Our First Game of the Year of the Centennial, The Family Game Store, 13 Jan '14

**jbmacek** · 01-18-2014 04:21

Excuse my drowsy brain, but it was a late night playing Two-Fisted Pilot Tales, and my morning coffee has yet to kick in.

Last Monday the Maryland group met for our monthly game at The Family Game Store, in Savage Mill.

PRS and Capt Willard arrived early, and were just finishing up a game as I came in. They went out to grab a bite to eat, while I kicked back and waited for the others to arrive.

The first game of the evening? A dogfight, of course.

The German players began with a pack of D.Vs. While we Entente players had a collection of N.17s, accompanied by a Biff, flown by bishop, who was attending his first game at the store.

Four on three, but I liked our odds. And to me, at least, it seemed like a fairly balanced dogfight. But then, as I recall, one of bishop's Biff's guns jammed (he was flying a B/A Biff).

That was bad, but things turned worse faster than SPAD in an overdive.

Yes, Pseudotheist was taken out by two engine hits in what was probably only the second turn. And then he came back, as a Pfalz D.III. Fortunately, the Biff got a nice shot on him, which set him aflame. Unfortunately, the Biff caught fire too.

**jbmacek** · 01-18-2014 04:30

We played through a few more turns, the Biff caught another fire hit, while the Pfalz survived his. My plane was barely scratched, having traded close range shots with one of the D.V that only did one point of damage. I swung back around to reenter the fray, and... WHAM!

Down I go. The odds aren't look too good for our boys now. From four on three to two on four. In another phase or two, it became the lone Biff against four Germans.

My hat's off to bishop, for holding his own for as long as he did. In the end, the D.Vs held the skies.

**jbmacek** · 01-18-2014 04:33

Up next, a bombing run with the Staaken, escorted by a pair of SSW D.IIIs.

**jbmacek** · 01-18-2014 04:50

With the arrival of two new players, this isn't going to be easy. Just the opposite, really. And I believe I can say I've never seen so many Snipes in the air at one time!

(And then I began tweaking the camera settings, which didn't really make the pics look any clearer.)

I'm thinking this doesn't look too good. Two SSWs up against four Snipes. Someone is going to get hurt.

Amazing. We were able to weave our way through with very little damage. The downside to that is, the interceptors are now behind us, about to take a bead on the bomber. As for that lone Snipe who had gone up against the Staaken... well... that guy had guts!

**jbmacek** · 01-18-2014 04:57

With the Staaken about to get swarmed, PRS in the black SSW, swung around to come to her aid.

I followed. And we cut a path through the Snipes.

Downing Snipe T.

More to follow...

**Archidamus** · 01-18-2014 07:20

Nice photos - and that Staaken is a magnificent beast!

**tusekine** · 01-18-2014 07:26

Originally Posted by Archidamus

Nice photos - and that Staaken is a magnificent beast!

Yes, I was worried that five Snipes were too much, even with two SSW IIIs as escort, but (spoiler alert) it turned out well enough. The Staaken even managed to have one of its mechanics fix an engine hit.

**gully_raker** · 01-18-2014 16:42

Your mob look like they are having a real Ball John!

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 01-19-2014 01:17

A very good looking game there John.
I must remember to do my next Staaken in day colours.
Rob.

**Nightbomber** · 01-19-2014 02:08

Great report, very good quality pictures and fantastic Staaken in action. You must have had an excellent time, pilots! I love those vintage Nexus cards

**Blackronin** · 01-19-2014 04:17

Loved the AAR, John.
Is that Staaken a Dave's creation?

**jbmacek** · 01-19-2014 04:49

Thanks for the kind words, folks.

