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Thread: "Easy Zeppelin 2D/3D" Test Mission. The Wives Strike Back.

  1. #1

    Default "Easy Zeppelin 2D/3D" Test Mission. The Wives Strike Back.

    Well, yesterday night (another "If it's Friday we Play with Wives" night session) was arranged at my place especially to test the new Zeppelin mat and the house rules for Zep hunt I had written and entitled "Easy Zeppelin 2D/3D".



    My primary goal was to face the real big thing in 1:144 scale and get a feeling of how it could "behave" in a scenario. Another task was to have rather easy, playable set of rules without too much bookkeeping.
    For those who do not know that yet, let me inform you, that Sue, Eric's (AKA 7eat51) wife did a great graphic job placing the cigar into the Dover Mat. I do not remember who allowed me to use the Zep picture (Dave?), but I want to thank you all who inspired me to print the Zep Mat.
    It is pretty big: 180*100 cm. The Zep is almost 140 cm long. And it really stands out.

    This was a game played without altitude (2D) using these, rather straightforward rules:
    1. The Zep does not move (of course!), but due to it's size and speed difference it is not necessary to move it around the table. BUT, to simulate it's movement, the game should lasts a specific number of turns, after which the Zep runs out of range of the fighters or bombs the target or fighters run out of ammo. Whatever. The number of turns must be adjusted to the numbers of planes involved. Your choice. I decided to play the first mission in 15 turns. If the Zep survives, the German side wins. Easy.
    2. The Zep damage capacity must be decided. To balance the chances of success for both sides, it depends roughly on the number of attacking planes.
    In this mission we had 2 attackers and two defenders, so the decision was taken to give the Zep 60 points of damage. The flow of the game showed it was the minimum number and we should raise it to at least 90.
    3. My Zep has no cells. It takes damage as a whole (It should be Easy, remember).
    4. Fire is resolved exactly like with the balloons (official RAP). Incendiary ammunition - according to RAP as well. No difference.
    5. The Zep does not obstruct LOS in 2D. It would have had obstructed if we played with altitude. Those 3D rules will be covered separately. Base/Zep overlaping has no effect on shooting, the Zep may be shot at. It is big.
    6. Collision Plane/Zep is not possible in 2D. It would be possible in 3D (altitude).
    7. Shooting at the Zep is resolved normally, according to RAP.
    8. Defensive fire. There are 3 red dots on the Zep upper surface. These are B gun emplacements. In 3D reules, there are also B guns in gondolas below the cigar, in the same places (3D - another story, you know. Later). These guns may jam normally.
    7. If the Zep gets a "pilot hit" card, the closest gun emplacement is silenced temporarily - treat it like a gun jam - place three jam counters on it.
    8. These special damage cards are irrelevant for the Zep, while using normal ammunition: rudder damage, engine damage, smoke.
    That is all. Easy, right?

    This is how it all went.

    Darek and Kamilla were the attackers: two Bristol Fighters B/A and B/B. The latter equipped with incendiary ammo in the front gun.


    My and my wife became the defenders in D.VIIs.


    Someone made a joke about the Zep size Well you see the starting position of the planes.


    I managed to hit Darek's Bristol in the first pass. Smoke appeared. They fired at the Zep, but with no visible damage. Darek's guns got jammed.


    The defending guns of the Zep were pretty accurate. They set Darek's Brisfit on fire. Unfortunately we both collided and I took C6 damage.


    The attackers focused on the Zep, ignoring the escorts. Kamilla's rear A gunner has a bad day, however. His guns are jammed.
    But take a look at the distant, Darek's Bristol. Now he has his both guns jammed and the plane is on fire...


    It is the third turn. I immelmanned in my pink Fokker just to see that the attackers are taking some pouding, while the Zep seems to be undamaged.
    Look at the White/Green Kamilla's Bristol. All it's guns are jammed The Bristols were plagued by gun jams that night...


    The Bristol are making a long run over the Zep shooting as much as they can, we are after them...
    Fortunately Darek's forward firing gun is jammed again!


    Kamilla's rear gunner's guns are overheated and jam again. Now we close on her with final bursts of bullets. She takes 4 A cards...


    ...and spirals down to water. Scratch one Bristol.


    Synchronized fire from my Fokker and Zep B gun brings another attacker down.


    It took us 4 full turns to resolve the game. The Zeppelin survived, but got a real damage, mostly because of +1 continous fire rule.
    The row above are the +1 damage cards, the row below is the regular damage.
    Impressive 0 card number. I understand that Bristol Fighter pilots got really stressed seeing such a monster, that's why their fire was badly innacurate and constant shooting made their guns jam all the time.

    46 damage points out of 60 damage capacity of the Zep means that the monster was nearly killed. If their guns had not jam that often,

    the Bristol Fighters would have easily succeeded in those 4 turns.
    Amazingly, incendiary ammo did not cause any fire!



    Conlusions:
    The "Easy Zeppelin" 2D rules worked well. The Zep damage capacity should be increased to at least 90. Even two fighters flying along it may cause a real damage when +1 rule is used. If they caused fire, the destruction would go much faster.

    At the end of the day we had a real fun with the Zep. Short but intense engagement.
    Last edited by Nightbomber; 09-13-2014 at 03:20.
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  2. #2

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    Balloon busters:
    A balloon that takes a smoke, rudder jammed, or engine special damage result from incendiary bullets treats it as fire instead.
    So you had at least one fire there (1LRD), unless the RAP is different of course - even so that's uncannily low for the amount of damage cards you pulled

  3. #3

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    Wow...

    That is awesome sir...

  4. #4

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    That AAR was beautiful all around, Andy.
    The wives are beautiful, the Zeppelin is beautiful (please tell me how you've done it), the photos are beautiful and the report is beautiful! Thanks!
    REP incoming!!

