New Battle of Britain Game

**David Manley** · 06-05-2016 21:16

Chaps, I see from TMP that PSC Games are releasing a new Battle of Britain game designed by Richard Borg (Kickstarter imminent!). An upsized version of the game was on display at the UK Games Expo this weekend p did any of our attendees see the game?

More details here.....

https://meeples.wordpress.com/2016/0...rom-psc-games/

**Stumptonian** · 06-05-2016 21:35

Too bad it's not 1:200 - then we wouldn't have to wait for Ares ....

**gully_raker** · 06-05-2016 21:47

I like the Mat!
Wonder if it is buy-able separately?
Probably not!

**OldGuy59** · 06-05-2016 22:11

I think the ground scale on the mat is a bit small for the 1/144 scale planes. It would be way to small for our 1/200 scale planes, too.

**Hedeby** · 06-06-2016 00:14

I do like the look of that, did anyone get a chance to play the game?

**Guntruck** · 06-06-2016 00:39

Interested enough to look at the Kickstarter, but as Tim said - shame about the scale. There again, I suppose you can swap out the planes with WGS ones.

I wonder if the aircraft are coming painted or unpainted. And someone give those airmen a rocket for being scruffy on parade!

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 06-06-2016 02:17

This is an oversized version, actual version uses 1/300 scale aircraft.

For a Battle of Britain campaign you could use this game as a strategic layer then play out the contacts with WGS.

**Tonx** · 06-06-2016 03:22

That salute being pulled there is just

...

Looks like a cross between Allies & Axis Reincarnated (aircraft miniatures though detailing is better) with Corgi Aviation Archive (style of the stands most of those aircraft are on) ... But I am sorry I am of the opinion that WW2 aircraft with glossy finishes just look so naff!

Now I wish I had seen this at the Gaming Expo last weekend instead of gone chasing Antonov 124As at East Midlands Airport ... Darn you UR-82009!!!

I'll ask at Spirit Games in Burton if they have heard of this and hopefully see more in the flesh via them

**Nightbomber** · 06-06-2016 03:54

Looking at the components it seems it is a new version of the old Battle of Britain boardgame form the 80-ies. Dice, cards and the stands look similar. Only figurines differ from the original generic ones. I won the old copy of the game.

**Flying Helmut** · 06-06-2016 04:35

It is indeed a re-vamp of the old game.

I did have a brief look at it in passing, but was far too busy with my own games to spare enough time to play this one.

**WarBoar** · 06-06-2016 12:04

None of us managed to play the game all of us managed to spare a few moments to visit the girls haha

**OldGuy59** · 06-06-2016 12:27

Originally Posted by Nightbomber

Looking at the components it seems it is a new version of the old Battle of Britain boardgame form the 80-ies. Dice, cards and the stands look similar. Only figurines differ from the original generic ones. I won the old copy of the game.

Originally Posted by Flying Helmut

It is indeed a re-vamp of the old game.

I did have a brief look at it in passing, but was far too busy with my own games to spare enough time to play this one.

Link: Board Game Geek - TSR's Battle of Britain

Click image for larger version.

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Hmmm... Same designer. Dredging up an old game to resell the idea to a new generation?

**Boney10** · 06-06-2016 15:10

I had a long chat with Will about this game.
The gen
I gleaned is that it is not a direct copy of the old TSR version, rules have been updated, in so much as fuel limits are abstractly used, flying over from Norway can have dire consequences and a few more rules to make it a bit more a strategic representation of the battle, but with some tactical flair.The kickstarter will explain this more.
The models with the game will be 1/300, the big models shown were just for representation and to show off the large map. The actual map will be more akin to the original.
What does look good is that Will is hoping to be able to fund models to actually represent the correct type of aircraft depicted on the counters, ie Hurricanes, Do17, He111 etc, possibly as stretch goals.
I believe the base game will be respresented by the same types of model aircraft as in the original game, Spits and ME109.
Combat system looked quite interesting, both attacker and defender roll dice equal to the squadron card value chosen and losses depend on the number of roundal or crosses rolled. The squadrons have a defence value and you loose a squadron card if the dice roll equals that number. I only had a quick run through of combat as was busy on the sails table, but looked interesting.
This is one I will seriously be looking at.

