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Thread: A Martini, A Balloon & Wings Of Glory...2018

  1. #1

    Default A Martini, A Balloon & Wings Of Glory...2018

    Good Morning, Everyone!

    Following is yet another AAR from my wife's FB page describing a WoG game we hosted last Saturday at a friend's house. Actually, it shares TWO games: a brief indoctrinational "balloon-busting" skirmish on Friday evening, followed-up by an actual, full-fledged game on Saturday afternoon with some members of our wargaming group. I apologize for the size of the photos...it seems I either post images that are either too big for comfort or too small for clarity. I'll figure it all out eventually. In the meantime, ENJOY!

    A Martini, A Balloon & Wings Of Glory...2018

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    ,,,starting my "REAL Friday" Friday evening off right!....it was SOOO nice and warm that i had to do the sundress thing

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    ...setting my olives down i fly my Nieuport 11 "Bebe" along with my hubby toward our objective...a pesky German observation balloon...chasing off a Fokker Eindekker on the way

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    ...the balloon sees us coming and begins to descend. closing in quickly, we both fire half of our missiles...(this balloon is so darned CUTE!)

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    ...and we both hit, causing a lot of damage...

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    ...getting even closer, the balloon ignites while we're both firing our machine guns at it!

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    ...flying past, we see the observer is still spotting targets for the German artillery...i love that they actually have a teeny "person" in the basket!

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    ...whirling around for a second pass, the observer bails out...but of course!...that balloon isn't going to last much longer!

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    ...and we find there's no need to attack again as the balloon has torched itself!
    ...how better to spend a Friday night?...'tinis and biplanes...yes!...i LOVE this game!!

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    ...so now it's Saturday morning and Mike prepares the table at our host Dave's house...his game room is every wargamer's dream!...this is why i "practiced" last nite...want to be able to hold my own...

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    ...i'd be playing with a larger group than just Mike and i and a friend here and there...

    ...our motley crew! ...from left to right...flying for the French: Mssr. Mark (photobombing our host), Mssr. Dave, Mssr. John and Mssr. Steven
    the German defenders: Herr Rich (our fearless leader), Frau Nikki (me!) and Herr Tom

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    Mike explains the rules and the objectives of the sortie...the French need to photograph at least one of two targets and return to their lines with their film

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    ...and very shortly we're off!

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    maneuvering our planes...taking occasional pot shots...

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    ... until two swirling dogfights begin to take shape...

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    ...a "pilot's eye" view

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    there is much maneuvering and firing and reloading of machine guns until, sadly, Herr Tom, who ironically fired the first shot in anger, is also the first to go down!
    meanwhile, visible in the background to the north, Mssr. John's Sopwith Strutter has caught fire...

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    ...eventually to flame out himself as Herr Rich flies his victorious Fokker overhead to face Mssr. Steve's oncoming Nieuport.
    the French now only have one recon plane left to accomplish their mission

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    ...but just as Mssr. Mark is about to fly over his target, his Strutter also bursts into flames from my Eindekker's gun and goes down, freeing me to try to shake Mssr. Dave's Bebe off my tail!
    the Germans claim victory ... YAY!
    this was a particularly explosive game...I've never seen so much fire!

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    afterward we all enjoy a laugh or two as we recount the game and get better acquainted with each other...(rings around Mars?).... ....lolol!!!...ya had to be there! lolol!!!...so much fun!

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    as we clean up, Mike shares a preview of what our next encounter will entail...Balloon Busting!
    i'll be ready for that!


    This was the first Wings of Glory experience for many of the players and we used my House Rules (which, happily, neither slowed the game nor burdened anybody).

    As usual, my wife has received a number of very positive inquiries about the game from interested FB friends. So many, in fact, that I'm thinking ARES ought to consider taking her on as a Wings of Glory spokesperson (HA)!

    Until next time, Happy Flying (and may your guns never jam)!

  2. #2

    Default

    Thanks for sharing swmbo's fb feed Mike, she can spin a yarn - must be her pirate influence !

    "He is wise who watches"

  3. #3

    Default

    Thank you for the A.A.R.'s, Mike. It sounds like you all had a good time.

  4. #4

    Default

    Good AAR and pics. Thanks for sharing.

  5. #5

    Default

    Thanks guys!

    Here are a few more images taken and shared this morning by one of the players from the "northern" end of the combat zone. They're much larger, closer to the subject and more definitive than those I'd posted. ENJOY!

    An excellent fun afternoon, thank you.

