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Thread: I tried out the hex-based board game 'Blue Max'...

  1. #1

    Question I tried out the hex-based board game 'Blue Max'...

    I've been playing Wings of Glory for several months, and in that time I've seen more than a few folks mention that before WoW/WoG they played a hex-based board game called 'Blue Max': http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1...r-i-air-combat

    I saw a copy of the latest version on sale, and on a whim bought it. Over the weekend I played three dogfights with a pal: two were 1-on-1, and a 2-on-2 dogfight.

    I have to say, meh. It isn't the worst board game I've ever played, and I can see how some of the concepts in it might have been inspiration for WoW, but really, I don't think Blue Max holds a candle to WoW. It seems like the planes don't travel very far at all in each maneuver (2 hexes max), and can easily be reduced to travelling just 1 hex at a time. That, combined with the single row of hexes for a firing arc, means you spend a lot of time trying to line up a shot, only to find the opponent has dodged one hex over, and is now out of your line of fire. With four aircraft on the board the game has somewhat more action, but even so...

    I don't know. Maybe I am missing something? Is the game really meant for large groups with a half-dozen planes on the board? I'm kind of regretting my purchase, and wishing that I'd spent the same money to buy two or three more miniatures for WoG....

  2. #2

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    Never played it myself (price put me off) but the games author is a member of the forum, maybe he will answer that for you.

  3. #3

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    I've tried other WW1 games and kept being disappointed until WoW came along. Is it perfect no but it is a lot of fun with out the paper work.

  4. #4

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    The Blue Max is an excellent game, even if it is a bit dated.
    Maybe not your cup of tea, maybe you're playing it wrong but it is still one of the best WW1 simultaneous Great War air combat boardgame.

  5. #5

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    Get _Richthofen's War_.

  6. #6

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    I bought Blue Max new/sec. edition last week for a good price (25 € without shipping cost).

    Looks interesting.

    Does anybody know if an expansion is planed?

    The game contains only Fokker Dr.I, Halberstadt Cl.II, Albatros D.III, Sopwith Tripe, Nieuport 24 and the Bristol Fighter. (3 versions each)
    Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marechallannes View Post
    I bought Blue Max new/sec. edition last week for a good price (25 € without shipping cost).

    Looks interesting.

    Does anybody know if an expansion is planed?

    The game contains only Fokker Dr.I, Halberstadt Cl.II, Albatros D.III, Sopwith Tripe, Nieuport 24 and the Bristol Fighter. (3 versions each)
    I love Blue Max. I have the 1991 (I think) re-edition in Portugal in a box. It had many more planes than those. But you can play here:

    http://youplay.it/

    I've been playing it for years.

  8. #8

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    I bought the boxed version last year. Very well made and impressive. I bought some clear hex bases, posts and magnetic tops from corsec engineering in the US so I can use WoG minis with it. I just super glued a little nut over the post on the planes. I think board gamegeek had a free rule set for playing with miniatures. I also think they had some movement cards in the files section here that I printed out and stuck on some old playing cards. That lets you play with WoG rules. That is fun but flying off the edge of the mat is a constant hazard.

    All in all, it is a beautiful game but WoG is still #1 in my opinion.

  9. #9

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    I bought a copy many many years go. It was fun. I actually created very small balsa minis to play on the hex board.
    I even made a giant hex grid on old curtains and tried to play with 1/72 scale planes. Nice try but too large to be practical.
    I did find it overall limiting, especially with fuel used up so fast, limited supply of ammo.
    I much prefer WOG. Quicker, free moving, easy to learn and 3D.

  10. #10

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    I'm given to understand that Canvas Eagles is basically the same game, adapted for use with miniatures. Resources are availalbe here:
    http://www.maxeagles.com/

    I agree the line of fire is fairly limiting, but about a year ago we had someone run a handful of games at our local store. He customized the LoF rules to go out to 5 hexes, with an added hexto either side at the further ranges. It really opened up the game in my experience.

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pseudotheist View Post
    I'm given to understand that Canvas Eagles is basically the same game, adapted for use with miniatures. Resources are availalbe here:
    http://www.maxeagles.com/
    I've never played Blue Max, per se, but my husband and I love playing Canvas Eagles ... almost (but not quite) as much as we love playing WoG.

    Assuming both games use the same rules and data sheets, I recommend you go to link Pseudotheist gave and download what they got there, and use it for expanding the version of Blue Max you have. It's truly a fantastic game once you get used to its differences.

    The only problem with Canvas Eagles, I feel, is the need to create your own game parts, particularly a hex map large enough for miniatures ... but the game itself is free to download, so that's not a major complaint.

    I'd discuss some of the other WWI air combat games out there, but I just realized ... I don't know of any others besides WoG that are still in print. Does anybody know of any (still in print) I'm unaware of that are worth noting?

