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View Poll Results: Please vote for your favorite 3 missions

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  • 1. ERPROBUNGSKOMMANDO

    13 39.39%
  • 2. Bombing the Garrison

    20 60.61%
  • 3. The Sting of Love

    17 51.52%
  • 4. Sink The Schloss Wolfenstein!

    19 57.58%
Multiple Choice Poll.
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Thread: Bloody April Bombing Mission - VOTING!

  1. #1

    Default Bloody April Bombing Mission - VOTING!

    Read Before Voting!

    Please vote for your favorite 3 missions as we have prizes to give out for 1st - 3rd place. When voting, please take into account these items:

    1. Uniqueness of the mission
    2. How fun the mission would be to play
    3. Background and supporting material

  2. #2

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    ERPROBUNGSKOMMANDO

    Mission Description:
    Due to increasing danger of allied bomber squadrons, German High Command decides to make an operational use of a special unit established to test captured aircraft. The unit, named Erprobungskommando, consisting of some exceptional pilots, is equipped with many different types of planes which are now being repainted and bear Entente cockades along with appropriate squadrons insiginia.
    The unit's individual planes are being sent over the front to intercept lone, often damaged allied bombers returning home with a task to play a fake escort role and shoot down the unprepared plane...

    Players: 1
    Gaming Surface: Two official mats set. Mission target for the Bomber: Leave the opposite side of the map (if the Bomber leaves the map being on fire, apply the rest of the fire results before determining victory). Mission target for the Fighter: Shoot down the Bomber.
    Allied Player: A damaged bomber of any type, starting in the middle of one shorter side's edge. Allied player draws 3 A damage cards to set a starting damage of the bomber. All damage points and special damage except explosion counts. If the explosion card is drawn, put it into the deck and shuffle it. If crew or engine damage card is drawn, resolve it according to the FoG rules.
    German Player: Any Allied fighter plane, starting in any place at the edge of one of the longer sides. German Erprobungskommando pilot is an ace. Assign to him an ace ability of your choice according to official rules.
    Special Rules:
    1. Automatic Movement of the Bomber from FoG rules.
    2. Allied Bomber uses only straight maneouver cards, until it's being shot at by the Fighter. From that moment on normal Automatic Movement rules apply.
    3. Allied Bomber crewmen are not allowed to response to German fighter fire in the first move the Bomber is being shot at, due to surprise effect. After that, resolve defense fire normally.
    The set up may look like this one: Handley Page O/400 against captured Spad VII (Ace pilot: Bullet Checker). Initial 3 A damage cards for the Bomber are drawn.



    The First manoeuvre the Bomber is being shot at. The Bomber crewmen can not response and the big crate starts a normal Automated Flight from that point.



    This time both planes take some damage.



    Another manoeuvre and consecutive damage done. Plus 1 damage for continued fire. „Bullet Checker” ability is applied!



    After some manoeuvers, the German ace is being shot by the Bomber's crew. Fortunately all the A damage cards (according to fire damage rule) drawn by the German Fighter are zeroes!



    The Bomber finally manages to fly off the opposite side of the mats and the Allied AI player wins the game, however the damage done to the Bomber was more than significant. The „1” number on damage cards (2 on the Bomber's cards as a total) reflects the official rule of consequent fire.



    The mission is highly re playable because:
    1. Sides (Entente ↔ Germany) may be switched easily,
    2. Difficulty level may be adjusted by drawing more or less A damage cards for the Bomber at
    the beginning of the mission, 3. You can drive the Bomber and have an AI Fighter opponent using Richard Bradley's solo rules.
    Last edited by Oberst Hajj; 05-08-2012 at 03:49.

  3. #3

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    Bombing the Garrison

    Two Italian heavy bombers try to bomb an Austria-Hungary garrison near Triest.

    Historical background:
    To prepare the 10th Battle of Isonzo, May 12th – June 5th 1917 the Italian Aeronautica Militare started bombing missions against strategic important locations behind the Isonzo front. One of the targets was the small garrison city of Cosina (Gossdorf in German) near Triest with lots of artillery and supply units, that was bombed on April 30th 1917.

    The Aeronautica Militare planed a surprise attack and sent the bombers without escort over the Adriatic Sea. Unfortunately the bombers were even surprised by a few Albatros D.III.

