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Thread: Longer into, plus: Why did you get into WoG?

  1. #1

    Default Longer into, plus: Why did you get into WoG?

    Hi everyone,

    I already posted a brief greeting and introduction in the Reporting for Duty subforum, but I want to post a little more here, and find out a little more about the posters here.

    First off, I’d like to know how you got into Wings of Glory. Are you an airplane enthusiast who found out about an interesting plane game? Or did you start out in various types of wargames and come upon WoG through that? Or are you a board game enthusiast who ended up here through the recommendations of a friend, and just really liked the mechanics and fast game play? Or a WW1 history buff first, and a gamer second? (I ask these questions because in skimming through the forums it’s a little hard to tell, but it looks like the majority of posters here know a lot more than WW1 aircraft and their history than I do—but I’m learning.)

    Ever since grade school I have been interested in strategy games, roleplaying games, and models. With the exception of a few all-night excursions into Axis and Allies, I stuck with RPGs until I was out of college. Then I met a group of friends who introduced me to the growing field of great board games, and since around 1999 my board game interests have been growing.

    I work part time as a pen-and-ink artist late at night at my dining room table, and over the past two years I have been listening to podcasts about board games while I do so. That has really sucked me in—now I think about board and card games all. the. time. That’s how I heard about X-Wing Miniatures when it came out; I tried it and really liked it.

    I have some friends who have enjoyed playing it with me, but trying to find time to game is very difficult. I have other friends who I think would enjoy the game, too, but are not interested in the Star Wars theme.

    I had heard about WoG, but never had seen it in person. Then a month or so ago, one of my friends who is into airplanes and military history saw the game being played at the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous, and that prompted him to get one of the duel packs. He invited me to play it with him, and I really enjoyed it. Going along with that (in my head, anyway) is the fact that recently I have been listening to another podcast: Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, the most recent episodes of which have dealt with the cataclysm of the First World War. It has been completely engrossing and whetted my appetite to find out more. My friends who might like the basics of the game, but who have no interest in the Star Wars theme of X-Wing, might be inclined to try the game out. It makes me feel like some kind of pusher… “Hey, kid…want to try something cool? Oh, don’t like space ships? Well, let me show you these biplanes…”

    So my exposure to WoG, plus that podcast, has spurred me into trying to scrounge up some money to buy my way into the game; into reading Wikipedia entries on WW1 aces and aircraft; into wondering what interesting books to look for at the used book store; and into pondering all kinds of stuff that a few months ago I hardly knew existed.

    Right now I only have a Fokker D. VII and a Snipe, and I intend to get the Rules and Accessories pack in the near future when it’s available. I’ll certainly be getting a few more models to go along with those of the friend who got me into the game. I do not plan on getting a LOT of models…but I know that many of you said the same thing when you first got into the game…and I’ve seen the recent photos of your collections…

    So that’s it. I wanted to find out how and why you started playing, and say a little more about myself, because there is no place else I could talk or write that much about it and expect anyone to understand.
    Last edited by KentuckyBristle; 10-20-2014 at 11:28. Reason: poor spelling

  2. #2

    Exclamation

    G'day Mark!
    Well I have been a WW1 Aviation fan ever since I saw "Dawn Patrol" (Errol Flynn & David Niven) back when I was about 12.
    I collected all the old Profile publications & bios of the Aces etc & have continued this interest ever since.
    I took up Wargaming via Warhammer 40K to interact with my grandsons & help run a gaming club here in Moruya. One of the older chaps brought along Wings of War as it was back then & I fell in love with the models & the gameplay.

    Now I have a large collection of both Nexus & Ares models plus Shapeways & AIM for both WW1 & WW2.

    One word of warning! Once hooked you can never go back!

    If you are interested in pursuing more info on WW1 aviation may I suggest visiting "The Aerodrome" historical forum.
    A Google search will find it.

  3. #3

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    A military history + military aviation buff + a model maker + a boardgamer like me evolved into a WoG enthusiast.
    I think it is a typical pipeline of the users here

    Must add I was brought up in a home where love for aircraft were always present. My father served as an armament technician of Mig-17 (Polish name Lim 6), code 1414 in the sixties.
    Last edited by Nightbomber; 10-20-2014 at 15:06.
    <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."

