TCEP Convention AAR

[zenlizard]

Haven't made it to one of their cons in a couple of years, it was good to get back. Oh, BTW, TCEP stands for Tad & Craig's Excellent Party: a small gaming convention they started years ago, as literally a party in one of their basements. It's grown over the years.

I was able to get a WGF Learn & Play & Win at the convention: the best newcomer would eventually be presented with a prize of A von Richthofen/Brown Duel Pack. Best way I feel, to get newcomers into the game.

By Time Over Target, I had six people sign up:
Rex Muller
David Wendland
Alex Mielke
Joshua Starost
Tad Pierson (yes, on of the two event organizers)
Shawn Williams

And I ran two scenarios. Winner was defined overall by the player best able to put himself into a firing position on the enemy, with some bonus points for actually destroying the target; but I wanted to, for the purposes of tallying score, not at all count damage inflicted by the cards.

Scenario 1 was a raid on an unnamed French City by a Zeppelin-Staaken R-VI and a Gotha G-V escorted by a single Albatros D-V. Opposition came in the form of a trio of SPAD S. XIII & a pair of Nieuport N. 28. I controlled both bombers, Alex took the escort & the rest provided the opposition.

Scenario 2 was a 4-on-3 dogfight, with a pair of SPAD S. XIII & a pair of Sopwith Camels vs a trio of Fokkers: A Dr-I, a D-VII & a D-VIII.

[zenlizard]

Scenario 1: Gott strafe Frankreich!
The German set-up:


The bombers begin their lumbering way. Their goal is to exit off the far end of the mapboard, and bomb the city on the other side.


As the Albatros moves out in front to provide interference:


And one of the SPADs attempts a head-on pass. The SPAD, piloted by Shawn, proved to be a deadly shot. The Albatros explodes, spins out of control and crashes.

[zenlizard]

Meanwhile, the bombers begin a weave, attempting to evade the Allied onslaught.


And the Gotha also starts a turn-in:


However, the relative speeds of the two aircraft prove to be a bit of a problem, eventually to the Staaken; as they attempt to maneuver to avoid the fighters, they fail to avoid each other:


(Entirely my fault-as an experienced player, I should have been able to judge the relative closure rates a little more carefully).

[zenlizard]

And the two Allies on the left flank, having flown over the Albatros' crash site to confirm the kill, scramble to get back into the fight (I think they may have collieded also at this point):


And the concentration of firepower from the German bombers sets a Nieuport on fire:



The Staaken continues to evade right:


While the Gotha makes a evsive turn to the left, and brings down the second Nieuport:

[zenlizard]

Then the Gotha makes a break for the board edge:


While Rex, in his trusty SPAD, rakes the fuel lines on the Staaken, and manages to bring it down (we played that boom card for the bombers was only half damage; but this, combined with the collision damage, was enough to bring it down):


Tally on the damage to the Staaken (and my sign-in sheet, so I could be sure to credit everyone):


The Nieuport managed to put out the fire without falling out of the sky, and combined with the two SPADS closing in from the other flank, manage to bring down the Gotha, as well:


Sorry, forgot to get a pic of the damage to the Gotha. Suffice to say, part of what was responsible was the third boom card. The Allies proved to have deadly shooting this time around.

[clipper1801]

Just LOVE the big birds! Thanks for the photos!

[zenlizard]

And the Gotha did, with it last shot, set the SPAD on fire, as well-it also made it back to base without falling apart.

And thanks for the compliment, Clipper. Great thing was, I had everyone there taking pics (even some passers-by who weren't involved in the game).

[zenlizard]

Scenario 2: A Wild Aerial Melee

And was it ever. For this one, Rex switched from an Allied plane to a German one. He took the D-VIII, Alex switched from his Albatros D-V to the Fokker D-VII, and I took the Dr-I. David & Tad kept their SPADS, while Josh & Shawn switched to Sopwith Camels.
The Allied set-up:


And the German reply:


The German plan was to try and offset the Allied numerical advantage by overloading one flank:


Whereas, the Allies chose a straight-in, using their climbing ability to gain a height advantage:

[zenlizard]

The Germans find out that no plan survives first contact with the enemy:


And as everyone sets up for that first, head-on firing pass, so the the Allies:

As four of the seven fighters have gun jams on that first burst. (Yep, every one of those marked)

Everyone clears the area, and their guns, as well, then a furball develops:


Then it's everyone clear the area, gain some separation, and see what opportunities remain:


And the Germans manage to barely avoid another collision:

[zenlizard]

In the spirit of "If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing", and even tighter furball develops:


And once again, a collision is narrowly avoided:


Which is not solely a German problem:


Once again, the two sides attempt separation:


And a turning fight, to get back onto the opponent's tail:

[zenlizard]

The pilot of the D-VII attempts an Immelmann, but misjudges his speed:


And flies off the mapboard, taking himself out of the action:


Which leaves the Dr-1, whose pilot was wounded in the furball, in serious trouble. Beating it for home, the dr-1 is shot down by Joshua in his SPAD:

[zenlizard]

Which leaves Rex, in the D-VIII, alone in the sky against four opponents. The close in from the left flank:


And from the right:


With the inevitable results:

[zenlizard]

But a great time was had by all. I accomplished my personal goal, getting people interested in Wings of Glory, flew a little bit, made some mistakes, had some success. Tad specifically asked me to present another WoG game next year.

Finally, the winner, Joshua Starost, with his prize:

[flash]

Looks like a most excellent party to me Sam - well done on flying the flag for Wings of Glory and well done all those who took part

[LOOP]

allways nice to some WGF action

Thanks for posting Sam

[Marechallannes]

Nice AAR's, Sam.

Thank you for promoting WoG at this convention.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Just spotted this Thread Sam.
Thank you for writing up two very interesting AARs about your games.
The photos of the Staaken are particularly eye catching.
Rob.

[Stumptonian]

Nice job, Sam.
I was out of town last weekend and missed the original post.
Get the young-uns interested and keep the flame alive.
If I had seen the game in action (and knew it could be played solo) I would have gotten into this much sooner than I did.