**Stumptonian** · 06-06-2016 21:42

I remember playing the original 20+ years ago, so might get this to do like Carl suggested above.

**Captain Chum** · 06-06-2016 22:06

I still have the TSR version on my shelf. Haven't played it in years but is a great game.....probably why I still have it.

This version is definitely similar.....would have to check out the rule set to see how much different it is.

**Boney10** · 06-07-2016 00:22

Bye the way, the young lady on th right in the picture is the sculptor of the models for a lot of the PSC kit, especially the Great War models and the recent Hold the Line models

**Naharaht** · 06-07-2016 03:41

I will have to monitor the progress of this game.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 06-07-2016 06:32

Originally Posted by Boney10

Bye the way, the young lady on th right in the picture is the sculptor of the models for a lot of the PSC kit, especially the Great War models and the recent Hold the Line models

Talented hands then would you say Chris?

**Guntruck** · 06-07-2016 07:17

What, what, what? A bally woman deisgning planes and tanks? Preposterous! What is the world coming to? Hurrumph!

**Boney10** · 06-07-2016 07:24

Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer

Talented hands then would you say Chris?

I would indeed, I have the Great War game and the models are very well done, the only issue I had was with the bayonets on the Brit infantry, the tanks in the first expansion were good and the artillery brilliantly done. I have only seen pics of the AWI figures but they too looked good. Next expansion for the Great War is the French, which the young lady said were complete, in Adrian helmets, and now down for tooling. So this should be soon.

**Tonx** · 06-07-2016 07:47

Originally Posted by Guntruck

What, what, what? A bally woman deisgning planes and tanks? Preposterous! What is the world coming to? Hurrumph!

OOOOH that's a near the knuckle one ... Though I can tell you are only joking!

Glad Yell never saw this and was reminded of the crass imbecile who asked his friend what she was doing playing Wings of Glory when women can't even drive ... Got her own back since and told them both that at least she does not gossip like a Real Housewife: Now I would have LOVED to have seen the looks on their faces after she unleashed that one on them!!!

What I would most like to know is whose responsible for those naff-looking glossy finishes and why are they there in the first place? Because other than that this game to me is just sounding better by the day

**johnbiggles** · 06-14-2016 06:52

Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer

This is an oversized version, actual version uses 1/300 scale aircraft.

For a Battle of Britain campaign you could use this game as a strategic layer then play out the contacts with WGS.

That sounds like a good plan for a gaming weekend.
How long does it take to play this?

**Honza** · 06-19-2016 13:51

I am a happy owner of the original TSR game, and i have to say it is not bad at all. The rulebook needed a lot of clearing up on BGG forums, but once we put the rules together the game is working fine. The thing i would change is that the TSR version use fighter minis for both fighters and bombers.

**Albert Ross** · 09-13-2016 16:46

Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer

This is an oversized version, actual version uses 1/300 scale aircraft.

For a Battle of Britain campaign you could use this game as a strategic layer then play out the contacts with WGS.

I still have my copy of the original game, and that is what I plan to do - as soon as I get get some 1/200 Do17's

**Albert Ross** · 09-13-2016 16:52

Originally Posted by Honza

The thing i would change is that the TSR version use fighter minis for both fighters and bombers.

Well that was a key mechanism of the original game: because all formations were represented by a fighter model, the RAF player was never sure whether the raid was all bombers, a mixed formation or a fighter sweep.... Committing a squadron to intercept then turning the cards over to reveal all Bf109's was nasty, but like a visit from your mother in law, there was not much you could do about it

**Albert Ross** · 09-13-2016 16:54

Originally Posted by johnbiggles

That sounds like a good plan for a gaming weekend.
How long does it take to play this?