    Players:
    1 – 4

    Game board:
    Length: 136 cm Width: 98 cm (or 78” x 27” or two official game mats)

    Austria-Hungary (AI controlled, if playing alone):
    Three target cards from the Flight of the Giants Expansion (2/6FG + 3/6FG + 5/6FG) one ruler away from the center of the A-H side.

    Two Albatros D.III starting from the edge of the A-H side.

    One Albatros D.III starting at the beginning of turn 4 from one of the corners of the A-H side

    Italy:
    Two Caproni CA.3 bombers somewhere from the edge of the Italian side. Each bomber has one bomb load.


    Winning conditions:
    The side with the most victory points wins. If there’s a tie – nobody wins.
    Italy gets 5 points for each Albatros D.III that was shot down and 5 points per bomb load damaging or destroying a target card.
    A-H gets 10 points for each Caproni bomber that was shot down and 5 points per bomb load that did not hit a target card.

    Rules:
    Standard rules for bombing, no altitude, Expanded Crew Damage Optional Rule from Flight of the Giants Expansion, Richard Bradley's solo rules for the Albatros D.III if playing the scenario alone.


    This is a mission played as Italy versus AI controlled Austria-Hungary.

    The two Caproni CA.3 head for the garrison of Cosina. They hold formation to give each other cover.

    The two Albatros D.III spotted the bombers and fly full speed to intercept the before they reach the garrison.

    The first bomber comes in range, but the damage from the first Albatros was ridiculous. The front MG of the first bomber jammed. But then the Albatros comes in range of both bombers. The hits from the rear MG causes fire damage.

    The second Albatros approaches but causes light damage to the bomber. Meanwhile the first Albatros explodes in consequence of the fire damage.

    The bombers reach the garrison unharmed and throw their bomb load. Two hits! Amazing!


    The third Albatros reaches the bomber but misses to cause some critical hits. Again, the gunners from the bomber do their deadly work and set the third Albatros on fire. How unlucky the Austrian pilots are today!

    The second Albatros manages to deal a bigger hit versus the second bomber, but it’s too late to change the balance. Because of an engine damage he has to leave the battlefield. Meanwhile the third Albatros is doomed by the fire damage, too.

    The bombers begin their long way home.

    Result:
    1. Caproni CA.3 (6 damage points)
    2. Caproni CA.3 (8 damage points)
    1. Albatros D.III (exploded)
    2. Albatros D.III (7 damage points – engine damaged)
    3. Albatros D.III (crashed with 14 damage points)

  4. #4

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    The Sting of Love

    “Nothing stings more than the betrayal perpetuated by your lover.”
    Alexander the Great



    Presentation
    It's April 23th, 1918. The British are amassing a great number of new Handley Page O/400 bombers to make an attack on a German armament factory. This attack will result in a devastating blow to the German war effort. But the Germans have Eliza. For some years now, this beautiful German spy has consorted with Robert Glenn Henderson, the Brigadier-general who’s responsible for the operation.
    Eliza sends an urgent message through her contacts to the German High Command disclosing the mission plans and the schedules for the raid. The German High Command quickly decides to make a risky mission and send their bombers to bomb the British squadron of bombers while it is still on the ground being fueled and armed. This attack took place two hours before the British Squadron was supposed to take off. At dusk, the German heavy bomber appeared over the British Aerodrome creating havoc and destruction.




    The Mission
    Central Powers: Two Gotha G.V
    Entente: Three Sopwith Camels, 2 MG A cards and 2 MG B cards.

    Two Gotha G.V bombers, filled with bombs that can be dropped in two waves arrive over the enemy Aerodrome. They are met by anti-aerial Machine-gun fire and 3 patrol Sopwith Camels.
    The resting bombers are divided in three cards (see cards below) that are the targets. The defending player choose where the MG cards types are placed. The German player can only fail one bombing attempt. See scheme for the scenario layout.



    Wining conditions for the Germans:

    Total victory - All three cards are successfully bombed.
    Partial victory – Two of the cards are successfully bombed and at least one bomber survives escaping through the German side.

    Winning conditions for the British:
    Total victory – All cards survive the scenario.
    Partial victory – Only one card is destroyed and all fighters survive the scenario.

    All other results are a draw.

