarchy at the time of 1890, ruled by Francesco Crispi

[@sc6554]

Does anyone here know if a Napoleonic or Age of Sail era game in this same vein exists? Would love to see 1700-1850

[@wildwatashi]

Subs were uncommon, but did exist and were used in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Destroyers were developed in the late 1800's to early 1900's to protect battleships from torpedo boats.

[@JClark2600]

Finally the game is about to release. THG, maybe you should've told people to see your RTW2 videos if they didn't understand the game because it took forever to get going with the turns and real game play.

[@dougjb7848]

Sounds a bit like an ancient DOS game called Action Stations, with ship design and a global campaign.

[@eddieballgame]

Was wondering when you were going to start covering this one. :)

[@michaelwalsh2495]

12:09 Destroyers need to be invented first 🤣

[@stevenmccoy5103]

I think building lighter forces or cruisers of all experimental sizes? Make a design and run it around Best quality guns ( ready to upgrade during rebuilds?) -2means no good to use, imo. Smaller means more active docks= better economy over time too

[@kensai7]

Sounds like a very interesting game. I wonder how much it is game and how simulation.

[@fede98k54]

Ever since its unification Italy has been a constitutional monarchy until 1946, so I'd say that they should have, in this game simplified political systems, the same political system as the UK - I guess limited democracy kinda fits the bill, considering women didn't get to vote.

[@dougjb7848]

14:10 hey UAD? This. This right here.

[@satellitefeed1665]

Spreadsheets are fine, but please show us battles and their subsequent results. Thanks.

[@rigmerkrel8339]

In this version you can not upgrade your guns later when they are -2.

[@glhf2]

Is 1 and 2 also coming to steam? Wait, you can be in charge of the 1900 chinese navy? Uhh...Talk about hard mode. 2:40, 4:50, 5:20 I mean, Italy had a parliament but voting was still *really* limited. Yeah, they have AH and Germany as 'limited democracy' too so apparently that just means they have...some sort..of parliament apparently. 'Government type: Eastern.' I mean, that really doesn't clarify much? Shouldn't both just be autocrats though I guess Japan *technically* had a parliament? 9:15 Why does Taiwan and the Portuguese southern african colonies have no flags? They both had pretty clear owners in 1890. Weird.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

I don’t think the earlier games are coming to steam.

[@mikhailiagacesa3406]

Taiwan didn't become Japanese until 1895(1st Sino War). Italy was one step away from an absolute Monarchy.

[@glhf2]

@@mikhailiagacesa3406 Correct, Taiwan was part of China which is a playable faction in this game which is why I'm confused that it's 'unclaimed'. Also for Italy, agreed, but it looks like *any* sort of parliament in this game puts a nation as 'limited democracy' since it includes AH and Germany too.

[@JGenM]

Government type: Eastern has some special rules, I can't recall them all but they are less vulnerable to unrest among other things.

[@Steven-cf1ty]

​​@@glhf2 I think the role of the governments in Germany and Austria-Hungary are often understated, these countries had powerful monarchs but the government went beyond just appointment or inheritance.

[@handumf]

This game is similar to Aurora C#. Another great game, but free to download and play.

[@MutantGuppyFromHell]

Your officers tend to get their jobs if they are politically connected and tend to be of dubious ability, if I remember correctly. That's also why you lost prestige I think.

[@Gulitize]

Kinda sad that no one plays the Qing . At least someone plays as spain

[@dougjb7848]

Scrap the Re Umberto. It is of questionable worth in combat now, and when it’s in mothballs it’s crew quality is going to 0. If you actually needed it in combat, it would take months to get it back to fighting trim.

[@user-mb8cv7ul5i]

Just bought it using the above link, hope you get a kickback THG.

[@thehistoricalgamer]

Nah I don’t get anything, but I hope you enjoy the game!

[@grouchymax6451]

UI looks like Windows 98...

[@Leverquin]

so its like aurora 4x but you have to pay for it.

[@dougjb7848]

47:02 Stop building the crappy CAs. You won’t need them in a war before the Palestros hit the water, they’ll be liabilities in combat, and halting them will save you a bunch of money.

[@IkLms11]

Man, yet another Strategy game that looks really interesting but whose developers seemingly want to intentionally avoid putting any sort of effort into a proper UI. There's so many of these games I want to play but I just can't do the 1990s UI and tons of text style.