Around two hours or so, less if you are familiar with the rules

**Albert Ross** · 12-09-2017 21:45

Just opened mine and the extra planes were just loose in a small ziplock bag thrown in as a sort of afterthought. Having extra planes means of course there aren't enough flight stands to mount them permanently, and the fit is so poor, if you get them on at all, they fall off right away if you don't. I hope the promised new replacement models that are supposed to arrive sometime next year will fix this. The models themselves aren't as good as the original set (which I still have) but if the warping can be fixed, they should paint up nicely.

Quality control seems to be a PSC problem: I bought their Great War ks set and was so disappointed at the figures which were so brittle, several broke up while being painted on the sprue, that I sold the game for a heavy loss at a convention flea market. As the bonus for this one was a set of tanks for The Great War, I messaged PSC and arranged to have the large vinyl(?) play map instead. This arrived separately yesterday and looks impressive, but woefully thin especially compared to Wings of Glory mats, more like coated paper. I have to wonder how long it will last with heavy use.

**David Manley** · 12-10-2017 00:22

Would you have preferred someone to take the cellophane off your box and stick the extra planes inside?

PSC have said they are unhappy with the plastic used for the minis and the subsequent warping in some models (mine were all fine), so they are resetting production using a new harder plastic and all backers get replacement aircraft when they are ready.

I have the large map, it's not like coated paper at all (I have a few), I can't see any longevity problems with it.

**Boney10** · 12-10-2017 02:13

Stuart, PSC are well aware of the issues a lot of people have complained about with their KS projects abd are rectifying them, at least they say they are, time eill tell.
Using the hot cold method the current planes straighten out ok and I agree completely about the fixing to the bases, this is terrible and not good/secure fit. The decals are also a problem being a sticky paper type. But msinly the German decals all seem to have white bavkgrounds aka WW1, but not insurmountable.
Ref the Great War, PSC have just completed. KS for a new French Army supplement and there are going to be made using a softer plastic more like the CMON Zombiecide figures apparently and at the same time remaking the Brit and Germans in the same plastic as well as having them pre removed from the sprue so ready to go aka Battlelore as I understand it.

I also got the large map for BoB but not tried it out yet, seemed more like a paper mat laminated to me, but the couple of times I laid it out it came out flat. Time will tell in usage how good it is..
If you take my advice on the first turn allow the german player to use the same method of assigning aircrafr to raid as per 2nd plus turns otherwise it is too random.
But the game is good just remember the aircraft type models are really superferlous and there to look nice on the map

**Albert Ross** · 12-10-2017 09:25

I haven't tried the sticker 'decals' yet - I'm guessing these were aimed at younger folks or the gamers who happily play with unpainted minis rather than the hobby enthusiasts; I have a stash of waterslide decals from WoG projects that I planned to use anyway, but I do think it was one of the better ideas PSC came up with. The choice of plastic used is rather odd considering their range of WWII vehicles which are superb, but yes there was a note inside my box saying there would be replacements sent out in 2018.

Originally Posted by David Manley

Would you have preferred someone to take the cellophane off your box and stick the extra planes inside?.

No, but I would have expected better packaging than a plastic bag for something being shipped halfway around the globe. A small padded box costs around 50 cents retail and would not make too big a hole in the profit margin.

Thanks for the heads up on German deployment, Chris - it must be 20 years since I last played this game! Now to see how well these minis take acrylic paint..........

**Stumptonian** · 12-10-2017 10:04

I read the original post with interest last year and then basically forgot all about it until this post resuscitated the topic.
I tried looking to see if this could be purchased anywhere outside of Kickstarter, but could find nothing other than the original TSR version.

Those of you who have experience with both, would you recommend getting this PSC version, or is the TSR version adequate?

I really only want to use it in conjunction with WGS, not as a stand-alone game.

