I still need to type down all these rule explanations and shizzbizzle on how these things work. But this early tactical combat test with Axem as a guinea pig worked pretty well!
In a tl;dr explaination: Each admiral gives up to 5 orders to his fleet for a turn, then these orders get executed in order, simultaneously.
At the start of the combat, Axem picked the blue side, I gave orders for green.
Axem ordered his fleet to:
1. Move Fleet Port
2. Move Fleet Forward
3. Fire on Any target
While I said to:
1. Detach 2nd SF Left, advance port
2. Advance fleet forward
3. 2nd SF Center fire on 1st Patrol left
4. Advance 2nd Left forward
5. 2nd SF Left fire on any target
Axem's left flank was pretty badly mauled while my center fleet took a hit. But my left fleet was now in a terrible spot.
Axem then ordered his fleet to:
1. Fleet fires on 2nd SF Left
2. Detach Left Patrol to Port
3. Move Fleet backwards.
4. Detach Right Patrol to Starboard
I assumed my left flank was going to be completely destroyed anyway so I only issued these three orders:
1. Advance Fleet port
2. 2nd SF Center fire on 1st Patrol Center
3. Advance fleet Forward
However due to some poor luck on Axem's weaponry hit rolls, the left support flank actually survived with exactly 1 hp. In turn though, the main batteries of my center assault fleet managed to score only 2 out of 8 hits. So the rng wasn't with us both.
I still have to think of a good way to improve the presentation on the image on what happened during the turns. (I'm thinking of little arrows with icons to go with it) But it was pretty easy for me to process the turns thanks to my amazing new spreadsheet skills, automating the majority of things for me.
It kind of feels like playing a game of chess with numbers, trying to anticipate what your opponent will do and getting into the optimal firing position for your fleet. I think it's pretty fun!
Sign me up etc etc. I've got to keep the Kalazonitov legacy alive.
Probably as a DD politico, if the old ideas / outlines are still a go.
Yeah I'm still aiming to make those general ideas work.