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    First image, the French casualty number one.

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    Second is the next French casualty with the support plane (me) having flown upwards instead of down. Will have to pay more attention to the flight cards.

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    And the third is a view of Herr Richard flying away safely after downing that second French photographer.



    You'll notice the modified altitude pegs I use that incorporate one of my "House Rules". The first image shows three different elevations. From left to right; 4 full, 3 1/2 and 3 full. I believe I've shared this rule on the Drome, but in case I haven't, here it is for your consideration and comment:

    OPTIONAL ALTITUDE RULES
    The following rules are intended to lessen the vertical distance between pegs, thus minimizing climb markers and allowing for close range combat at slightly different elevations. However, to effect this, it is necessary to either paint or purchase a set of different colored elevation pegs.

    MODIFIED CLIMB/DIVE AND ELEVATION
    In WINGS of GLORY, altitude levels are reflected by an elevation peg once an airplane has acquired its requisite climb markers. Conversely, dives consistently drop an airplane by either one or, in the case of overdives, two pegs. This modified rule allows for more vertical flexibility.

    An airplane's altitude will be marked with either a half-peg or a full-peg representing either a half elevation or full elevation difference, respectively.

    When an airplane reaches half its climb rate (rounded UP), its climb markers are removed and a half-peg (single clear) is added to its flight stand. When it has attained the requisite climb markers for a full-peg, it replaces the single clear peg with a double (a clear peg topped with a colored peg) peg. It should be noted that airplanes with a climb rate of '2' will never use climb markers; only half- and full-pegs.

    When an airplane dives, a full- (double) peg is removed, but any acquired climb markers are retained.* However, when a plane overdives, TWO full- (double) pegs are removed as well as ALL climb markers.

    Example: An Albatross D.II with a climb rate of 5 is flying at two full (double) elevation pegs and has 2 climb markers. It climbs again (3); the 2 climb markers are removed and a half- (single clear) peg is added to its flight stand. It then dives and 1 full- (double) peg is removed from its flight stand, thus placing it at 1 1/2 elevation. It climbs again and acquires another (1) marker. Should it climb yet again in its next turn, the climb marker is removed and the half- (single) peg is replaced with a full- (double) peg.

    Half speed may be performed on any normal dive, in which case only a half-peg is removed from its altitude (again retaining any climb markers*) but it may NOT be used for an overdive.

    Overlapping airplanes with a half-peg elevation difference do NOT collide.

    Any airplane which goes into a glide due to a critical hit is also not as severely penalized with this rule. At the end of any turn in which it performs any maneuver other than straight, it only looses only one half-peg of elevation.*

    * Exception: Rookies ALWAYS lose any acquired climb markers or, in the case of a Glide (see CRITICAL HITS), one full-peg.

    MODIFIED COMBAT AND ELEVATION
    In WINGS of GLORY, airplanes flying at one peg altitude difference suffer a severe combat penalty. The following rule allows for closer range between elevations.

    Airplanes within one half-peg altitude difference of each other use the range attributes and restrictions of flying at the SAME elevation, thus allowing for possible combat at close range. However, such airplanes must still adhere to the blind spot rules provided in the original altitude rules.

    Airplanes within one full-peg altitude difference of each other use the range attributes and restrictions as provided in the original rules.

    Airplanes with MORE than one full-peg altitude difference of each other cannot conduct combat.

    Airplanes with "Foster" wing-mounted machine guns may fire them at the underside of an overlapping enemy. However, the center point of such an enemy must still be within the firing airplane's forward field of fire. Observers also may fire at the underside of an overlapping enemy. Yet, in their case, any portion of such an enemy's BASE must be within the firing airplane's rear field of fire per the original rules (refer to OPTIONAL RESTRICTED FIELD OF FIRE RULE).


    For what it's worth, the beauty of the above rule is it provides more opportunity to hit a target using the Altitude rules and further promotes attacking from a higher elevation. It's a simple add-on, doesn't take away from the fluid nature of the game and yet provides a dynamic impact on it. You may want to give it a go sometime.

    Happy Flying!

    Mike

  6. #6

    Setarius's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies
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    Dale
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    Well done guys. Glad you were able have fun.

  7. #7

    Thumbs up

    Great AAR & good to see you both promoting the game & engaging new players!

  8. #8

    Default

    A great scenario, balloon busting. The comments from your good lady were priceless.
    The main fight was very fierce. Those fires were reminiscent of most of my games.
    Thanks for posting Mike.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."



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