OTT-BE Mission 23 - Cambrai Revisited - 9 Oct 1918 (Stumptonian}

[Stumptonian]

Let me repeat

It seems my luck is either all bad or all good!
I will definitely take the good this time.


I certainly did not have high hopes this time out after the dismal result in mission 22.
The cards certainly came through for Die Adler this time.

All targets taken out.
All enemy aircraft shot down.
All Adler RTB safely.

I must be dreaming ...

Schmidt finally has his triple ace status, and Wolfram, with 13 kills, is not far behind him.

I must say I was bummed to have Rimmer roll just bad enough to sit out for the duration.
I quite liked writing about his escapades.
I guess Scotsman Campbell will have to take his place.

No KIA and No POW - that's something to be thankful for.
Shaky hands rolled those dice ...

Having a hard time deciding on Schmidt's third ace skill - I will ponder it for a while and let you know, Onkel.


Thanks for a terrific mission, Paul.
Even if I hadn't had such crazy luck I still would have enjoyed it.
Simple, yet challenging.

[Popsical]

Fantastic AAR Pete! Love the presentation of the whole scrap.
Well done eagles!

[Vagabond]

Excellent AAR, and what a victory, well done to Schmidt, 15 victories is amazing but the rest of the flight backed him up in great style.

I really like your presentation and the bits that you put into it, but I've said that before, and I expect I'll say it again.

I played the game yesterday and am going to try and write it up today. Your Gotha pilot is much more competent than my bomber pilot (me), were you bombing from altitude 2? and the bombs falling 1 card away? Such accuracy was not seen on my table, I can tell you.

I have a couple of questions about the bits and pieces if you don't mind. The flame streamer you use, is it home made or photoshopped in, specifically the one when Rimmer goes down at the end, this looks fantastic, but also when Lister is shot down, part of that looks like plastic but the flames don't.
The bomb explosions are also great, are they Litko ones or again maybe yours?

Thoroughly enjoyed this.
Cheers

[flash]

Bravo Pete, looks like your chaps' luck came good this time round - a perfect mission ... well nearly...

Onkel says:


Wunderbar ! We have not had a better day ! Targets destroyed and the Englanders driven from the skies; everybody back in one piece. You have earned your beers tonight boys and I will be buying the first
ObLtn Friedrich Schmidt is awarded the Knights Cross - Military Order of St Henry (KC). for his 15th victory
no further promotion.
PM Onkel with his new skill when decided.

The near perfect mission - Points of note:
Wolfram has Marksmanship I - he only selects from 3 damage cards at close range.
At one ruler range Wolfram is not in the blind spot of a two seater...that's a 'Chuckism'. It applies only at half ruler, measured peg to peg through the back of the base.
Would have made little difference to the outcome with their luck running so hot but noteworthy for future encounters.

[gully_raker]

Holy ****!
What a whitewash of the Doggies.
You certainly "creamed" them this time Pete.
A Perfect Mission for you & a "Perfect Storm" for the Bulldogs.
Great AAR mate & Rep Inbound.

[Stumptonian]

Your Gotha pilot is much more competent than my bomber pilot (me), were you bombing from altitude 2? and the bombs falling 1 card away?

I have a couple of questions about the bits and pieces if you don't mind. The flame streamer you use, is it home made or photoshopped in, specifically the one when Rimmer goes down at the end, this looks fantastic, but also when Lister is shot down, part of that looks like plastic but the flames don't.
The bomb explosions are also great, are they Litko ones or again maybe yours?

Thoroughly enjoyed this.
Cheers

Thanks, John. It was a pleasure to play this time (although I kept waiting for the reality shoe to drop)

The Gotha was at level 4.
Don't forget it's much slower than a DH.4 - the photos might have been confusing because I tried to show how the bomb hit after the second move card and then put the plane where it ended up in the next shot, but they are really at the same time.
Announce Bombing - Move plane - place second movement card and put the bomb on top of that.

The flames are pipe cleaners with additional paint added (the Rimmer one) or a cut down version of a bright orange one for the Lister shot - the smoke and flame stands are Litko.

[Stumptonian]

Wolfram has Marksmanship I - he only selects from 3 damage cards at close range

Sorry I must have got carried away. I think that was near the end of the first day. It took most of Sunday afternoon and a couple of evenings to finish this one.

At one ruler range Wolfram is not in the blind spot of a two seater...that's a 'Chuckism'. It applies only at half ruler, measured peg to peg through the back of the base.
Would have made little difference to the outcome with their luck running so hot but noteworthy for future encounters.

I should have know that as well - although the RAP rule says if it touches any part of the base (I know you use the much more difficult peg-to-peg for all your shots)
Put it down to pilot fatigue.

P.S. what's a "Chuckism" ?

[Vagabond]

Thanks, John. It was a pleasure to play this time (although I kept waiting for the reality shoe to drop)

The Gotha was at level 4.
Don't forget it's much slower than a DH.4 - the photos might have been confusing because I tried to show how the bomb hit after the second move card and then put the plane where it ended up in the next shot, but they are really at the same time.
Announce Bombing - Move plane - place second movement card and put the bomb on top of that.

The flames are pipe cleaners with additional paint added (the Rimmer one) or a cut down version of a bright orange one for the Lister shot - the smoke and flame stands are Litko.

Well all I can think is that your pilot was a lot more composed than mine was, it was his 1st mission after all.

The flames on those two shots look amazingly real, I did wonder if you boys in Oregon actually set fire to your planes when they go down in flames, just to add that extra touch of realism to your games.

[gully_raker]

*************************Snipped***************************************

P.S. what's a "Chuckism" ?

Ah Flash would probably have explained this but he is away gaming this weekend.
"Chuckie" was a non lamented player who joined the solo campaign back in the earlier days but who did not play "Kosher"!
He abused the blind spot rules & amazingly had his lead pilot shoot down about 3 or 4 enemy each mission until flash & others, myself included started asking questions & he eventually got the message & "retired Hurt" to use a Cricket term!

[Stumptonian]

"Chuckie" was a non lamented player who joined the solo campaign back in the earlier days but who did not play "Kosher"!
He abused the blind spot rules & amazingly had his lead pilot shoot down about 3 or 4 enemy each mission until flash & others, myself included started asking questions & he eventually got the message & "retired Hurt" to use a Cricket term!

Did he fly an SE.5a with a Z on it by any chance?

[gully_raker]

Did he fly an SE.5a with a Z on it by any chance?

Definitely should have!

[Setarius]

Congratulations Pete on your 3xAce. And you have a second one close enough to make it before wars end.
Another job well done be the Kaiser's Eagles.
Congratulations again.

[Stumptonian]

Thanks, Dale.
With only three missions left I hope that Wolfram can make it to 15 kills.
I don’t expect my luck to carry over ...

[mikeemagnus]

Well, that was one shooting fest. Congrats to the Eagles - wipe out time Great AAR Pete and thanks once more for the German lesson - I'm sure my German is improving

[Stumptonian]

... and thanks once more for the German lesson - I'm sure my German is improving ...

My German is all care of Google Translate. I keep waiting for real German speakers to have at me ...

[Teaticket]

Well done Pete! Every target destroyed, every enemy plane shot down, no friendly losses, Chuck would be proud.

A great victory for us Eagles, we needed it. Lately we've been taking a beating so this is good news. Triple ace to lead your flight, great going!

[Stumptonian]

I hope I do not get tagged as “Chuckie v2.0” when I post Mission 24.

[gully_raker]

I hope I do not get tagged as “Chuckie v2.0” when I post Mission 24.

We would not do that to you Peter!
You are much too Kosher.