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Thread: The great Santa down or 'Jingle Bell Rock' caper

  1. #1

    Default The great Santa down or 'Jingle Bell Rock' caper

    It all began with the unearthing of a dusty, tattered file that had fallen down the back of a filing cabinet in the central records repository and had lain there, undiscovered, for 50 years.

    As the clerk was picking up the file, a stained, tatty piece of paper fell out of the file and scrawled on it were these words;

    “Jingle bells, jingle bells,
    Santa’s on his way.
    Reindeer poo might get you,
    So be careful where you stray!”

    His interest piqued he blew the dust from the seat of a broken chair that was in a dark corner of the basement, turned on a spider-web encrusted overhead light, sat down and began to read…


    Top Secret mission – Operation Santa, December 3, 1917
    ------------------------------------------------------

    A letter written to Santa by the High Command has been intercepted by our undercover elf that reveals that our foe has requested a special delivery to their front line troops in order to raise flagging morale.

    Unfortunately our undercover elf has discovered that our enemy also has an undercover elf in Santa’s employ who has determined that we are aware of these plans.

    We must make sure that we have 2 aircraft on standby on the evening of December 25 in order to intercept the sleigh and prevent delivery of any presents. It is assumed that our foe, knowing that we are aware of the letter, will provide an escort for Santa.

    And so begins our scenario...
    Last edited by Biggles downunder; 12-04-2018 at 23:52.

  2. #2

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    This all began brewing in my tiny, twisted mind a few years ago when I recalled seeing a Santa card on another forum I had discovered when I was first bitten by the Wings of War bug.

    Over the last couple of years I have scoured the net and the local shops looking for an ornament suitable for converting to a gaming piece - but I came up 'dry' each time and eventually I gave up. A month ago I acquired a 3D printer, and while browsing all of the websites that had downloadable files for 3D printers, I came across this: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:198381 and my mind shifted into overdrive.

    By now I knew just enough about this whole new world of 3D printing to be dangerous so I downloaded the files and then discovered that it was way too big to be useful. But, I then discovered that I could reduce the size of the model, which I did, fired up my printer, downloaded the re scaled files and set the printer to work.

    I've got to say that watching the printer, while fascinating for the first 2 or 3 times, is not a great spectator sport but, after a couple of false starts and reject prints, I ended up with the beginnings of my miniature.

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    So, it was out with the trusty super glue and modelling tools. I'll let the sequence of photos speak for itself:

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    Last edited by Biggles downunder; 12-04-2018 at 21:45.

  3. #3

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    Then began the work of pulling together a set of rules to get this to the stage where we could try it out last night (Tuesday night) with the usual suspects - myself, Gary, Doug & Mark all putting their hands up to test the rules and make adjustments where required.

    Here are the rules we used:

    The sleigh will use the C deck minus the Immelman card.
    Santa can ‘fire’ forward with reindeer dust using the B damage deck.
    The rear arc accommodates reindeer poo, again using the B damage deck.

    Special damages are dealt with as follows:

    1. Jam (a rear jam denotes monetary reindeer constipation), Smoke, Fire, Engine damage – as per normal rules.
    2. Boom card – lose half damage points.
    3. Wounded crewman – first drawn signifies injured reindeer – same as engine damage. Second drawn signifies wounded Santa who loses the ability to ‘fire’ forward.

    Table of combatants

    Escort Interceptors
    ---------------------------
    Triplane 2 Camels
    Camel 2 Triplanes

    (sorry about that - if only I could define a table!)

    Notes

    1. A decision is made as to which side Santa is delivering to.
    2. Play is on 3 mats with the trench line being the centre mat.
    3. ‘Present’ delivery will be conducted using bombing rules with the ‘target’ being just behind the front line trenches and equidistant from the edges of the mat. Santa has 2 sacks of gifts to be delivered.
    4. No ideal starting conditions have been determined but I suggest that we game-test the positions shown in the diagram below.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    5. The scenario ends when any one of the following occurs:
    a. At least one sack of gifts is delivered – Santa wins
    b. Both interceptors are shot down – Santa wins
    c. The sleigh is shot down – Interceptors win
    d. Both sacks miss the target – interceptors win
    6. Decide on whether respawning will be permitted in the event of a plane being shot down.

