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Post by Cromwell on Aug 7, 2019 6:51:17 GMT
I have always been fascinated by aeroplanes. Hence my Service in the RAF. My main aerial interests are WW1 western front (Wife's Grandfather flew Sopwith Camels and SE 5A's) and WW2, my Father was Bomber Command Pathfinder. However I have never discovered any wargames that seem to capture the essence of Dogfighting or aerial warfare in general.
Last week I picked up from E-bay a copy of "Wild Blue Yonder" by GMT games. This is a card driven game, no map needed. Their are over 300 aircraft cards, 800 action cards and various campaign cards, target cards etc. Plus two rule books. One for dogfights and the other for campaigns.
A dogfight lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, campaigns longer as they include dogfight, bomber interception, ground attack and bombing runs. All set in Europe, Russia and North Africa.
Very impressed with this game, it certainly scratches my aviation itch!
I also picked up a second hand copy of the old Avalon Hill game "Knights of the Air" dealing with WW1 aviati on 1917 to end of war.
Different concept using a map and counters with record keeping for ammunition expenditure and damage incurred. Although dated a very well thought out game each aircraft has it's own flight characteristics. The game is well paced and requires forward planning, understanding of flight dynamics and a little luck.
Highly recommend these games to anyone interested in air wargames.
Chocks away!
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Post by Simon on Aug 7, 2019 7:40:07 GMT
I quite liked the Wings of War system and I know people who have a lot of fun with the Too Fat Lardies Bag the Hun game.
Simon
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Post by vtsaogames on Aug 7, 2019 13:05:19 GMT
Did you ever play the "Ace of Aces" game? It is played with books only. Each player gets a choice of possible moves. Both players reveal. You check your play against the other player's choice, the other does likewise and you both end up on the same page. Hopefully it is a page where you are shooting or tailing the enemy. The basic version can be played over the phone. Back in the day, I had strangers call and say "I hear you play Ace of Aces. Want a game?"
I did sometimes play one ace against two players, each normal pilots. But that's the most that can play.
I did take sail plane lessons in another century, and a power plane lesson once. It seemed to help.
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Post by Cromwell on Aug 10, 2019 6:47:55 GMT
I did take sail plane lessons in another century, and a power plane lesson once. It seemed to help. Navigator me. I like to know where I am going, how long it will take and that I have enough fuel to get back! I let the driver pull the knobs and levers! In the forces there is however an old saying "The second most dangerous thing in warfare is an Officer with a map! The first most dangerous thing is an Officer with a map who says he knows where he is going!"
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Post by vtsaogames on Aug 11, 2019 19:38:42 GMT
My finest day in a sailplane had marvelous weather and dependable, predictable updrafts. After an hour I said we had to get back to the airstrip. Most of my trips had been 20 minutes before we were down to 1,000 feet.
The instructor asked why cut it short, since we had a good 5,000 feet of altitude. I had to admit my wallet was running low.
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Post by Cromwell on Aug 13, 2019 6:50:44 GMT
My finest day in a sailplane had marvelous weather and dependable, predictable updrafts. After an hour I said we had to get back to the airstrip. Most of my trips had been 20 minutes before we were down to 1,000 feet. The instructor asked why cut it short, since we had a good 5,000 feet of altitude. I had to admit my wallet was running low. At least it was only your wallet running low! No fuel to worry about and plenty of altitude. An instructor told me there were two things you did not want at the same time when flying "Altitude above you and the fuel back at the airfield"
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Post by martin on Aug 13, 2019 9:46:19 GMT
My finest day in a sailplane had marvelous weather and dependable, predictable updrafts. After an hour I said we had to get back to the airstrip. Most of my trips had been 20 minutes before we were down to 1,000 feet. The instructor asked why cut it short, since we had a good 5,000 feet of altitude. I had to admit my wallet was running low. At least it was only your wallet running low! No fuel to worry about and plenty of altitude. An instructor told me there were two things you did not want at the same time when flying "Altitude above you and the fuel back at the airfield" Three things of no use to a pilot... Fuel in the bowser The sky above, and Runway behind you when you line up for takeoff.
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Post by hammurabi70 on Aug 13, 2019 9:55:42 GMT
However I have never discovered any wargames that seem to capture the essence of Dogfighting or aerial warfare in general. What do you think the essence is? WBY is a republishing of RotL et al, which I very much enjoyed back in the 90s. I quite enjoy ANGELS ONE FIVE, which emphasizes the positional aspects of WWII aerial combat over straight dogfighting. Back in the 80s I thought highly of ACE OF ACES but I think WINGS OF WAR probably does WWI better. I enjoy bananas but you bring me too many.
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Post by Baldie on Aug 13, 2019 16:44:52 GMT
BTH is a great game
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Post by Cromwell on Aug 14, 2019 6:40:29 GMT
However I have never discovered any wargames that seem to capture the essence of Dogfighting or aerial warfare in general. What do you think the essence is? WBY is a republishing of RotL et al, which I very much enjoyed back in the 90s I enjoy bananas but you bring me too many. Good question. Perhaps the fluidity and the fact that very few dogfights in any age lasted for more than a few minutes before fuel or ammo ran low or the protagonists lost contact. Ok I will scrub the bananas. Anyone want two hundred weight of bananas going cheap? bit past their best but still recognisable as bananas. Reason for sale current market has dried up.
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