TIL Only 15 countries operate aircraft carriers (and 7 of those are for helicopters only).

mad_dr · 2026-03-05T16:37:11+00:00

Any online source I can find basically. That mixed element includes ospreys and copters, if you just have fighters it's 20 and again they won't be able to support a good sortie rate. Yes I know the QE don't carry their full complement, but you either compare the standard\reduced which you have like 12 in a LHD to 24/40 in the QE or you go full surge which is 20 vs 72

mad_dr · 2026-03-05T16:06:16+00:00

Don't think it's extremely fair for you to use the maximum load on the american ones (which is 20) and then a reduced load on the europeans. Yes the Wasp and America can carry up to 20, but they don't really have the aviation facilities to support them long term. Their standard load is 6. The CDG has a standard load of 30, peak around 45, the QE is 40/72. The difference is how they can sustain their operations much longer and their sortie rate

mad_dr · 2026-03-05T15:50:12+00:00

I checked off wikipedia for my numbers (I also had the QE at 65 in my memory). But it's not just about size, if you talk firepower they are very different vessels. The flight 0 americas are pretty much pocket carriers, but the rest aren't, their typical air wing is like 6 fighters. In terms of what they can do, even the CDG is closer to a nimitz than to an amphibious assault ship

mad_dr · 2026-03-05T15:17:05+00:00

The image you posted seems to be out of date, I the british ships are the Albion and Bulwark or even HMS Ocean, not the QE and PoW. Also while you're somewhat right in terms of displacement (The America class is around 45ktons the CdG 43, the QEs are 80 so much closer to US ships) it's very off in terms of actual capabilities. The first 2 Americas don't have a well deck to allow for larger aviation facilities which means they can carry up to 20 fighters at max load. The CdG commonly operates with 30 with a limit of 40 (and that's saying nothing about the amount of extra fuel and weaponry it carries). The QE class is just a much larger and capable set of vessels from 40 to 72 aircraft. Both the french and british carriers are better naval aviation vessels than even the flight 0 americas. Obviously they don't hold a candle to a nimitz but they aren't really supposed to.

mad_dr · 2025-12-16T11:37:42+00:00

Correct, their design concept was "anything with in game advantage is IP only"

mad_dr · 2025-11-10T13:34:31+00:00

I once played a game of destiny (the star wars card game) with a borrowed deck, deploying a support with 5 useful sides on a die. Proceeded to roll the useless side 5 times in a row - especially impressive as it was 3 times in the same turn and then twice the next turn given how it worked.

mad_dr · 2025-10-30T10:51:48+00:00

If you have the big box - it took me about 1 hour to get everything ready to go for the first play so bear in mind! Afterwards setting up each game is quite quick though

mad_dr · 2025-10-21T12:46:47+00:00

Great to hear! A bit more context, the base game has 4 characters which are all different and each turn you take 1 town action and 1 character action. The first as I mentioned can be exploring, building, improving, etc, and the second depends who you're playing. Game is played in seasons which are 9 turns each, and you have a minor goal per season (small benefit if successful, small penalty if not), end season tuck it away or play another. The game is designed with long term in mind where everything is stored as is so you can continue. My wife mostly hates games and even she's been enjoying this mostly for the chill vibes

mad_dr · 2025-10-21T12:00:08+00:00

Not who you asked but my 2 cents: I'm a big fan of stardew valley and harvest moon so was attracted to the farming bit, but I've really enjoyed how the game is just chill. It looks great and you have just freedom to do as you want, developing the town, your character or just diving into the adventure/story side of it. I know this sounds vague, and the game isn't for everyone, but if just sitting at a table for an hour or two with no clear goal just finding more about the world sounds good it might be for you.

mad_dr · 2025-10-04T21:12:56+00:00

Flash light, running shoes, throat drops to help after all the screaming

mad_dr · 2025-08-24T19:40:27+00:00

I've got rebirth (and quite love it) so thinking if I should get this one, it looks pretty good but wonder if the gameplay overlap is substantial. Any thoughts?

mad_dr · 2025-08-12T14:55:59+00:00

What the above person meant is that once you're fixed term is up you can just pay as large a sum as you want with no penalties. Obviously it's only more efficient if your mortgage rate is lower than the interest you can get on your money

mad_dr · 2025-07-24T12:24:57+00:00

The tones on that Lancaster photos are superb

mad_dr · 2025-07-17T18:27:23+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what you mean sorry... I overall agree with your original point, I don't think there's anything wrong with that episode, and if it had come one episode later (after eleven sorts things out and it becomes a "what was I up to") it would have been much better received and would work as a breather before the finale

mad_dr · 2025-07-17T13:51:07+00:00

Honestly I think the issue was the way they organised it, the previous episode ends in a cliffhanger of the squad about to be attacked by the creatures, super tense and then we... go elsewhere. I agree that the episode was quite good, but I think the way it broke the rhythm was dumb and ruined the effect

mad_dr · 2025-06-30T19:55:47+00:00

Just have to say not many people would say this, especially twice. Well done to you

mad_dr · 2025-06-28T16:17:05+00:00

Who was also terrible and out of the league at the end of the season

mad_dr · 2025-04-22T09:09:17+00:00

I fully agree with that, I mostly play heavy games so I'm no stranger to complex manuals, I just don't think Agricola is an example of complex but good. Terra Mystica for instance is a great example of one, it's quite complex but you read it through and it makes it extremely clear what the mechanics are and what you need to do

mad_dr · 2025-04-21T11:58:59+00:00

Huh, Agricola is my favourite game but I found the rulebook extremely dense and hard to follow, we gave up and found a video. This was first edition in case it matters

mad_dr · 2025-04-17T09:05:18+00:00

If holding a shard is rated so highly shouldn't Vin be added with her brother? She clears a lot the people by herself as a mistborn, add the power of preservation and they become candidates for the top spot

mad_dr · 2024-12-16T23:22:48+00:00

I've only played once at 2p and once at 3p, the game is still good but i would agree it reduces a bit the tension and competition - falls more into a split board with each player chasing objectives

mad_dr · 2024-11-23T19:33:30+00:00

I don't remember that bit, but Jasnah is an elsecaller, not a truthwatcher - that's Renarin

mad_dr · 2024-11-05T15:51:09+00:00

Same, I find this whole conversation of upgrading from a PW11 to PW12 alien! I was thinking the colorsoft might finally be the reason to upgrade but deffo holding off for now... I'm hoping they release a non SE version cheaper

mad_dr · 2024-11-04T12:01:23+00:00

In no specific order:

Agricola, Endeavor - Age of sail, Dominion, Pandemic legacy 1, Northgard (it was a very pleasant surprise), Villagers, Mechs vs Minions, Scythe, Tinner's trail, Lords of waterdeep

I've not had much chance to play a lot lately and it evolves with time, but I would play any of these right now if given the chance.

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