    Optional Rules
    Solitary Rules: This Scenario has a great potential for solitary playing. Add one Sopwith if you are playing with the bombers under your command, or take out one bomber card if you are playing with the defending Sopwith Camels.
    Central Powers Variation: You can replace the two Gothas G.V for two Friedrichsafen G.III at no cost. Or you can replace them with two Zeppelin Staaken R.VI and add another Sopwith Camel to the Entente side.
    Entente Variation: You can reverse sides in this scenario using two Handley Page O/400 and three Albatrosses D.Va.

    Aftermath
    The German attack was a complete surprise to the British. The Gothas used in the raid scored a perfect bombing attack. Eighty percent of the Handley Page O/400 were either destroyed or badly damaged. The attack to the factory was postponed and finally dropped off by the British. But the Germans were slow in changing the factory location and in May 1918 a group of French bombers attacked the factory by night and achieved a major success heavily damaging the factory and stalling its output almost to zero.
    After this mission, Eliza escaped to Spain and wasn’t sighted again until 1921, when she reemerged and married the retired Robert Glenn Henderson, after confessing to him that she was a spy but that she had always loved him. They went to Africa, where they lived in Angola until his death in 1931. Of Eliza nobody ever heard again.

    The Bomber Cards



    Taken from the diary of Corporal Brian Smith


    23th April, 1918
    I guess that I was the first to see them coming. At first I thought that might be more O/400 that were coming for the mission, but somehow it didn't seem right. So I whistle the warning and I manned the machine-gun and waited for them. They came slowly and ponderous. Later I came to understand that I had the privilege, from the place I was in, to watch the unfolding of all the combat. But during that combat I wasn't able to take my eyes from the planes. We were well guarded by three Camels that seem to see the birds that were incoming.



    We had two trenches at each side of the airfield. Our bombers were being armed and fueled between us and the trenches in the east side of the airstrip. The enemy bombers, I could now see that they were twin engine ones, arrived at the worst possible moment. If I didn't know better, I'd say they were informed of our plans.



    One of the Camels passed right if our trench and I only wished that my machine-gun had range enough to give it a hand.

    I saw the Camel fire against the big enemy plane and being fired back. I could very well see how much damage was made, but it was visible that they had hit each other. Then they crossed each others paths and I looked around for the other Camels. They were coming but they were still far from the enemy bombers. Our ground crews were running away to protect themselves.



    Then I saw the Camel making an Immelmann and returning fire against the bomber that was closer to our position. Then it happened.



    The Camel fired again against the Bomber – a Gotha – I could now clearly see it. The trench north of also fired against the big bird. But the gunner from the Gotha must have been an ace. I saw the Camel shake and crash to the ground.
    At that moment things started to worry me really bad. The other two Camels went into the fray and they seemed ready to avenge the demise of their fellow pilot.



    At the same time, I was in range, so I let loose my twin Lewis machine-gun. Together with the fire from the Camels, the Gotha received a lot of damage, that, I'm sure about this made the pilot steer his plane away from his intended target.

    But in quick succession, his gunners fired against both Camels and then against our trench making a lot of damage. I saw carnage and death around me. But I held the gun like a mad man. One of the Camels was smoking while the other must have had engine damage has the Camel was visibly making an effort to maintain speed.



    When the Gotha was almost over our heads I fired again hitting it with terrible damage. His frontal gunner fired again against us but failed to make any damage.



    Meanwhile the smoking camel went for the second Gotha, trying to get on his tail but receiving a lot of damage in the process. Yet, with a swift turn he was able to put himself in the position to fire his weapons against the larger bomber that was also being fired by the machine-gun north from us.






    It was this fire that enabled us to gain some time. I couldn't swivel the machine-gun to keep firing so I just watch the events unfold until much later. The smoking Camel kept firing against the second Gotha but suddenly started to burn. We watch with dismay as he fired without any regard for his own safety, making terrible damage to the Gotha and finally silencing its guns.



    But even with such heroic effort, the fire took its tool and the burning Camel went to the ground. We could only watch and pray for his valiant soul.

    The other Gotha was moving against his target with the remaining Camel on his tail. A well placed round silenced the rear gunner and the camel was able to fire without being fired back.



    But the Camel also stopped firing and we saw that even having deviated the bomber from his target, the bomber's pilot turned again into another group of O/400's that were resting north of the landing strip.



    The bombers crossed each other paths over a group of O/400's and one of them dropped his bombs right in the middle of the refueling planes, destroying many and damaging the others. Then they turned to opposite sides and the Camel had finally unjammed his weapons as he started to fire again.



