Saturday Shootout - Redux!

[jbmacek]

Yes, I'm posting a pre-After Action Report. We're having a ten player game at my house tomorrow, a Saturday Shootout Redux of sorts, since one of the scenarios is going to be a repeat of the "Two Bombers Try to Fly Across the Board Without Getting Shot Down" scenario. Anyway... we may be a man down. I'm not quite sure of the exact number, because I haven't gotten word from one or two invited guests, but if any of you locals are interested, or shoot, even Goering Ace, who I believe lives somewhere near to Vacca Rabite/Zach, send me a pm and I'll message you if we can fit you in.
Thanks!

[vacca rabite]

Ace and Hunter live near Philly - possible!

Zach

[vacca rabite]

Collecting my planes, markers, etc. Breakfast is eaten. Coffee is being made. Soon I will be driving to Baltimore to pick Ross up and get some brew. We will be at you place at 1. Looking forwards to today's game. Been a ROUGH couple of weeks!

Zach

[jbmacek]

I'm scrambling to get last minute preparations done. House has been cleaned. Hot wings have been picked up. And a bottle of absinthe has been obtained! Now it's time to print out a few things and get myself ready. I'll see you in a bit!

[jbmacek]

Dang... that was a blast! The quick recap is we played four scenarios in about 6 hours. The first was Bombers Redux, and the bombers won again. The second was Dogfight of Aces... and I don't even remember what happened other than it was huge fun playing a ten player game and everyone had an ace ability. The third was Caudron Recon. And the final was "Side That Shoots Down the Enemy Balloon First Wins."

A more detailed report to follow.

[MayorJim]

Hmmm...a "pre=after action report" ...you could post some pre-pics too :D

[jbmacek]

Sure! And then I'm going to go crash!

Sortie 1
http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/DSC07804.JPG

Sortie 2
http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/DSC07825.JPG

Sortie 3
http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/DSC07865.JPG

Sortie 4
http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/DSC07875.JPG

[grumpybear]

Good stuff

[vacca rabite]

Just got home. Tired!
I'll put up my pics tomorrow. Suffice it to say the lesson learned today was "be on Zach's team." Because I was way to awesome to let my side loose!

Game one with the bombers shoed the need for a little tweaking. Of course, the bombers did shoot down a SPAD XIII on the first shot, and that did not help. Both bombers were at 1/2 health at the end of the game. With the bases trimmed they moved more accurately. Again, when the German escorts showed up on turn two, they appeared right behind the allied planes. More later.

Zach

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Glad you had a good show Zach. I look forward to seeing the pics later.
Rob.

[jbmacek]

Yes, Zach did well. Remind me to scold my team again for not going after the balloons. Stick to the plan, people. Stick to the plan.

The name of the game was "Hot Wings of War", so I took a pic of the wings. They weren't really wings so much as nuggets, but they were tasty.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/DSC07793.JPG

Oh, and that's actually one tray of wings and one fruit and cheese tray.

Not shown is the bottle of absinthe. Good stuff.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Not shown is the bottle of absinthe. Good stuff.

Just remember the old saying John. Absinthe makes the fart grow stronger.
Rob.

[jbmacek]

We had nine players, including another new guy. While it would have been nice to have an even ten, it was decided that nine would work fine. One person would play an extra plane, and that plane would get handed off to the first person to explode.

Sortie 1 - Bomber Redux

Turn 1, with Zach playing both bombers, Mike measuring distance, and Jim moving? With that many people, you really need to keep things orderly, otherwise you get people who haven't moved while people are firing, or people trying to plot the next turn before people have fired, etc.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/001.jpg




The attacking scouts, from left to right: SE5a, SPAD XIII, Camel, a duplicate SE5a (set of a higher peg), and another SPAD XIII.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/002.jpg



Unfortunately for the attackers, the higher pegged SE5a (Mike) was dealt the explosion on his first pass at the bombers. Also, the D.VII escorts have arrived. One of the is being sneaky and hiding under the base of the Gotha. I should have been paying more attention at the time, but I completely missed him until he opened fire on me. Alot like real life, I suppose. Lisa's SE5a is getting close to the edge of the board.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/003.JPG



There's still a chance we might get one, but loosing a plane on turn 1 really hurt. My Snipe is on firing, but I'm trailing behind taking shots at the Gotha. The D.VIIs are more of less out of the picture at this point.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/004.JPG



As I recall, Lisa in the SE5a tangled with one of them, and the other turned around and tried to keep up with its escort duties. By now, the buff-colored SPAD is on fire, and the other SPAD must've gotten shot down. My Snipe is still on fire.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/005.JPG



The Handley Page is about to exit the board. The only attacking planes remaining are the SE5a and the Camel. One lone D.VII is trying to catch up.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/006.JPG



And that's it. The Gotha is about to escape. Two attackers remain to deal with the lone D.VII, which we didn't play out.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/007.JPG


In hindsight, even with the repaired bomber movement cards the scenario is balanced drastically in favor of the bombers. We were able to bring each below half, but they are just too tough. If we ever did something like this again, I'm going to suggest using the victory conditions from the scenario in Flight of the Giants that's similar to this one. That being said, it was still a blast. The bombers look great, and I think we need to get more, and send them on a bombing mission next time.

[jbmacek]

Sortie 2 - The Battle of the Aces

For this scenario each player randomly chose a level 2 ace ability. Lisa wanted to play the Pink Baroness, and Zach wanted to try a D.VII. Everyone else drew from the enameled tin cup of randomness. Mike took two planes, the extra to be given to the first player to explode.

The Entente had a Camel, an SE5a, a SPAD XIII, a Breguet BR.14, and another Camel.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/008.JPG



The Germans had two Fokker triplanes, a D.VII, a Siemens-Schuckert D.III, and another D.VII.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/009.JPG



The Pink Baroness leads the attack on the Entente planes!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/010.JPG



Battle was joined on the north side of the board rather quickly. Brad in the D.VII and I in the D.III are feeling left out.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/011.JPG



Mike, flying two planes, suddenly finds himself flying one plane, after the Red Baron hands an explosion card to his Camel. Sadly, the Pink Baroness suffers the same fate at the hands of the Breguet. The red-tailed Camel is taking four A cards from the D.III and the D.VII, and the D.VII has the +1 damage ace ability!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/012.JPG

[jbmacek]

The Camel and the SPAD pass by the D.VII and the D.III, as the other D.VII and the Dr.I come to join battle.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/DSC07825.JPG



The Camel and SPAD Immelman their way back into the fight.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/013.JPG



And then, we have a bit of a scrum!!! As I recall, both of the D.VIIs took shots at the SPAD.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/015.JPG



Whatever the outcome of the scrum, there were two German planes on fire, and two Entente planes coming to the rescue of the SPAD and Camel.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/016.JPG




And then Mike, unfortunately for his Breguet, gets shot at and...

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/017.JPG

... he draws his second explosion card of the scenario.

[jbmacek]

It eventually became three against two.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/018.JPG



And then three against one.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/019.JPG


And I think you can see where this is going.

That was probably our most colorful battle. Lots and lots of cool looking minis in that one. And playing with ace abilities made for a really fun time. I think everyone enjoyed that battle and would give it two thumbs up.

[jbmacek]

Sortie 3 - Caudron G.4 Recon Mission

Fairly simple scenario, a Caudron G.4 must fly to enemy territory and photograph a site that is of interest to High Command. I think it had something to do with relocating a tea cabinet?

Escorting the Caudron are a Camel (me), another Camel, a Snipe and a... a... a... I'm not sure who that is! I guess we'll see as the story progresses!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/020.JPG



The Germans have a D.VII (you see, once you let them into your game people keep wanting to play them), Dr.I, D.Va, D.III, and another D.VII (see, what did I tell you!). ;)

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/021.JPG

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Great set of pics. Thanks for the report.
Rob.

[jbmacek]

Then... people moved their planes across the board and started shooting at each other!!!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/022.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/023.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/024.JPG


One of the people who had a plane that got shot was our good friend Zach. Fortunately, there was the little red triplane that he got to take as his respawn plane.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/025.JPG

[jbmacek]

And then there was even more moving and shooting. And suddenly that little red triplane was getting way too close to the Caudron!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/026.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/027.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/028.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/029.JPG



With the mission possibly in jeopardy, I decided I'd try running interference and get in the little Fokker's way.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/030.JPG

[jbmacek]

Then Jim's plane blew up.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/031.JPG



And I got shot down.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/032.JPG



Things were looking pretty grim, with the little Fokker trailing along behind the burning Caudron. But wait! What's this? That little Fokker played an illegal move!!! Hoorah!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/033.JPG


Now all Lisa has to do is fly her Caudron over to the spot and snap a pic. Of course, she has to draw two fires cards in order to survive, but that shouldn't be a problem, right?

Wrong!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/034.JPG

Thus endeth the Caudron recon mission.

[jbmacek]

Sortie 4 - First Side to Blow Up the Other Side's Balloon Wins

Fairly straightforward, right? Or maybe not. We had a little meeting before we began to decide which plane had the incendiary bullets, and to devise a plan of action. The plan was a simple "get her!" But you know how planning and contact with the enemy goes...

Look, there's me in my shiny D.III.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/035.JPG



Get a good look, because I pulled the explosion card on first contact with the enemy. That SE5a decided he'd turn on me instead of going after the balloon, and his first shot nailed me.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/036.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/037.JPG



So I took over the spare plane, which was a Pfalz D.III, and... hey... fellow Germans... why are you all going in that direction. Remember the plan?!?!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/038.JPG



Back over the German trenches, Zach's plane, with the incendiary bullets, takes his shot. Our balloon is now wearing a silly hat.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/039.JPG



Ross returns the favor to the British balloon.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wowmar12/040.JPG


I thought our side might win, with the British balloon burning from two fires, but it was too little, too late, and the Brits were able to down the German balloon first.

All in all, a very fun scenario. Very much like a game of capture the flag. You never know who is going to do what, and that makes it even more interesting.

FIN

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Now I've seen the whole show it is even better. What a smashing set of pictures, and the only set you didn't get were the ones that the Caudron was suposed to take. It must have been cruel fate that declared the demise of a plane that you had so carefully built with your own fair hand. Somehow it always seems worse than seeing a pre painted model go down. I loved the whole set of scenarios, so the people taking part must have got a whole lot more out of the day than that.
Thanks again John.
Rob.

[PRS]

And all I could do was lay in my sick bed, hoping for flight clearance from the doctors, and pinching the slow moving nurses' bottoms.

[Archidamus]

Great AAR, and really great pictures. Very enjoyable - and sounds like everyone had fun.

[Ed2]

Great camera work. Felt like I was there.

[vacca rabite]

Game 3 was the best, IMHO (aside from having my DVII explode on the first spray of fire.)
After assuming command of the red DRI, I made a B-line for Lisa's Caudron. Our game plan was to ignore the escorts and focus on the bomber before it could take the pictures.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5522198387_8c6615fc4a_z.jpg
In this shot you can see my red DR1, a DVII (Veronica?) and Jim's Albatross swarming it. I am lined up for a very nice shot, indeed.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5522194625_5eb46e6143.jpg
The G4 bursts into flames!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5522200347_724174d4a8_z.jpg
The hand of god reaches in to pluck another DVII after it goes down, prey to Brad's red tailed camel.

John did an excellent job screening the G4 with his Camel, and ended up blocking several of my shots (by taking them himself). At the same time the rest of the German defenders were rapidly disappearing. While the DVII spiraled into the ground, the Caudron burst into flames. I forget if it was me or Jim that set it alight, so I'll go ahead and say it was me. :)

Then Jim's Albatross exploded, and Brad's red tailed Camel (that had just shot down the DVII) was lined up on my tail for close range action. I had 5 damage remaining, and feared the worst. I was in a good position behind Lisa, and was pumping drum after drum into the G4. The Camel JAMMED! I was spared with 3 points left! Brads Camel, tearing up my rudder with his prop, shielded me from the SE5a that fell in right behind him. Lisa's rear gun jammed! 3 on 1, with the Fokker resembling more swiss cheese then aircraft, I lined up for my 1 turn of no returning fire. If I could not bring the G4 down, I would certainly be dead when the Camel came back online. I had hope, though. The G4 was burning, and it had a whole stack of +1 A deck damage. If I could just stay behind it! I did not think to check if the stalls were steep. I cut throttle to keep my firing position, my nose dropped and my machine tumbled to the ground.

All the defending planes down, it turned out the G4 was mortally wounded due to the fire, and it exploded. Lisa said she only had 1 damage point left, so she could have gone down just due to burning damage. The game was great fun and came right down to the wire. I did not even feel bad that I pulled the bone head move that knocked me out of the sky.

Zach

[jbmacek]

Great AAR, and really great pictures. Very enjoyable - and sounds like everyone had fun.


Great camera work. Felt like I was there.

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them!


Now I've seen the whole show it is even better. What a smashing set of pictures, and the only set you didn't get were the ones that the Caudron was suposed to take. It must have been cruel fate that declared the demise of a plane that you had so carefully built with your own fair hand. Somehow it always seems worse than seeing a pre painted model go down. I loved the whole set of scenarios, so the people taking part must have got a whole lot more out of the day than that.
Thanks again John.
Rob.

Thanks Rob, and you know... it is true about that feeling of dread when a hand-painted model gets shot down. While I didn't really feel it as much with the Caudron (since I wasn't the one flying it), I did feel it with the D.III, especially since it had survived its first outing.

I had so much fun coming up with those scenarios and planning things, I'm seriously thinking about taking the show on the road and signing up to run a few at Historicon (http://www.historicon.org/) in July.

[jbmacek]

And all I could do was lay in my sick bed, hoping for flight clearance from the doctors, and pinching the slow moving nurses' bottoms.

Yep, sad you had to miss it, you would have had fun. However, we can play again this Friday, albeit a smaller game.

[jbmacek]

Game 3 was the best, IMHO (aside from having my DVII explode on the first spray of fire.)
That was a fun one. I'm not sure if it was because of the Caudron being on the table, but it is always cool to see new planes out there. We need to get a second Handley-Page so we can send the two of them on an honest-to-god bombing run.

Btw, your phone takes really good pics. I especially like the hand of god shot.

[Goering Ace]

Fantastic AAR, John!! Love all the pics!! Unfortunately I haven't had much time to visit the Aerodrome lately and completely missed out on your opening post. Thus I had no chance to join in the festivities. But one of these days I'd love to come down and join in the fun!! So keep me in the loop for future game days and if you have openings. :)

[jbmacek]

Thanks, and sadly I've been too busy lately too spend as much time with WoW as I'd like. I haven't painted anything in days. That being said, next time we need a person for a big game, I'll get in touch.

[Goering Ace]

Sounds good, John. BTW, in what part of Maryland do you live?

[Goering Ace]

Never mind. I see in your profile it's Columbia, my old stomping grounds.

[MayorJim]

Loved the pics and narrative! What was with the red-cap on the balloon?