As for the Staaken being a Dave create, no. That is a creation of mine, but Anthony's painting and decaling talent made the best come to life.
http://www.shapeways.com/model/70799...4th-scale.html

**jbmacek** · 01-19-2014 05:02

So, where was I? Oh, yes. One Snipe had just succumbed to a combination of bullet and fire damage, while I, in my yellow SSW D.III, was about to run the gauntlet again. Using the D.III's nimble deck, I was able to plot the exact course that I wanted through the enemy's machines. The maneuver was exactly what I wanted, but Fate was unkind. Yes, for the second game in a row...

Dropped by the explosion. However, Paul and/or Anthony managed to drop yet another Snipe that turn, so the balance didn't turn against us too much.

As Anthony mentioned above, with the Snipes now trailing beyond machinegun range, he was able to put one of his mechanics to good use, restoring an engine damage.

He then dropped his bombs, just hitting the target. (A cheer arose from the German side!)

We then called that game, since Todd had to leave, and we German players had achieved our objective. Doing that gave us enough time for one final mission...

**jbmacek** · 01-19-2014 05:15

The final contest, three UFAGs must photograph an installation defended by SPAD XIII and three Hanriots.

This game pitted Mike, PRS and tusekine in the UFAGs versus Capt Willard (in the SPAD), bishop, myself and Thomas (in the A-gun HD.1s).

As an added bit of excitement, the UFAGs had a balloon they could shoot at along the way.
I'm amazed yet again at the speed of the SPAD. That immelmann must have been plotted a bit late, since he is so far from the action.
Also, take note... TAILING! Yes, we so rarely notice planes tailing one another in our games that I had to point it out to everyone.

**jbmacek** · 01-19-2014 05:16

Also worth noting, the hand-painted mat that Anthony brought along. It is quite nice.

**Blackronin** · 01-19-2014 05:19

Excellent to no end.
Thanks for the Staaken info.

**jbmacek** · 01-19-2014 06:50

The SPAD is closing the gap. As for me, in the blue Hanriot? Well wouldn't you know it, I've got a great shot, but my guns were jammed.

At the beginning of the next turn I got to point out something else. Yes, I would have been tailing, were it not for my smoke. Drat.

The SPAD caught up with the action, only to catch fire. Two of the UFAGs turned right to head back to their lines. The grey UFAG, full of holes, turned left. I was closest to him, so I figured I would make chase, and let my fellows go after the other two.

And then, none of the planes other than mine when in directions that I thought they would. Sometimes the battle just doesn't unfold in the way one visualizes it.

And down goes a Hanriot. He put up a good fight.

**jbmacek** · 01-19-2014 06:54

Down goes another Hanriot! At this stage in the game, I had only two hps remaining. Things might have worked out better had I gotten my third explosion in a row, but it was not to be. I think this was bishop's plane.

The SPAD chased one UFAG, while I found myself in a turning gunfight with a horribly damaged two-seater. (Mike told me afterward he had only one hp remaining since the turn he did his photo run.)

**jbmacek** · 01-19-2014 06:58

Anthony, I believe it was, took another pot shot at the balloon, while PRS apparently gave the SPAD a bit of the slip. And me? A shot from the UFAG took me out.

The SPAD survived his fire.

And was able to set the fleeing UFAG on fire, but was himself downed by Anthony coming up from behind.

FIN.

**flash** · 01-19-2014 09:42

Originally Posted by Archidamus

Nice photos - and that Staaken is a magnificent beast!

Are we destined to see one over Ashford Brian ?!!

Great pictures John - looks like you guys had a blast !

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 01-19-2014 15:32

Beautiful set of games and that hand painted mat looks great. The staaken looks fantastic, how did you do the wing gunners?

**tusekine** · 01-20-2014 08:29

Originally Posted by Skafloc

Beautiful set of games and that hand painted mat looks great. The staaken looks fantastic, how did you do the wing gunners?

John has two separate Staaken models on Shapeways, one of which has cutouts in the upper wing for the wing gunners. I added gunners bought on Shapeways (I forgot who made them, think it may have been colinwe, kampfflieger or the reducedaircraftfactory). My gunners have no legs so if you peak under the wing, you would notice but I can live with that.