  4. #4

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    Mark,
    My profile explains what happened to me. All the above, as a part-time military historian, a model maker, loved Panzer Leader and WWIII miniature simulations, Wh40k, etc... Been part of simulation societies and clubs for most of my life.

    And yes, I do feel like a pusher, when it comes to this game. But it doesn't have all the drawbacks of drug addiction. As long as I'm not selling the silverware to support the habit, and lying to the Better Half and myself about it. It's getting close...
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  5. #5

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    Back in July, the local TV news ran a short story about this B-25 paying a visit to the local airport:
    http://www.azcaf.org/pages/aircraft_..._Mitchell.html

    For $400 US, you could take a 30+ minute flight sitting in the back.
    I talked a friend into going, and we had a blast. It was well worth the money!
    That has triggered a strong interest in pre-jet aviation, and the subsequent interest in WWI and WWII air combat gaming.

  6. #6

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    I rocked up at my friend Marks (Baron Rolf) house, and his exact words were;
    "Axis & Allies, or Wings of War?"

    So, we dusted off Wings of War and had a pint or two. I enjoyed it so much, I had to own a copy of the deluxe set.
    Then an arms race began, with each of us adding to our hangars as much as we could reasonably afford.

    A few years later, and here we are! Glad you asked.

  7. #7

    Mrkev's Avatar
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    Kev
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    Loved WW1 aviation from the age of about 11, when I got 'Red Baron' for my PC. Always loved the planes but never did anything more with it, really.

    Got more into board/tabletop gaming in recent years through using game-based learning when I was a TEFL teacher, and eventually stumbled across the X-wing game. Thought it looked good, especially because the models were assembled and painted (my motor skills aren't so great because of my dyspraxia so this is a big bonus,) then discovered it was based on a WW1 game that was also pre-assembled/painted. I watched a few videos of both but honestly the canvas planes had beaten the spaceships from the moment I found out about WoG.

  8. #8

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    the short answer to your question would be yes, all of the above .

    i got into collecting ww1 and ww2 militaria and, therefor, the history there of, when a family friend gave me some patches when i was 8 (in 1973). the aviation aspect of it has always attracted me and ive been into warbirds since that time. i discovered gaming in my early teens so wargaming, specifically aviation related games were a natural fit. i enjoyed many years of playing the game "blue max" until interest in the game in my area waned and i couldnt find anyone interested in playing.

    then came origins game fair 2013!!! i had actually encountered a friend who showed me a mini 4 years before then but never played as he nor anyone i knew had the rules (ohhh boy do i wish id gotten into the game then!!!). my friends surprised my in 2013 with a trip to origins my 1st gaming convention in 26 years. i had resolved to try as many different games as possible but when planning my gaming itinerary i came across a listing for wings of glory. the description intrigued me immediately but it was the fine print that compelled me to sign up "a free airplane mini will be give to all participants" (because like any good drug the 1st dose is free )!!!
    i showed up and LOVED the game and have been hooked ever since. i ended up only playing wings of glory and battletech the whole convention.

    i simply love the simple elegance of the game mechanics and am wholly impressed by the open ended expandability designed into it. you can add as many or few house rules or expansions as desired for whatever level of complexity one wishes. its easy to teach and fosters interest in the historical era and seems to attract people (even non gamers) from all aspects of life.
    i too enjoy x wing and star trek attack wing but find neither as well balanced or playable as wings of glory.

    i too 1st resolved to limit myself to fewer a/c minis acquiring only 1 of each type at most but like the forbidden apple of knowledge its a one way journey with no going back. my quest since then has been to acquire more game material and minis (ive acquired or will acquire 10 more in the last 2 weeks alone {i think ive got a problem})! luckily i work in a game store so i have ample opportunity to play and collect often.

    enjoy the journey on which youve embarked!!!

  9. #9

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    Well, I've been always been wargame addict. I played them on board (some local polish wargames in 80's and early 90's) then on the computer (once I owned ZX Spectrum, then Desert Rats and Vulcan being my favourite games). Now I still play some computer games (old classics like Operational Art of War and War in the Pacific being my favourites) but I switched mostly to boardgames, which I play with my family. One day I came across the picture of WoW model on the Internet and that's how it started.

    Oh, and do not even try to fool yourself that you will not collect many models. Once you are into that, you're doomed...

