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Thread: Doncaster 2019, Saturday WGF Table Game #2 - Todesrennen im Himmel

  1. #1

    Default Doncaster 2019, Saturday WGF Table Game #2 - Todesrennen im Himmel

    Death Race in the Skies - Adlershof, June 1918

    The Mission:


    Teams of two Fokker DVIIs gather at Adlershof in June of 1918 to compete in an air race.

    Each plane must take off from Adlershof Aerodrome, fly once around the course by turning around the outside of each of the two balloons, then return to the Aerodrome and land.

    First plane back wins, but points are amassed by the TEAM, not the individual.
    Leaving your Wingman to be shot down is permissible, but the combined scores of both members of a rival team can eclipse your score and rob you of victory!

    Shooting is only permitted if the firer is at level 2 or above (no strafing ground targets, or planes on the ground).

    Obstacles (trees, buildings, hills, mountains) are marked with the altitude they obstruct - planes must fly HIGHER to clear them. Trees and buildings may be flown through at their designated altitude, but pilots draw a 'C' card for possible collision if they do!
    Hills and mountains auto-kill any pilot daft enough to take them on!

    Clouds can disorient a pilot if a three-card turn begins with the aircraft in a cloud.



    The Racers.........

    Dan in Jasta 18 Red and White, with black/white tail
    Mike in Jasta 18 Red and White, with green/white tail
    Reg in Jasta 15 Blue, with white fuselage band
    Doug in Jasta15 Blue, with white snake
    Paul in Jasta 7 Black, with green/white fuselage band
    Andrzej in Jasta 7 Black, with red/white/yellow demon on fuselage sides



    Right, enough of this..............let's see how it played out!


    The course - around the two balloons and back; direction to be determined by card draw, after 'Grid' allocation.
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    The sleepy village of Adlershof, which has no idea what is about to hit it!
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    The 'Grid', and the possible 4 teams which can participate in the race - aircraft placement is determined by random card draw; each plane starts on top of it's matching playing card.
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    Overview..............
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    Under Starter's Orders................

    And They're Off!

    6 players signed up, so only three teams are in play.
    Everyone plays a stall, as the first part of the take-off sequence, except for Reg, who turns left and almost "total"s Mike before they even get airbourne!
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    Most players accelerate with a straight, except for Reg and Andrzej, who each play a stall to start their take-off sequence
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    Four up, with Reg following and Andrzej slipping off the Aerodrome boundary (fortunately, there's no fence or hedge!).
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    Everyone airbourne, and turning left (random card draw designated Clockwise racing).
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    As the leading pack climb again, they reach Level 2, and shooting becomes permissible!
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    Andrzej and Paul are at different altitudes, so do not collide. Mike hammers away at Doug's blue bird ahead of him.
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    Dan turns hard right to escape the pack; stung by Mike's firing, Doug Immelmanns to face him down!
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    First Blood! Doug's battered plane is hacked out of the sky by an onrushing Paul. Dan frantically climbs as a mountain looms before him, and Reg takes the lead around the longer (but lower) route.
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    Dare-devil Dan bounces his wheels off the mountain side in the narrowest of narrow avoidances! Honourary "Lucky Pilot" skill to be awarded, I think!
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    Having climbed again, Mike turns to follow his Wingman, letting Reg go (since he is too low to be a viable target). The two Jasta 7 machines bring up the rear (though I'm told that was their plan all along......).
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    Dan swerves left to avoid the first balloon, while Mike climbs hard to avoid the trees! Paul and Andrzej climb as well, but Reg puts his foot down and continues at a lower altitude.
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    Dan climbs again, while Paul and Andy pursue Mike across the "shortcut".
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    Last edited by Flying Helmut; 10-13-2019 at 17:18. Reason: incorrect photo
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  2. #2

    Default

    First Turn, and Back Straight..............

    Dan rounds the balloon, while Mike suffers under the guns of Paul.
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    Doug restarts in his team's spare (he can no longer score points for himself, but can disrupt others if he can catch them!)
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    Reg starts in a cloud, and has his chosen Right Turn replaced by a random card of the same speed; in this case a Left Sideslip!
    (after later discussion, it transpired that a communication failure on my part as Umpire incorrectly assigned this card - Reg took it like the Gentleman he is , and we played on)
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    Doug has a lot of catching up to do!
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    Reg buzzes the farm, while Andrzej misjudges his turn and passes on the wrong side of the balloon!
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    Dan climbs yet again, remaining safe from Paul's guns, while Andrzej, facing a possible disqualification, must rethink his options............
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    Andrzej has a plan.......
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    Mike slips behind Paul
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    Andrzej performs an Immelmann to stay legal in the race
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    Dan climbs yet again! Paul leads Mike towards cloud cover.
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    Paul's cloud ploy foils Mike, and Doug hops over the hump of the hill to rejoin the action..............
    Speaking of action, Andrzej's reversal presents him with a target in Reg!
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    Andrzej sweeps round behind Reg, blasting away!
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    Paul and Mike tussle for position
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    All six racers thunder along the back straight!
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    High above the duelling pair, Dan rounds the second balloon.
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    Andrzej slips through the cloud and draws level with Reg.
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    Last edited by Flying Helmut; 10-13-2019 at 18:03.
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  3. #3

    Default

    Final Turn, and Home Stretch............

