Ares Games
Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Two hours in the sky at Balticon

  1. #1

    Default Two hours in the sky at Balticon

    I ran a WGF game at the just recently-completed Balticon (53!) s/f convention. Lot of wild fun. I've done this for a while now, and I've had variable success with it. This year, six players showed, four of them new, the other two semi-experienced. All declined to have their pictures taken, or have their names published., so I respected that. But nobody objected to pictures of the action. And they all had fun, to the extent of one of the players asking mie where she could get hold of a RAP. Logged in and checked Clipper's list, but alas, he had just sold the last one he had. She did, though, pick up a WGS BoB set, so that made one of the dealers in the dealers room happy. Hope she has as much fun with that as she did with the WGF game. Anyway, on to the action. Rules here were: no altitude, collisions happen only with the optional peg has to overlap the base rule, the optional aim bonus rule, and I think the otherwise standard rules. Situation and rules for this particular scenario: Late-war air superiority scenario. Knock your opponent out of the sky. Three points awarded to side and pilot for a shoot down, flying off your own end of the board gives the other side a single point (not awarded to an individual), flying off the enemy end of the board is equivalent to a shoot-down, adjust if a "slight" move off the edge of the board, flying off the side edge just highly discouraged, and resolve any fires when flying off your own board edge. Gun jam cards cause only one gun to jam (unless of course, you get two jam cards simultaneously or overlapping in time). Start with the latest and greatest planes, if you get shot down, wait out a full turn, and come back in with a reserve, older plane. For the British, this meant three Sopwith Snipes to begin: for the Germans, it meant a Siemens-Schuckert D-III, a Fokker D-VII, and at particular player's desire, a Fokker Dr-I of his own. With that, on to the action!
    Last edited by zenlizard; 05-28-2019 at 12:03.

  2. #2

    Default

    The three snipes spread themselves out evenly to begin:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	0. Allied Start.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	120.2 KB 
ID:	268503

    With the German players pretty much the same:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	1. German Start.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	98.5 KB 
ID:	268504

    At first the player with the Siemens-Schuckert seemed to be having some trouble with turn dyslexia (so common among both new and experienced plyers):
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	3. Turn Dyslexia.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	199.8 KB 
ID:	268505

    While the British decided to overload one side of the German players:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	2. Overload.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	168.9 KB 
ID:	268506

    In order to gang up on the Fokker D-VII:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	4. Fokker Gang-up.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	159.0 KB 
ID:	268507

    All of which left the Siemens-Schuckert lagging behind:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	5. Lagging Behind.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	162.0 KB 
ID:	268508

    After the D-VII performed an Immelmann, the Dr-I and a Snipe went head-to-head, causing the Snipe's gun to jam:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	6. Fokker Immelmann, Head-on.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	140.7 KB 
ID:	268509

    Which did not turn out well for the middle Snipe. First boom card of the day:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	7.Boom!.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	169.5 KB 
ID:	268510
    Last edited by zenlizard; 05-28-2019 at 12:03.

  3. #3

    Default

    And the leftmost (from the British point of view) Snipe attacked the D-VII. Another gun jam:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	8. Sniping Snipe.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	127.3 KB 
ID:	268511

    Then the Siemens-Schuckert managed to get back into the fight, and on the tail of the third Snipe. The result was the second boom card of the day:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	9. Second Boom.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	191.2 KB 
ID:	268512

    The sole remaining Snipe made a firing pass on the Siemens-Schuckert, which the latter was just barely unable to return. I think this was when the S-S pilot suffered the first wound card:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	10. Remaining Snipe.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	180.3 KB 
ID:	268513

    It was very briefly one-on-three, which just made a target choice for the Snipe:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	11. Snipe again.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	156.9 KB 
ID:	268514

    Enter the Camels, first of the British reserve, while the Snipe nearly collided with the Dr-I:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	12. Camel Entry.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	190.1 KB 
ID:	268515

    One of which immediately went after the Siemens-Schuckert:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	13. Siemens Schuckert miss.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	172.0 KB 
ID:	268516

    There were several exchanges of let's-get-'em, and let's-avoid-'em:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	14. Chasing each other.jpg 
Views:	35 
Size:	134.9 KB 
ID:	268517

    The D-VII set the first reserve Camel to smoking, while the second reserve Came dealt the Siemens-Schuckert pilot a second wound, killing the pilot and setting the score a little more even. Unfortunately, I positioned the shot incorrectly, and the second reserve Camel is just barely visible at the top:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	15. Siemens Schuckert Pilot Killed.jpg 
Views:	34 
Size:	168.9 KB 
ID:	268518

  4. #4

    Default

    Smoke in the face didn't stop the Camel, just made aiming a little more difficult:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	16. Camel vs Fokker.jpg 
Views:	33 
Size:	188.6 KB 
ID:	268519