    -- Eris

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pseudotheist View Post
    I'm given to understand that Canvas Eagles is basically the same game, adapted for use with miniatures.
    You are correct about Blue Max being the inspiration for Canvas Eagles. I got into WWI air combat gaming with CE just before WoW first hit the shelves. And as a system it is good, although loads of record keeping is involved, but I vastly prefer WoW/G to everything thus far. But to be completely honest there are quite a few things I use from CE in my own House Rules for WOG.

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by Horse4261 View Post
    You are correct about Blue Max being the inspiration for Canvas Eagles.
    Interesting. Yaquinto's boardgame Wings was the inspiration for my Red Baron miniatures rules (though I did away with the hexes, etc. to make it a better 3D representation).

    Actually, what motivated me to develop RB was when I saw a couple of friends playing a game with some beautifully painted 1/144 minis using the rules from Avalon Hill's rather primitive boardgame Richtofen's War. I felt the minis (and my friends) deserved better.

  14. #14

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    _Richthofen's War_ "Primitive"? Then call me Captain Caveman, 'cause it's the best of the bunch. (Only necessary mods are a proper movement order system instead of "I-go-you-go", and the gunnery table could be consolidated a bit.)

  15. #15

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    I used to play Richthofen's war. It was a nice simple came. Not colorful but still fun to play.

  16. #16

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    I took the simultaneous movement charts out of 'Star Fleet Battles' and used them in "Richthofen's War" - changed the game for the better, I thought.

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by spindoc View Post
    Interesting. Yaquinto's boardgame Wings was the inspiration for my Red Baron miniatures rules (though I did away with the hexes, etc. to make it a better 3D representation).

    Actually, what motivated me to develop RB was when I saw a couple of friends playing a game with some beautifully painted 1/144 minis using the rules from Avalon Hill's rather primitive boardgame Richtofen's War. I felt the minis (and my friends) deserved better.
    Quote Originally Posted by csadn View Post
    _Richthofen's War_ "Primitive"? Then call me Captain Caveman, 'cause it's the best of the bunch. (Only necessary mods are a proper movement order system instead of "I-go-you-go", and the gunnery table could be consolidated a bit.)
    Maybe primitive wasn't quite the right word, Chris. In fact I played the heck out of Richtofen's War for a number of years after it first came out. But you're right, "I-go-you-go" doesn't cut it in a tactical air game. For me, Wings fired Richtofen's War - just way more modern all around, and a much more detailed simulation.

  18. #18

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    In fact, RW inspired a number of WW1 air games. Hostile Aircraft and our beloved WoG for a couple.
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by spindoc View Post
    Maybe primitive wasn't quite the right word, Chris. In fact I played the heck out of Richtofen's War for a number of years after it first came out. But you're right, "I-go-you-go" doesn't cut it in a tactical air game. For me, Wings fired Richtofen's War - just way more modern all around, and a much more detailed simulation.
    Eh -- I just threw together a movement-order system of my own:

    1) Each side rolls 1d6, with +1 for having an Ace; high rolls moves second in each phase.

    2) All units are moved in order of maneuver code -- A, then B, then C, then D, then E, in proportion, with "remainders" moved first. (That is: If A has 4 units of maneuver B, and B 6 of maneuver B, if A wins, movement is 2B/1A/2B/1A/1B/1A/1B/1A; if B wins, movement is 1A/2B/1A/2B/1A/1B/1A/1B.)

    So, for ex.: The Entente has two RE-8 [A], being escorted by two Sopwith Triplanes [D] and two Sopwith Pups [C]; the CP has two each Albatros D-2 [B] and D-3 [C].

    If the Entente wins initiative, move order is: Both RE-8s; both D-2s; one D-3; one Pup; one D-3; one Pup; both Triplanes.

    If the CP wins: Both RE-8s; both D-2s; one Pup; one D-3; one Pup; one D-3; both Triplanes.

    This system indicates the importance of superior maneuverability; no matter how good a pilot is, if his airplane handles like the stick is in a bucket of concrete....

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    I bougth both at the same time. I found Blue Max pretty interesting as well, not better than WoG but still good enough to give it a chance.

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    I own the new Blue Max but haven’t played it (I won it in a contest).
    Started off with Dawn Patrol (Fight in the skies), until Wings of War that was my favorite.
    Later I tried X-Wing and found it just ok, I liked Star Trek attack wing, and D&D attack wing.
    I Love Gaslands, though it is cars.
    But now I am firmly back in the Wings of Glory fold!

  22. #22

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    I played ST Attack Wing for 3 years, and still love it, although it has been dead. When i returned back to WoG it fealt plain. I like WWI aircombat though and unlike in AW you don't need to prepare you fleets.

  23. #23

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    i loved blue max and played it A LOT back in the day. but when i discovered wog, it was so much better i never looked back.



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