FAQ Tag: Spain

Question:
Do narrow straits only occur where there is a narrow straits crossing symbol on the map, or where geography indicates it might exist?
For example, in SW France there is a narrow strait between 1223&1224, however, it seems such a strait would exist between each hexside going south all the way to 1524-1525, though there are no markers. Similarly, there is a marker between 0822-0923 but not between 0221-0322.  I have to think this is intentional, is it?

Answer:
Narrow straits exist (in game terms) only across those sea hexsides where a printed narrow straits crossing symbol is shown.

Yes, this is intentional. Note: In general (there are exceptions), a narrow straits crossing symbol is shown at each all-sea hexside which is 3 miles or less in width (this is close to the normal flood width of a non-channel-stabilized major river.) An all-sea hexside 3-5 miles across is occasionally given the narrow straits symbol anyway if it meets either of the following criteria:

1) designating the hexside as a narrow straits would normally “close” the mouth of a bay or estuary to enemy naval movement (this is because the rules prohibit enemy naval units from moving through a narrow straits unless they own both sides of the straits — this prohibition reflects in game terms the decided lack of enthusiasm naval commanders had for entering enclosed bodies of water controlled by the enemy), or 2) the hexside normally had a civilian ferry running across it and all the other all-sea hexsides near it were much wider than 5 miles across; usually when an exception is made cases #1 and #2 both apply.

Using the same example you cite above (the Gironde River estuary on map 33 from FWtBT) as illustrative of this criteria:

3. A) At the “mouth” of the Gironde (from Royan in hex 33:1223 to Pointe de Grave in hex 33:1224), the width of the estuary is about 3.5 miles across.  The map shows a narrow straits symbol here even though the strait is more than 3 miles across because placing a straits symbol here “closes” the Gironde to enemy naval movement and because there was normal civilian ferry service of long standing across this section of the estuary. (Note: In reality, the tip of the peninsula in hex 1224 should reach right up to the point where hexes 1124, 1223, and 1224 meet, but this was deliberately foreshortened on the game map so as to make it easier for players to “visualize” that naval movement from 1224 to 1324 is possible when they are allowed to move through the 1223/1224 narrow straits.)
4. B) The main portion of the lower Gironde estuary between the mouth and Paulliac (that is the 1223/1324, 1324/1323, and 1324/1423 hexsides) widens dramatically to an average width of 7-8 miles. This section of the estuary, therefore, was NOT given narrow straits symbols.
5. C) The middle section of the Gironde estuary (a roughly 6 mile stretch from Pauillac on the west bank south to Blaye on the east bank narrows to about 2.5 miles across, with the effective width even less due to several islands in mid-channel). This section (the 33:1423/1424 hexside), therefore, WAS given a narrow straits symbol.
6. D) The upper Gironde estuary south of Blaye widens again to a 3-4 mile width — also there are no islands in this stretch. This section (the 33:1424/1524 hexside), therefore, was NOT given a narrow straits symbol.
7. E) The uppermost section of the estuary (the 33:1524/1525 hexside) narrows again to 1.5-2.5 miles across (with islands in mid-channel again).  And looking at this again now, I cannot see why this section should not have a narrow straits hexside.

Source:
[AEG, Developer, 29-Mar-04]