    And finally brought the D-VII down. The score was now even:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	17. Fokker Damage.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	140.5 KB 
ID:	268520

    The Snipe attacked the Dr-I,
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	18. Triplane pursuit 1.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	139.3 KB 
ID:	268521

    and got in several close-range shots, but Snipes' gun jammed again:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	19. Triplane pursuit 2.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	108.1 KB 
ID:	268522

    German reinforcement came in the form of a Fokker D-VIII:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20. D-VIII entry.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	163.5 KB 
ID:	268523

    And the Camels didn't hesitate to got head-to-head with this one, either:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	21. Run at D-VIII.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	136.1 KB 
ID:	268524

    Which almost caused another collision:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	22. Near collision.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	177.9 KB 
ID:	268525

    But then, the other reserve German aircraft, Kempf's Dr-I , attempted to take revenge for the D-VII:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	23. D-VII revenge.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	143.4 KB 
ID:	268526

    in the form of attacking a Camel while it was pursuing the D-VIII:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	24. Chain pursuit.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	129.9 KB 
ID:	268527

    And then it was the German's turn for a gun jam, at close range:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	25. Close range.jpg 
Views:	32 
Size:	136.6 KB 
ID:	268528

    Drawing from the B deck didn't stop the dreaded boom card from appearing:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	26. Third Allied Boom.jpg 
Views:	31 
Size:	158.2 KB 
ID:	268529

    Near the end of the game (time limit, we assumed running out of fuel and/or ammo), the Snipe returned to attack the D-VIII:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	27. Snipe and D-VIII.jpg 
Views:	31 
Size:	118.6 KB 
ID:	268530

    And it looked like the D-VIII was in real trouble:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	28. D-VIII In trouble.jpg 
Views:	31 
Size:	134.5 KB 
ID:	268531

    In fact, the D-VIII started smoking on the last shot of the game:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	29. D-VIII smoking.jpg 
Views:	31 
Size:	101.7 KB 
ID:	268532

    Wild game: I was impressed that the Richthofen Dr-I managed to survive the entire game. Ditto for the Snipe, but that player was originally headed off the end of the board, with only two damage points remaining. When I had to announce the last turn, though, he turned back, figuring he might as well get in more damage while he could. But wow, what a lot of fun.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 30. Final shot.jpg  
    Last edited by zenlizard; 05-28-2019 at 12:46.

  5. #5

    Default

    Excellent introduction to the game for your shy and retiring gamers

  6. #6

    Default

    I think that the one that you called a Fokker D.VIII, is actually a Fokker E.V. Great pictures though!

  7. #7

    Default

    The Fokker E-V/D-VIII is the same aircraft. The original designation was E-V, as the E designation was for monoplanes (Eindecker), and the D designation was for biplanes (Doppeldecker). But after some accidents caused by the collapse of the mono wing (eventually traced back to Fokker's cheap-a$$ manufacturing practices), the entire E category was dropped and the designation D-VIII applied. See https://www.militaryfactory.com/airc...ircraft_id=204 , although they refer to the D-VIII as an "evolution" of the E-V design. The only real 'redesign' was the application of interior paint to prevent the rotting of wood used in the wing structure.

  8. #8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by zenlizard View Post
    The Fokker E-V/D-VIII is the same aircraft. The original designation was E-V, as the E designation was for monoplanes (Eindecker), and the D designation was for biplanes (Doppeldecker). But after some accidents caused by the collapse of the mono wing (eventually traced back to Fokker's cheap-a$$ manufacturing practices), the entire E category was dropped and the designation D-VIII applied. See https://www.militaryfactory.com/airc...ircraft_id=204 , although they refer to the D-VIII as an "evolution" of the E-V design. The only real 'redesign' was the application of interior paint to prevent the rotting of wood used in the wing structure.
    Thank you for correcting me. That is an interesting fact.

  9. #9

    Default

    Great action! Thanks for posting.
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  10. #10

    Default

    Nice to see the Snipe in action.
    I must try to fly mine more often.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  11. #11

    Default

    Good job roping in new players.
    Thanks for posting.

  12. #12

    Thumbs up

    Well done Sam for promoting our game.

    Have some Rep from me.

  13. #13

    Default

    Lots of good action, which makes it attractive for new players. Thanks for the AAR, so we could share it too.



Similar Missions

  1. Replies: 35
    Last Post: 07-28-2018, 15:20
  2. After Action Report: WGF at Balticon 51
    By zenlizard in forum WGF: After Action Reports
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 06-03-2017, 21:00
  3. Maryland After Action Report: WGF at Balticon 51
    By zenlizard in forum US Wing
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 06-03-2017, 21:00
  4. Maryland Wings at Balticon 51
    By zenlizard in forum US Wing
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-18-2017, 09:02
  5. Baltimore-Washington Games at Balticon 49?
    By zenlizard in forum US Wing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 08-12-2015, 11:41

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •