View Full Version : Few Questions!
EineHund
03-12-2010, 18:44
Hey gang - it is time I dove in and asked some game questions and not just welcome [and welcoming!] chit/chat! =)
So it came up in today's game - the miniature rulebook shows the the little pilot/observer head meaning a injured pilot [and limiting shooting after certain things, etc] -- but the OTHER rule books show it as observer hit. How generally do you all play this?
Second question - not sure any of you fine folks are using the Knights of the Air campaign rules [I'm sure SOME might be - lol] but the ammo limitation, while a welcome addition, seems a bit low for the game. If I understand it correctly it is a total of 8 cards per machine gun. While I love the limiting idea it seems this would make it really tough to get folks shot down. Also - there is debate in the group as to whether you CAN choose to NOT shoot after a card and wait for a better shot as the rules state shots happen after every card. So any input on these is welcome!
Finally...I found a wonderful, very detailed, aerial photograph and am looking to getting it printed out for a play surface. The questions on that are a few: Is it expensive? I've never printed out large, full color items at any of the print shop chains [in the U.S.] - also the campaign calls for 6x4 but the photo's seem to be more 4.5x4 or so from what the info says although the files are larger.
[sorry to ramble on in on large, likely incorrectly places posting...but I promise to improve my efforts!]
Oberst Hajj
03-12-2010, 20:07
My group has always just played it as observer hit. We leave the explosion card to signify if the pilot is wounded enough to take him out of the game.
You would think that 8 cards would be to limiting, however, after about 40 games of playing it that way, I've never seen anyone run completely out of ammo. In a few games, people got down to one or two cards left. We also allow people not to shoot if they do not want to. This almost never happens though unless they only have one or two "bullets" left. Other wise, everyone takes the long shots when they come up.
I wrote the KotA rules based on the table size we use at the LGS. As long as the relative distances mentioned in the setup of the mission is maintained, it would be find to adjust the playing area size. Cost of printing varies greatly depending on where you get it done. The other think you need to consider when printing an image, is the resolution of the image. There is a HUGE difference in print a file that is 8000x4500 pixels at 72 dpi and one at 8000x4500 at 300 dpi.
Volant Gun
03-12-2010, 20:09
Hi Lionel,
I'm still a rookie so wait and see what other's with more experience say, but as to the first question go to the internet and download the rules for Famous Aces and Burning Drachens. Between the two you can figure it out. If for example, if the pilot damage card has a zero its the observer. If the observer is hit then you have to determine if the mission can be completed (does he have to take pictures?). If the mission can't be completed then you might as well withdraw.
I don't use those rules so I can't help you there. I think Col Hajj uses those rules so maybe he can help you out.
The Colonel can help you with that thread. I remember some very impressive mats some of the pilots are using for the game.
Hey Guys chime in and set me straight if I'm flying off on the wrong vector!
Have Fun,
Frank.
Volant Gun
03-12-2010, 20:11
Thanks Col. Hajj.
I think you type faster than I do!!
Frank.
EineHund
03-13-2010, 04:38
Thanks guys - good point on the explosion card Col. Hajj! There is already enough ways for instant death...I wonder though why they felt they needed to change it completely in that set of rules - I know the set is for dogfights only - but it seems an odd decision.
As to the rest - my thanks as well! We'll try it with 8 shots then and I'll look into printing costs. =)
Oberst Hajj
03-13-2010, 04:51
I think they made the change so that people playing with only fighters could take advantage of the special damage that was printed on the cards. I'm actually surprised the pilot rule was not in FA and then an observer rule placed in WYB... Or that they did not make one red and one green and used like the ace skill... the red one means pilot, the green observer.
We play if the crew wounded card is the 3 damage points its the pilot, any other number is the observer.
Volant Gun
03-13-2010, 21:08
Hey Victor,
I like that idea. I'll use it in my games.
VG
Kungfuhustler
04-12-2010, 15:41
Same here Krolic, that's a darn fine rule.
Niemandsland
04-13-2010, 00:15
Hi Lionel,
I'm still a rookie so wait and see what other's with more experience say, but as to the first question go to the internet and download the rules for Famous Aces and Burning Drachens. Between the two you can figure it out. If for example, if the pilot damage card has a zero its the observer. If the observer is hit then you have to determine if the mission can be completed (does he have to take pictures?). If the mission can't be completed then you might as well withdraw.
I don't use those rules so I can't help you there. I think Col Hajj uses those rules so maybe he can help you out.
The Colonel can help you with that thread. I remember some very impressive mats some of the pilots are using for the game.
Hey Guys chime in and set me straight if I'm flying off on the wrong vector!
Have Fun,
Frank.
I'm also an Rookie but that is the rule we play with too. We don't play any Observer/Photograph Missions jet, but I think we'll say that although the Observer is hit he can shoot photos. I think it's enough when he can't shoot his MG for the rest of the Game.
Colmanspig
04-13-2010, 00:54
I have just read Peter harts Falling aces. What has struck me is the abilitie of all these planes to glide. Miles and miles after the engine had stopped.
I feel after the second engine damage the plane should be able to attempt to glide off the playing surface, and depending on the misson have a randomised chance of getting out of it alive or injured.
the DH4 could glide 1 mile for every 1000 feet of altitude. so after losing power at 10,000 feet you could glide 10 miles and attempt a landing behind your own lines and so on.
not sure what house rules you could adopt . No use of fixed guns , as to fly towards own edge of table, Loses hieght or climb counters each turn and so on.
Pseudotheist
04-13-2010, 05:44
I think they made the change so that people playing with only fighters could take advantage of the special damage that was printed on the cards. I'm actually surprised the pilot rule was not in FA and then an observer rule placed in WYB... Or that they did not make one red and one green and used like the ace skill... the red one means pilot, the green observer.
Well, I believe Famous Aces and Watch your Back, were developed at the same time, and I know they were released with the same rulebook, so it would've been impossible to put a different rule in each set (o.k., not impossible; they could've included an insert or something, but very impractical). And I also believe Andrea has said that in hindsight, he should've made a green and a red variant, like the jam icon, but he just didn't think of it at the time.
Pseudotheist
04-13-2010, 05:52
not sure what house rules you could adopt . No use of fixed guns , as to fly towards own edge of table, Loses hieght or climb counters each turn and so on.
In the spirit of simplicity, I'd recommend that on the second "engine damaged" card, you have to play a Dive every round instead of a Stall.
We use the expolsion card all the time in our league play and we fly a lot of dog fights so most of the time the observer hit doesn't apply. I was toying with the idea of making the obsever hit count as pilot stunned forcing the player to play 3 straight cards the next turn.
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