Wings of War - Modern Era Helicopters

[Seiseki]

It's something I just thought of that would probably be really cool.
I imagine that the maneuver deck would be quite big though, and you'd need maneuvers for turning while standing still, and maneuvers for just standing still.
Also since Helicopters can fly backwards and sideways maneuver cards needs to be able to be played in any direction..
This sounds really cool to me, to be able to circle around someone and still keep them in your line of fire.

But it would be more of a 2-3 player game with small scale operations, perhaps even with 1 player variants.
The scenario possibilities would be very interesting though, like rescue, troop transport, escort, destroying buildings.

[Oberst Hajj]

In a combat role, you would almost never go backwards, so I think it would be fine to leave that out to simplify the rules/maneuver cards.

Helicopters have three control inputs the cyclic stick, the collective lever, and the anti-torque pedals. The cyclic stick controls the movement in the horizontal. The collective lever controls the movement in the vertical. The anti-torque pedals control the rotation or spin.

Thinking in these terms, I should be pretty easy to design three card inputs that would translate into a single maneuver. Maybe each of the control cards would have a maneuver as we know it in WoW. Playing all three would give the final out come of the maneuver. You could still play three maneuvers per turn, it would just consit of three sets of three cards, each set played as a group/round with firing between each one.

At least, that's what came to mind off the top of my head.

[Seiseki]

hm, that's an interesting approach.

Also, since you can turn the helicopter the firing arc should be rather small.
And it should be pretty interesting with rules for missiles and countermeasures.

I also imagine the helicopters load out would be rather customizable depending on the mission which is also very interesting.

[Oberst Hajj]

Missiles would kill the game, rockets could be doable though.

[Seiseki]

Missiles would kill the game, rockets could be doable though.

Perhaps, my only helicopter experience comes from games like Desert Strike, and Battlefield 2

Why would missiles kill the game though?
Would this still be an issue if the game was set during the gulf or even vietnam war?

[Oberst Hajj]

The problem with missiles in any aerial combat game is the movement of them. Most missiles are guided, and that means you have to plan and play maneuvers for them. Once a few players launch missiles in the same turn, you then have like 10 objects flying around... it just kills game play. Rockets on the other hand are fire and forget... they move straight for x number of turns and that's it.

[Seiseki]

Yeah, that's true..

[SHVAK]

Helicopters you say! - you now enter into my domain.

- Sidewards and rearward flight velocity is a limited for most heli. This increasingly invalidates the use of 3-different axis input cards for Heli at speeds above translational lift
- Combat Heli are not designed for air-to-air combat, albeit the capability exists
- Firing arc rather small, I think not. Turreted guns are slaved to a gunner's/pilot's helmet and aim to where you are looking.
- Agree that missiles would kill the game, unless the entire scale of the game changes as well (ie tabletop equates to 100 miles (160Km) across.

[Seiseki]

Hm, interesting insight..

This must be why there aren't many helicopter based boardgames around..
And as you say, they're not designed for air-to-air combat, but rather air-vs-ground which would make the game a bit one sided..

It would be one hell of a solo or 1 vs 1 game though..

[C Stewart]

My experience of operational rotary wing combat is anti-submarine, so really wouldn't translate to a WOW type game....

maybe a version of "battleships" is more apt for that

[Oberst Hajj]

C, have a read of the interview with Andrea. He hints at a naval version... but not modern

[evilsam]

C, have a read of the interview with Andrea. He hints at a naval version... but not modern

I think the system might work with Age-of-Sail stuff.

[Oberst Hajj]

I'm personally hoping for either Vikings or Pirates!!

[C Stewart]

C, have a read of the interview with Andrea. He hints at a naval version... but not modern

ah, so not air to sea, more ship to ship... interesting indeed...

Not so much Taranto as Trafalgar