  4. #4

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    Ok, now I have to find the time to put up our AAR! Oh, and design a Santa card plus a sack of gifts to replace the bomb card before we play this scenario again.

  5. #5

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    Darn - just reread my thread title!! Does anyone know how to edit that?

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by Biggles downunder View Post
    Darn - just reread my thread title!! Does anyone know how to edit that?
    Click on Edit Post, Go Advanced on the next screen & you can edit everything Wayne.

    "He is wise who watches"

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    Click on Edit Post, Go Advanced on the next screen & you can edit everything Wayne.
    Thanks Dave - you live and learn!

  8. #8

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    Awesome. Love that mission write up!

  9. #9

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    I have been soo looking for something like this! Thanks for posting.

    Jingle Bells, Machine Gun Shells... Or Red Sleigh Down?

    My remake of the original:
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    PS: Santa is tracked and escorted over North America by NORAD. Really. There is a NORAD website for it: Operation SANTA CLAUS.
    Last edited by OldGuy59; 12-05-2018 at 07:50.
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  10. #10

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    It's all true chaps!
    See the "Santa sanction" from 2014.

    https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?20980-

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

  11. #11

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    Hi Mike. Wow, love the card!

    How did you arrive at the damage rating and choice of manuver deck? In our game we stuck with the Camel stats and Santa was way too powerful!

    I can put my G-code files up in the files section if that is useful.

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by OldGuy59 View Post

    PS: Santa is tracked and escorted over North America by NORAD. Really. There is a NORAD website for it: Operation SANTA CLAUS.
    They’ve been doing it since about the 50s. You can also call an 800 number (toll free US and Canada) and a NORAD serviceman will answer and let you know when Santa should be crossing into your area. They also have jets on “stand by” to escort Santa into US/Canadian airspace if needed in bad weather. When my boys were little we’d call in every year. The website is cool as well as they have a live “santa cam” tracking his movemwnts around the world. Love when he does the flyby of Neuschwanstein.

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by Biggles downunder View Post
    Hi Mike. Wow, love the card!

    How did you arrive at the damage rating and choice of manuver deck? In our game we stuck with the Camel stats and Santa was way too powerful!

    I can put my G-code files up in the files section if that is useful.
    I can't claim any credit for the design of the Santa version. I borrowed it wholesale from the originator: Look for "Le Pčre Noël" (The site is completely in French, but the original Santa's Sleigh card is there, along with the rules. English translation is on our Forum at the link above.)

    PS: Perhaps the 'A' maneuver deck because it is the fastest deck in the game, and doesn't have any sharp maneuvers?
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  14. #14

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    Speaking as one of the participants in the game, I really enjoyed it. The Sleigh driver certainly flummoxed us with some of his moves and it was only through collision that his mission was thwarted.

  15. #15

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    Tis the season to bring out the special missions! Looks like a lot of fun.

  16. #16

    Smile

    Great work Wayne. Super idea & a great card via Old Guy to put the icing on the Christmas cake so to say.

  17. #17

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    Donna's Nephew was caring for our house while we travelled, and this was waiting on the counter when we got home:
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    I then remembered that I had received a PM from Wayne [Biggles downunder] shortly before going on our trip. I quickly attempted to unwrap the package and found this:
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    and then, I discovered the parts carefully protected inside:
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    Now, I can run a demo game of Wings of Glory at the Christmas Geek Fair in December. Way cool.

    Wayne, thank you so much for the sleigh!
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  18. #18

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    Glad to see that our mate in red and his white friends made it safely across the Pacific!

    Mike, I just re-read my original posts and noticed that I didn't mention anywhere that I had to slightly enlarge the holes in the reindeer and the sleigh to allow the hitch rail (not sure of the correct term) to slide into the holes.
    Last edited by Biggles downunder; 10-04-2019 at 14:22.

  19. #19

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    And this is my completed version of the sleigh and reindeer:

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    If I can find a blank stand, I'll do up a transparent label for it. This will be on a table at Curious Comics Nanaimo on 14 December, at their Christmas event. Snoopy will be flying as his winger, taking on all comers.