    He managed to put the Gotha that overflow us on fire, but that didn't prevented him to drop his bombs over another group of O/400's that were stationed near an hangar. Things were getting pretty messy and bad against us.



    But the Camel wasn't about to quit on him and kept firing round after round against the giant.



    With a terrible sound the Gotha went down burning and exploded when it hit the ground, probably due to the bombs it still carried.



    The second Gotha must have decided to run away after the damage it already had done to our bombers. He passed over us and I could, again, open fire against it. I was lucky and another fire erupted on the wounded bomber. I had just one more chance of firing against him.



    But out faithful Camel was already coming to our aid. Even with his engine clearly damaged, he was like a foxhound fixed on his prey. We both fired against the bomber. For a moment we thought that he would escape with his wounded but victorious crew. But then the fire that was ravaging the bomber took its tool and he crashed in the green grass.




    On our side, bombers were burning, on their side, no bomber would return to their airfields.

    Last edited by Oberst Hajj; 05-08-2012 at 03:55.

  5. #5

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    Sink The Schloss Wolfenstein !

    A scenario for a Bomber and 4 fighters.

    Side A has a bomber, armed with a cannon. This fires as a C class weapon.

    Suitable aircraft include Friedrichshafen G.III, and Caproni Ca.3, both of which were equipped with air-to-ground cannon in the nose at some time. Firing arc is the same as for a fixed forward-firing gun, but automatically "jams" when fired, so can be fired again after 3 cards have been played.

    It also has 2 bombloads.

    Side 1 also has a fighter, of the appropriate period, which can deploy within 1 ruler length of the bomber. It is armed with incendiary ammunition.

    Side B has 3 fighters of the appropriate period, which enter together at either of the two entry points marked on the map.

    Victory Conditions:

    The Defender wins if the Schloss Wolfenstein is still able to move, and both balloons are intact.

    The Attacker wins if the Schloss Wolfenstein has been sunk, and at least one aircraft survives to tell the tale.

    Any other result is a draw.


    Special Rules:

    12 turns after the game starts, any 2 that have been shot down can be replaced by new aircraft, coming in on the other entry point.

    They also have the Schloss Wolfenstein, a freighter carrying a vital (and supposed-to-be-Top Secret) cargo along the river, from right to left. A card is supplied for the freighter, and a special "manouver card" with it to the same scale. See diagram for how to use it.

    Any aircraft of either side whose base touches a barrage balloon base at any altitude takes a C class damage card from trigger-happy gunners.

    Any aircraft of either side that goes below altitude 2 also takes a B class damage card every turn from ground fire if in the top third of the table (the side with the river). The Schloss Falkenberg also has 2 A class batteries for low-level self-defence, but their gunners will only fire at the enemy.

    The Schloss Wolfenstein takes 20 points to sink. Each Bombload that is an "indirect hit" does a D class damage card. Each Bombload that does a "direct hit" covering the red dot of the ship does 3 D class damage cards.

    An Explosion card from a cannon or bomb hit on the ship stops the ship and does 10 additional points of damage. The ship may not fire therafter.

    A fire card does an A class damage card every turn, and does so until all enemy have left the table or been shot down, or it reaches the edge of the table.

    Left and Right rudder hits prevent the ship from turning in that direction permamently. If it goes aground it takes an additional D card and cannot move, but now requires an additional 5 points to "sink" it.

    An engine hit stops the ship permanently.

    A crew hit injures the captain on the bridge, and stops the ship permamently.

    The Balloons are barrage balloons, and are not equipped with power winches. They may not be lowered, but may be shot down as normal.







    This used an Ilya Muromets, but a Fr. G.III or Ca.3 would be used instead. They have fewer damage points, but equal defences, and are more manouverable.










    An Ilya Muromets V with ground-attack rockets and a nose 20mm autocannon (but no bombs) had been interdicting river traffic. When it went after the "Schloss Falkenberg", this time 3 Albatros D.IIIs were waiting, with more on the way. A solitary Dux-Nieuport 17 was its escort. As usual, trigger-happy gunners fired on any plane of either side that got too close to the observation balloons (touching bases).



    The Albatros's, instead of concentrating their guns on the Ilya in a simultaneous attack to dilute its defensive firepower, split 2:1, 1 going after the escort, the other in an attack from the rear quarter. They'd been warned about the 'C' , class weapon in the nose, so didn't fancy a head-on pass.