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    Balloon busters:
    So you had at least one fire there (1LRD), unless the RAP is different of course - even so that's uncannily low for the amount of damage cards you pulled
    No, Dave Only the whole green Bristol forward gun was equipped with incendiary ammo. I had a headache checking which shots come from it. And this particular one came from another mg, definitely.
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  6. #6

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    Great AAR Andrzej! But I hope I DIDN'T catch that joke....
    Thanks


    Nick

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    No, Dave Only the whole green Bristol forward gun was equipped with incendiary ammo. I had a headache checking which shots come from it. And this particular one came from another mg, definitely.
    Ach so !
    In which case I'd check with the armourer if he did actually load incendiary in those drums and if he did I'd complain to the C.O that the dashed stuff doesn't work !

    "He is wise who watches"

  8. #8

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    Impressive scenario Andy.
    That Zep looks truly massive.
    Simple rules that work well.
    Is this the portent of things to come maybe.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  9. #9

    Thumbs up

    That's a great looking mat Andy & the whole game looked like a real fun time.

  10. #10

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    Great AAR Andrzej, great Zep pic. Love the action, I did get the pun on the pic.......

    Now to a rethink of the simplified Zep rules for Doncaster Finale!
    See you on the Dark Side......

  11. #11

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    Interesting AAR. If I remember well, we play with two A defending machine guns on the Zeppelin and 30 hitpoints. Hmm, Bs and much more hitpoints sound like more fun, I will try to convince the Supreme Commander of the airship to a test flight with robust, but weakly protected airships. Thank you for the test flight and report too

  12. #12

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    Hi Andrej,

    what are the dimensions of the Zep? I believe you said in a different post that it is true 1:144....

  13. #13

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    Hi Andrej,

    what are the dimensions of the Zep? I believe you said in a different post that it is true 1:144....

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by tusekine View Post
    Hi Andrej,

    what are the dimensions of the Zep? I believe you said in a different post that it is true 1:144....
    Just measured. 129 cm long
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dan-Sam View Post
    Interesting AAR. If I remember well, we play with two A defending machine guns on the Zeppelin and 30 hitpoints. Hmm, Bs and much more hitpoints sound like more fun, I will try to convince the Supreme Commander of the airship to a test flight with robust, but weakly protected airships. Thank you for the test flight and report too
    MG defensive power may be adjusted (A or B) depending on attacking/defending forces to balance a specific scenario, IMHO.
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  16. #16

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    Great AAR, Andrzej!
    But I cannot agree that 46 of 60 is almost killed. It's only 75%!
    I dare to suggest one special rule for such a big beast.
    Instead of standard +1 rule set each 0 card as 1. It's hard to imagine that is possible to miss these huge cigar. Especially at close range shooting.

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kubajs View Post
    Great AAR, Andrzej!
    But I cannot agree that 46 of 60 is almost killed. It's only 75%!
    I dare to suggest one special rule for such a big beast.
    Instead of standard +1 rule set each 0 card as 1. It's hard to imagine that is possible to miss these huge cigar. Especially at close range shooting.
    Thank you Jakub. That is an interesting idea of "1". I will take your suggection into account
    46 out of 60...If the attackers were not plagued by gun jams, this beast would have been down in 4 turns, I am almost sure. It required just flying along it and shooting! Short distance shots and +1 rule are immense advantage!

    Andy.
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  18. #18

    LOOP
    Guest


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    Really like those easy rules. Makes an easy platform to start from.

  19. #19

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    Missed this wonderful AAR due to my summer vacation.

    Great AAR and nice pictures my friend.

    That's what we get at Prague Summer Con? - Nice.
    Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!

  20. #20

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marechallannes View Post
    Missed this wonderful AAR due to my summer vacation.

    Great AAR and nice pictures my friend.

    That's what we get at Prague Summer Con? - Nice.
    Absolutely yes! My intention is to arrange the final Saturday game on this mat
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  22. #22

    ttakata73
    Guest


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    Wow, you guys are so lucky.
    I made my girlfriend play WoG and she quit after just 3 turns.
    She much prefers Diamond Dash and other phone apps

  23. #23

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    Do not give up, Tak.
    The girls tend to be skillful pilots, once you tell them it's a game of "how to outmaneuver your man/husband"
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  24. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    Do not give up, Tak.
    The girls tend to be skillful pilots, once you tell them it's a game of "how to outmaneuver your man/husband"

  25. #25

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    Very nice indeed! Especially loving the mat as well!

  26. #26

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    Hi Andre

    That is very impressive and a great idea.

    I'm toying with printing the image of just the Zeppelin and laying it over my existing mats - which leads to my question: where did you get the top view of the zeppelin from?

  27. #27

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    I have just uploaded a 'how to print your own Zeppelin' set of instructions for those who want to try this on the standard game mats - or any playing surface for that matter. See this thread:
    http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...2-D-experiment

    Thanks for the inspiration Andrzej!

    I might have a go at re-writing the rules you developed to incorporate the suggested changes - if you are OK with that!

  28. #28

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    Thanks for doing the "How to" Wayne.
    I can see it being of use for more than just Zep printing for those who are hard of Photoshopping.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  29. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Thanks for doing the "How to" Wayne.
    I can see it being of use for more than just Zep printing for those who are hard of Photoshopping.
    Rob.
    Yes Rob, I was thinking last night, while I was baby-sitting a long video render, that it could be used for balloons as well, though they would only take one A4 sheet of paper.

  30. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by Biggles downunder View Post
    Yes Rob, I was thinking last night, while I was baby-sitting a long video render, that it could be used for balloons as well, though they would only take one A4 sheet of paper.
    Or Aircraft Carriers!
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."



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