  10. #10

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    Pretty much the same as Hayden really.
    There I am minding my own business at a Re-enactment weekend, when up comes Christophe.
    He says to me, have you ever tried Wings of Glory.
    I said no and out comes his box of planes.
    Well that was it. I was hooked.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  11. #11

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    I used to fly Wings of War on the PC. Still do on rare occasions. I noticed on the Aerodrome forum that the game had been converted into card form and was getting popular so here I am.

  12. #12

    ColoradoCoppens
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    I'm a lifelong gamer, mostly tabletop wargaming, and started playing the Star Trek game by Wizkids not too long ago. In discussion on how the engine was really better suited to dogfighting than big ships, I mentioned it would be fun if there was a historical variant for WWI (WWI aviation is not something which I knew a lot about, per se, but that's never stopped me from getting into a game!).

    Anyways, someone in the discussion mentioned that such a game already existed, so I looked it up, then saw some planes at my LGS and bought them. I have to admit, with some embarrassment, that the initial draw to the game, for me, was pretty superficial - I just like the flashy look of WWI aircraft. Since getting involved, though, I've begun filling in some gaps in my knowledge. I'm still pretty fuzzy on a lot of historical details, but have looked stuff up here and there on the net, and there are some really handy threads here, in that regard.

  13. #13

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    Oddly similar to F.O. Kyte, a friend I know through re-enactment suggested that some of us who are less gifted with a needle would like to do some wargaming while his wife and others made costume.

    I'd done a little wargamming in my youth, but never wanted to invest in lots of pricey models, especially if I had to paint them [badly].

    We played Wings, and I was immediately captivated by its beautifully elgant simplicity, and gorgeous [prepainted] little models.

    I started to buy one or two, or three or four....
    And then I discovered some models were difficult to get hold, and started to track them down with some Googlefoo...
    That's everything you need to power an addiction, right there.

    The final fatal step is that I might be learning how easy it is to customise them, with some help from this forum.

  14. #14


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    Thierry
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    Hi !

    Good question. Someone mentioned a movie and it immediately made me think of Aces High. I watched it when I was like 12 and I think this is the thing that started me on airplane, pilot, etc.
    On computers, I tried every fligh simulator I could (still playing from time to time to Crimson Skies and the free Flight Sim. from Microsoft.)
    I had the opportunity to fly real flying machines (ULM) too. So great !

    In the same time, I was trying to find of wargame (Fantasy mainly, or WWII) but because my wife is not a gamer at all...

    In 2004, a working fellow was really deep into playing boardgames, so we talked, and he showed me BGG. A few hours after... I found WoW !
    Wanted it immediately, but once again, lack of solos scenarios, lack of interest of my wife... we bought Carcassonne instead.

    Then this dream was deep deep inside me. I almost forgot it. But when a friend told me he was interested in X-Wing miniature game... I jumped on my feet and... voila! Tomorrow I gonna get the game. My wife is asking me if it's reasonable, if I gonna play it, if... if... if...

    I saw a few weeks ago a movie of YT (Red Baron if I remember weel), regarding WWI and Baron Richthofen, Guynemer, etc.

    And my (well, one of my) favorite quotes is From Otto Lilienthal, who said, more or less : "We must fly and fall. Fly again and fall again, so one day we would fly without falling".

    Ah these Great Elders...
    Last edited by e17; 10-30-2014 at 19:19.

  15. #15

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    My introduction to WoG happened by pure luck.

    I happened to be visiting my family in Australia. My Mum, who knows I like games, drew my attention to a notice in the Canberra Times: CanCon, Canberra's longest running games' convention was on, a few days before I was to leave. I decided to check it out and was drawn into one of their drop-in 'participation games'. It was a WGF scenario - some Nieuports (one armed with rockets) attacking an observation balloon against some stiff opposition. I was hooked immediately. Got up from the gaming table at the end of the mission, walked over to the dealers' tables, and bought the Famous Aces box set. One of my best gaming purchases ever.

    My only regret is that I don't know who ran that game!

  16. #16

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    It was the great models that got me into this hobby. Once played I really liked the game and unlike others I stuck with it and now own around 200 models.
    Last edited by john snelling; 11-03-2014 at 16:20.