    The Ilya promptly raked it with fire from the two roof gunners and a door gunner - by carrying no bombs, it had extra air-to-ground weaponry that could be used air-to air too.



    The Nieuport disintegrated from the fire of the two Albatros, but the Sturmovik continued to fly apparently unphased by its attacker, correcting its overshoot on the turn (one that meant rocket use was prohibited), but destroying the bridge of the Schloss Falkenberg, stopping it.

    The solitary attacking Albatros went down, but a D.V entered the fray, evening the odds. They continued to fire, the Ilya just ignoring it and leisurely doing a circuit for another pass, and another after that. The two Rocket barrages left the Schloss Falkenberg on fire, and taking water.

    One Albatros ran into a 20mm hit. The others just got shot to pieces, the Ilya apparently unphased by the 18 or so A-class cards (and 2 c-class from getting too close to a balloon) it had taken.

    As it headed for home, two more D.IIIs gave chase, another Nieuport coming in to cover the victorious attacker's return home. But it was too late for them.



    (I've never seen so many zeroes from A class shots before - the Ilya only took 9 pts, half of which was from the AA fire...)
    Last edited by Oberst Hajj; 05-08-2012 at 03:56.

  6. #6

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    Just voted!
    I wish that there were more missions. ):

  7. #7

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    Four entries - three prizes.

    We need a consolation prize.

  8. #8

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    I'll say just one thing: Ares should publish these missions in it's official new rule book

  9. #9

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    Very hard to judge amongst them all. The standard is very high.
    Rob.

  10. #10

  11. #11

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    All of the scenarios look like fun. I'll probably end up playing them all.

  12. #12

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    All look like a blast to play. Can't wait for my bombers to arrive so can give them a try

  13. #13

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    Just voted...and it wasn't easy. All entries are of very high quality

  14. #14

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    Very good scenarios. Just what I needed now when I just got my bombers. Good reports to. Good luck everybody I hope you all win

  15. #15

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    I can only repeat what other have said they are all very good scenarios. I think that we should gather these and other other very good scenarios we should gathere them up and made a Pdf file that could be sold in the Aerodrome Acessories, might raise some funds for the site

  16. #16

    Default CONGRATS!

    Congrats to the Winners!
    I'm the forth one who is out (ERPROBUNGSKOMMANDO author), but seeing all other perfect entries I had no doubt they are much better designed and written than mine humble one
    Hope to meet you in the mess for a winning party!

  17. #17

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    Congrats to the winners! It was amazing to participate and I'm just sorry that there wasn't more people participating.

  18. #18

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    Huch...

    Tight decisison!

    Thanks to all voters and contest members.

    That was fun.

  19. #19

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    Every one did an excellent job on this. Once again it was hard to dismiss any one of them with no vote.
    They were all very good in their own way.
    Rob.

  20. #20

    Thumbs up


    Yes Congratulations to all the entrants. All were good missions.
    I must admit I "stuffed Up" & only voted for one (the Winner) as I did not realise you could choose 3 so we might have had a Dead Heat!

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by gully_raker View Post
    I must admit I "stuffed Up" & only voted for one (the Winner) as I did not realise you could choose 3 so we might have had a Dead Heat!
    NOW he tells me!

  22. #22

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    Quote Originally Posted by gully_raker View Post

    Yes Congratulations to all the entrants. All were good missions.
    I must admit I "stuffed Up" & only voted for one (the Winner) as I did not realise you could choose 3 so we might have had a Dead Heat!
    No worries mate, I'm not so sure either one of them would have been happy with half a Ca 4! lol

  23. #23

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    The tail section of a Caproni Ca 4 would be a nice souvenir for the officers mess of my Jasta.

  24. #24

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by Marechallannes View Post
    The tail section of a Caproni Ca 4 would be a nice souvenir for the officers mess of my Jasta.
    You mean Sven that you dont have one yet? I am Amazed.

  25. #25

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    Barry, I'm so busy with the Entente scouts...

    ...there is no time for the big, slow birds.

  26. #26

    Hunter's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies
    Users Country Flag


    Name
    Terry
    Location
    Arizona
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    Join Date
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Marechallannes View Post
    The tail section of a Caproni Ca 4 would be a nice souvenir for the officers mess of my Jasta.
    I agree with you, mein kameraden!



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