    The reindeer mounting holes were still a bit small, but judicious filing and a bit of X-acto knife work got them to fit.
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  20. #20

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    We played a similar game once at the wargames club I attend but it took up the whole room and we were using 1:72 scale models.

    Santa was flying about randomly in the middle until a plane got in close from one of the sides. Santa would then follow that plane which tried to lead him back to their lines. To prevent this the enemy had to shoot down the leading plane when Santa would start to follow another plane. The leading plane's allies tried to protect them.

    Santa took no part in the fighting and dire consequences were threatened, if anyone shot down Santa.

    Sadly, I do not have a copy of the exact rules for the scenario.

    It is usually possible to find plastic models of Santa and his sleigh for decorating Christmas cakes. It might be possible to convert one of these for use in a wings of Glory scenario.

  21. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by Naharaht View Post
    We played a similar game once at the wargames club I attend but it took up the whole room and we were using 1:72 scale models.

    Santa was flying about randomly in the middle until a plane got in close from one of the sides. Santa would then follow that plane which tried to lead him back to their lines. To prevent this the enemy had to shoot down the leading plane when Santa would start to follow another plane. The leading plane's allies tried to protect them.

    Santa took no part in the fighting and dire consequences were threatened, if anyone shot down Santa.

    Sadly, I do not have a copy of the exact rules for the scenario.

    It is usually possible to find plastic models of Santa and his sleigh for decorating Christmas cakes. It might be possible to convert one of these for use in a wings of Glory scenario.
    I plan on using the rules I borrowed from the French site so many years ago, the translation of which I posted here: Jingle Bells, Machine Gun Shells... Or Red Sleigh Down?

    However, David, I think I actually like your idea better. That way, nobody is shooting at Santa. Perhaps Santa could still throw presents at planes to assist his 'escorts'?
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  22. #22

    matt56's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies.
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    Default

    Not sure how I missed this thread last December - so glad to see it now! I, too, think it's time to look for a Santa to call my own...

    All the best,
    Matt

  23. #23

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    Is it time to invoke the insanity clause before he goes global?

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

  24. #24

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    For those of you who have joined us since 2014 you may find this old thread interesting.

    https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sh...santa+sanction

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

  25. #25

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    Did you know all Santa's reindeers are females? Only those are antlers during winter, not males. Poor Rudolph...

  26. #26

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    What brings you to that conclusion, please, Daniel?

  27. #27

  28. #28

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dan-Sam View Post
    Did you know all Santa's reindeers are females? Only those are antlers during winter, not males. Poor Rudolph...
    Not so poor Daniel. He only has to work one night a year if Christmas eve is foggy. When did we last have a foggy Christmas eve?
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  29. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Not so poor Daniel. He only has to work one night a year if Christmas eve is foggy. When did we last have a foggy Christmas eve?
    Rob.
    You haven't been out on Vancouver Island, recently? We get lots of moisture, and not necessarily the white stuff, here. So, Rudolph may have to sub-in for part of the evening's efforts. Still, tough job.
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  30. #30

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    When you think of the speed they have that sledge moving, that would be a few seconds work on the Island Mike. We never seem to get real fogs here anymore. When I was a kid they often stopped the buses and we had a couple of miles or more walk to school. Now we only get what i would call heavy mist.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  31. #31

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    And was it a real fog, Rob? I heard famous London frogs were just smoked from coal stoves.
    We have some days with inversion last winters, not quite nice. On the other hand, when you are about 900 m above sea level or higher if is quite opposite.

    And I heard one more thing about fog: pilots loved foggy days during WWII - it was not possible to bomb Albion, so no need of scramble and day of, a day of life out off plan.
    Last edited by Dan-Sam; 11-25-2019 at 00:41.

  32. #32

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    In Nottingham we did not get London type Smog Daniel, but it was what we called a Pea souper!

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

  33. #33

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    That is why I mentioned London Interesting, I learn something new again, thank you!

  34. #34

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    Hm, wonder what it would be like to add some sort of visibility rules to this scenario.

  35. #35

    Default

    You mean the fog of war Sam?
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."



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