  17. #17

    Default

    I have been a kit builder for 40 years, and a wargamer for nearly 40.
    I built Airfix and Esci 1/72 biplanes and a Fokker Triplane, but they got lost amongst my far larger collection of WW2 planes and tanks and ships.

    I moved on to table-top wargaming, and collected many large armies in various scales and periods, and then acquired a large collection of board games over the next few years, but WW1 became a backwater (apart from 'Richtofen's War' I had no WW1 themed games or armies, apart from a few Airfix infantry boxes and a solitary Mk V tank).

    I never developed an interest in computer games - I have quite a few, given to me by my brother, but I never played them and they are stored in my attic with my old Dragon 32, Dragon 64 and Atari ST machines. I preferred painting figures and models, finishing up with something tangible to put on a games table, rather than pouring hours of time into a computer game and having nothing to show for it afterwards.

    Around 20 years ago I got into Early Medieval re-enactment, and it pretty much took over my life; dozens of history book purchases accompanied the fortune I spent on weapons and armour, clothing and tents, shields and cups/goblets/utensils etc (+ piles of camping gear!). Wargaming faded into the background, but I still dabbled, usually in smaller "side line" periods, such as Colonial and Wild West, and I also acquired two painted fleets of WW1 GHQ miniatures, British and German, but did very little with them, other than to snag a dozen or so WW1 naval books for the history bit.

    I read extensively about military history around the periods of my armies and models, building up a deep knowledge of some time periods and campaigns, with great gaps in that knowledge where I had no table top forces of my own; WW1 was an example of this. Up until 2 years ago, I had NO BOOKS AT ALL about WW1 air warfare amongst my hundreds of military books. All my WW1 air war knowledge came from films such as "The Blue Max" and "Aces High". The only pilots I had heard of were Richthofen and Brown, Ball and Goering.
    That was all.

    Then, in December of 2012, my new war games club held their traditional last-meet-before-Christmas-break get together. No personal games allowed; all attendees participate in one big "Wings of War" dogfight!
    I had never heard of WOW, but came along anyway, and was offered a Kempf Fokker Triplane to fly. Ten minutes later, a dozen or so planes were whizzing around the table shooting each other down. It was fast, it was fun, it was easy to pick up, there was no rules-lawyering and I had a blast! We played three big dogfights, then packed up and went home. I logged onto ebay, and the first few planes were purchased.
    Little did I know that these first few planes were the pebbles which would lead to a landslide of epic proportions!

    Hundreds of miniatures and 40 or so books later, plus all the Aerodrome Accessories to go with them, WGF has become my primary game!
    I joined this forum in September of 2013, and have attended 9 conventions as an aerodrome participant/wingman/GM in a little over a year, and owing to the knowledge and assistance of so many kind spirited members on here I have repainted over 50 planes and assimilated the knowledge about the aircraft themselves, and the individual pilots, to be able to weigh in to discussions on here, and with the interested members of the public at shows.

    Having trawled ebay for out of print products, including many duplicates, I am now in a position to be able to supply items to new forum members in a similar way to that in which forum members greeted and helped me out in the beginning of my WGF journey.

    My war games club members have sold most of their planes to me, and I organised and ran the games at the traditional last-meet-before-Christmas-break get together last year, and will do so again this year!

    I'm hooked - there is no going back (but no going into WGS, either!)

  18. #18

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    I love these answers and find this very interesting. Thanks, everyone. This is a great support community.

  19. #19

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by steel_ratt View Post
    My introduction to WoG happened by pure luck.

    I happened to be visiting my family in Australia. My Mum, who knows I like games, drew my attention to a notice in the Canberra Times: CanCon, Canberra's longest running games' convention was on, a few days before I was to leave. I decided to check it out and was drawn into one of their drop-in 'participation games'. It was a WGF scenario - some Nieuports (one armed with rockets) attacking an observation balloon against some stiff opposition. I was hooked immediately. Got up from the gaming table at the end of the mission, walked over to the dealers' tables, and bought the Famous Aces box set. One of my best gaming purchases ever.

    My only regret is that I don't know who ran that game!
    And you have been back at least twice to Cancon since then!

  20. #20

    Exclamation

    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Helmut View Post

    I'm hooked - there is no going back (but no going into WGS, either!)
    Famous Last Words!



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