**David Manley** · 12-10-2017 10:10

I believe PSC have put the general release of the game on hold until they have had the aircraft models remade

**Albert Ross** · 12-10-2017 10:10

I don't think the PSC version has hit retail stores yet, but it's basically the same game with revamped cards and models. Either version would work well as a campaign generator

**Boney10** · 12-10-2017 17:54

As Dave has said the PSC version is not being released until the plane models have been redone.
I have both versions of the game and game play wise I prefer the PSC version, however who ever wrote the rules needs a slapping as the english , at times can be quite ambiguous.
The old version does have more of the element of surprise as all the aircraft models are the same, so ,as has been pointed out, as the RAF player you dont know what you are actually intercepting until you actually engage, however the PSC game has nice pretty models of Stukas, Do17, ME109, JU88 and HE111, while the Brits have the Gladiator, Blenheim and Defiant so its prettier, I think the combat and fuel is also more streamlined, but I would have to re-read my TSR version to confirm as its been a while.
With the new version you can play mind games using the models, is this really a raid with He111 or inreality a fighter sweep ?

Personally I like PSC version , but that just my opinion

**Naharaht** · 06-22-2018 15:14

This game is now reaching the shops. GamesLore have it in stock. https://www.gameslore.co.uk/acatalog...oard_Game.html

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 06-22-2018 15:17

Originally Posted by Naharaht

This game is now reaching the shops. GamesLore have it in stock. https://www.gameslore.co.uk/acatalog...oard_Game.html

Good strategy layer for a Wings of Glory Battle of Britain campaign - too bad my Polish lads are already half way through September 1940.

**Albert Ross** · 06-22-2018 18:35

My replacement aircraft arrived today along with four extra (much needed) flight stands, but no roundels or crosses to go on them. There was also a free Zvezda JU52 kit, however as the only role played by that was in the opening credits of the movie, that will get repurposed for "Wings" games

**Nightbomber** · 06-23-2018 00:12

My replacement (much better) planes arrived yesterday.

**Tokhuah** · 06-25-2018 15:33

I think the market is saturated with Battle of Britain game content. In the past year we had PSC, Areas, Warlord, and now this Kickstarter that is not going to fund: Fighter in Sight.

**clipper1801** · 06-25-2018 16:18

Selling my BRS collection to buy this game, love the map mat!

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 06-25-2018 16:41

Originally Posted by Tokhuah

I think the market is saturated with Battle of Britain game content. In the past year we had PSC, Areas, Warlord, and now this Kickstarter that is not going to fund: Fighter in Sight.

The PSC Battle of Britain game concentrates on the operational and strategic levels of the conflict, whereas Wings and BRS are tactical, so I think there is a niche for this one.

I'll be picking up a copy to use as a strategic layer for my next Wings of Glory campaign, Luftwaffe 1936-45.

**Stumptonian** · 06-25-2018 20:37

Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer

The PSC Battle of Britain game concentrates on the operational and strategic levels of the conflict, whereas Wings and BRS are tactical, so I think there is a niche for this one.

I'll be picking up a copy to use as a strategic layer for my next Wings of Glory campaign, Luftwaffe 1936-45.

Ordered from Amazon - hope it has the 'fixed' planes - as a scenario assistant for WGS.

**clipper1801** · 06-25-2018 21:26

Didn't see it on Amazon, had to order it from eBay . . . Is psc the a same as tsr? Oh, ok I see.

**Stumptonian** · 06-26-2018 10:09

I got the last one listed on Amazon.
It’s coming from a 3rd party vendor.

**Stumptonian** · 07-04-2018 10:32

Well I got my Battle of Britain game yesterday.
It is the version with the revised hard plastic planes.

But ...
I have had to send an email to PSC.
The stands provided do not fit the aircraft.

I have only managed to get one Hurricane on the smaller stand (and none of the Spits) and the JU88s on the larger.
I do not want to force any of the others together.

The Dorniers, Heinkels, and Me110s will not fit, and there are no small stands for the Me109s.

The map and the rest of the components look pretty good to me, so hopefully this can be resolved, although I suspect I will end up just not using the stands.