Another Two Sorties at Savage Mill, Maryland

[jbmacek]

We had another nice turnout this evening, including a few new players. Sortie 1 was a dogfight. Sortie 2 was a balloon busting mission. My nifty new planes took a beating both times, but I had lots of fun. Thanks to everyone who attended. Thanks to Todd for keeping up a steady supply of fun mission themes. Pics to follow, sometime tomorrow.

[jbmacek]

Some teaser pics...
Sortie 1

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00144.JPG


Sortie 2

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00163.JPG

[Doug]

Looks good!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I'm really looking forward to this one John.
Rob.

[jbmacek]

Whoops! Sorry, I got sidetracked by Valentines Day (and the Nexus Yellow Balloon)! The kids have a half-day of school today, so I'll be home early and try to get to it then.

Suffice to say, we had fun, some interesting things happened, and I took a bunch of photos.

[Blackronin]

Waiting...

[jbmacek]

So there we were... Monday night, at The Family Game Store. I sent out lots of invites, and managed to hook a new player, my friend Kenny from pirate reenacting. Sadly, I didn't get a photo of Kenny, but I'm glad he came out and gave it a try. At first he was only going to spectate, but Todd convinced him to give it a go. Also on hand was another new face for the Monday night game, Anthony (aka tusekine) and Chris, a friend of Todd's who I think may have played there the first time I joined in. Returnees were Mike (Capt Willard) and my friend Jim.

Sortie 1 was a dogfight. I can't call it "a usual" dogfight since I was flying the BB-gun FE.2b of the 51st (HD) Squadron that I found in the files section. (C'mon, I was up against a D.VII, a D.V and a SSW D.III. You would have done the same.)
:)

Turn ~2, and I'm moving away from the D.VII...

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00144.JPG


... seeking the protection of my much faster and more sturdy companions.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00145.JPG


Not that it lasted long. There he was, that pesky D.VII! I hit him for a B, and that gun jammed. In the background Kenny is getting back on course in his SE5a. He had that learning curve to contend with. We've all been there.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00147.JPG


An overview of the fray...

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00149.JPG


... and I've happily managed to shake the D.VII. I think at this point Mike put an A into him. My wingmen can fill in the details.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00150.JPG


We've managed to put quite a bit of lead into the D.V at this point. And poof! Fire!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00151.JPG


More hits on the D.V!!!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00153.JPG


And he is down!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00152.JPG


Things are looking good for the guys in green. Of course, they would look even better if we were all pointed at that D.VII.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00154.JPG


Especially since, in the course of about three moves over the next turn or so, he got inside of me, and followed me through my turn, and I was down! As was Mike, though I don't recall what tragic fate befell his Snipe. Kenny's SE5a is smoking, and it was little consolation, but so was Anthony's D.VII.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00156.JPG


Poor Kenny, all alone... now smoking and in flames.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00158.JPG


But he did manage to down Todd in the D.III before the D.VII took him out.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00159.JPG


When it was all said and done, Anthony revealed his damage cards. How's that for a nice hand!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00160.JPG


Sortie 2 to follow.

[jbmacek]

Oh! Kudos to Anthony for bringing his mats. They add quite a bit, even though I was underwhelmed by the overall size.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Another very fine AAR. John. I liked the way you told your story and the very explicit back up photographs. It is also great to see some of these pushers getting an outing, and acquitting themselves so well. Just a pity that the outcome was not so good for the Allies, but there's always next time.
Rob.

[jbmacek]

Sortie 2 - Balloon Busting!

Kenny had to leave when sortie 2 started, so Jim jumped in and we still had three on three. Mike with the Nieuport 17, Jim in the Tripe, and me in my skull and crossbones Pup!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00162.JPG


Who doesn't love a balloon busting mission? I know I do. They make such great targets. Except when they are guarded by three enemy scouts and two anti-aircraft artillery pieces!!!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00163.JPG


I don't know how you feel about it, but we felt more than slightly outgunned. We went into a secret conference to decided on a strategy. I though it best to head straight for the balloon and not bother firing at enemy planes. My reasoning being "but what if your guns jammed?!?!" The counter argument being "but there's a chance to give them an explosion!" So we decided to not hold fire, with Mike making an end run to divert some attention while both Jim and I went up the middle.

And you know what... on turn two, in the first fire phase...

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00164.JPG


That's crazy! Boy, were we ever sitting on top of the world at that point. Clear sailing.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00165.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00166.JPG

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00167.JPG

But you know what Han Solo said, "Great, kid. Don't get cocky."

[tusekine]

[IMG] When it was all said and done, Anthony revealed his damage cards. How's that for a nice hand!



It's easy to look good when you're lucky...seven cards drawn for a total of 4 bips (one card was a +1) is a bit off the mean :) But that probably means that I will regress towards the mean next outing.

[jbmacek]

Here's Anthony, steadfastly defending his balloon.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00168.JPG


Jim and I messed up our first pass at the balloon, hitting it with only ~four cards. We're coming around for another pass as Mike lines himself up. On the plus side, we managed to avoid the AA fire.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00169.JPG


Then again... ouch!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00170.JPG


Oh well, at least Jim only took 2 points.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00171.JPG


Mike and I coming around again.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00172.JPG


Unfortunately for me, on that turn when the D.Vs blew up, I was also hit, for 5 damage. After nailing the balloon again, Anthony shot me down. But while he was knocking me from the skies, my wingmen continued to hammer away at the balloon. And yes, Jim in the Tripe has aligned himself for a perfect run. Too bad his guns jammed on the first shot.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00173.JPG

[jbmacek]

Trigger pull - click.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00174.JPG


Wave to the nice man in the basket, Jim. The balloon is halfway down at this point.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00175.JPG


Jim swings around for another shot, trying to dodge the D.V along the way, but from the ground comes...

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00176.JPG


... a death dealing blow!

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00177.JPG


Mike, however, battled on. And ere long the balloon was destroyed.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00178.JPG


And the Nieuport escaped with minimal damage.

http://www.piratebrethren.com/gaming/wow/DSC00179.JPG

Fin!

[Blackronin]

Very nice. I need a balloon...

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I just can't keep up with all this John. you sure wapped that balloon.
Well done to your Flight again.

Rob.