    Dan commences an overdive. No, Andrzej hasn't crashed - his plane wouldn't stand on the hill edge!
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    The overdiving Dan just avoids smashing into Paul from above! Mike takes a much wider turn around the balloon.
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    Andrzej's bullets find their mark.............................
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    .....................with Doug too far away to aid his teammate.
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    Reg is the second pilot down. Blue Team is out of the Race!
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    Unlucky Reg! A damaged plane with a deceased pilot - this is why they call it a Death Race!
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    Dan continues overdiving past Paul, who is felled by Mike with the exact same two-pilot-hits scenario as Reg was!
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    Paul's pilot-less machine plummets into the earth!
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    Dan and Mike zoom onward - can anyone stop team Red & White from scoring a double?
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    Andrzej cuts through beneath the balloon, whilst both Red & White machines overdive closer to the ground, and possible victory.
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    Surely they can't be caught - can they?
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    Dan approaches ground level, with Mike just a little higher.
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    Almost there!
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    Chasing hard!
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    The four remaining racers strung out along the home stretch.
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    Dan touches down - good job!
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    Last edited by Flying Helmut; 10-13-2019 at 18:37.
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  4. #4

    Default

    We Have A Winner!


    Mike swoops low over the countryside.
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    Andrzej dives, but can't catch Mike.
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    Doug passes beneath the balloon, but it's a forlorn chase.
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    Dan taxi's across Adlershof field - victory is almost within his grasp!
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    Mike attempts to land in open fields, but onlookers wave him off - whatever was he thinking?
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    Andrzej can't shoot Mike down now, so he banks away, lining up an approach to his own 'Grid' start point.
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    Doug still heading for home.
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    Dan is SO CLOSE now!
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    VICTORY!!! If I'd had a chequered flag, I'd be waving it now!
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    The Race is on for second place
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    Mike's start point is on the far side of the landing field, so Andrzej and he are almost neck and neck!
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    Mike approaches the field, but plays an illegal card (two successive "steeps"!) - he has a choice; accept an 'A' damage card and the replacement of his landing dive with a straight, which will mean going around again, circling the field for a later attempt; or forcing his kite down now, risking a 'C' damage card instead............
    Ever the Dare-devil, he chooses the latter................
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    ..................and "stacks it"! Boom-carding himself into the grass strip, and losing second place to Andrzej................
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    ................who lands without incident, to claim Second Place.................
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    ..............but has landed too fast, and ploughs into one of the Aerodrome hangars!
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    The Race now over, Doug called the game there (so didn't have to try a landing of his own!)
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    RESULTS

    1st place - Dan
    2nd place - Andrzej
    3rd place - Mike
    4th place - Paul
    5th place - Reg
    6th place - Doug

    but they're all winners in my book!

    Team Jasta 18 won, with team Jasta 7 runners-up.



    Many thanks to all of them for trying out my little work-in-progress.

    I'll iron out the remaining wrinkles, and hope to run this again some time.



    Cheers All!
    Last edited by Flying Helmut; 10-14-2019 at 01:21.
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  5. #5

    Default

    You know who I was rooting for!

    Beautiful planes, beautiful scenery and a fantastic idea.
    Well done Tim and pilots!

  6. #6

    Default

    Thanks, mate - glad you enjoyed it!
    Especially with which planes came out on top...…………………..
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  7. #7

    Default Congrats

    Even coming 5th I regard as an achievement of the highest order. Brilliant game to play and an even more brilliant AAR. Almost like playing it again! Rep required I think.

  8. #8

  9. #9

    Default

    Many thanks for that, old chap!

    I aim to be running it again in the future - there will always be a place for you!
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  10. #10

    Default

    What a wild ride! And a very entertaining AAR.

  11. #11

    Default

    Thanks, Sam!

    It was a lot of fun to perform.

    Double thanks for the REP!
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  12. #12

    Default

    I can see that, or a version of it, being given a run out at Flight Club Tim

    "He is wise who watches"

  13. #13

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by flash View Post
    I can see that, or a version of it, being given a run out at Flight Club Tim
    <<Cowboy, from "Kelly's Heroes">> "Well, that's what we was figured on doin'!"

    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  14. #14

    Default

    Nice Game!

  15. #15

    Default

    Thanks, Daniel!

    And thanks for the Rep!
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  16. #16

    Default

    Really, really enjoyed that one Tim - certainly challenging trying to work as a team - good job my flight leader knew what he was doing Thanks to all for a great tussle and to Tim for providing the fun in the first place. Best game of the weekend, from a mix of great games, so far as I'm concerned REP inbound

  17. #17

    Default

    Another great AAR from Doncaster Tim!

    Rep was already given.

    Great game, unfortunatley I was busy with reorganizing a shattered French Fleet at La Rochelle.
    Voilŕ le soleil d'Austerlitz!

  18. #18

    Default

    Generous words, Mike - thanks for that, and for the Rep!
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  19. #19

    Default

    Glad you enjoyed the AAR, Sven!

    In the best BSG tradition "all this has happened before, and will happen again...…." - I aim to run it again in future meets.
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  20. #20

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Marechallannes View Post
    Another great AAR from Doncaster Tim!

    Rep was already given.

    Great game, unfortunatley I was busy with reorganizing a shattered French Fleet at La Rochelle.
    La Rochelle! What a glorious town of which I have very fond memories.

  21. #21

    Default

    I like the idea of team racing! Nice pictures! I might have to try teams in my gun-less air racing.

  22. #22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dobbs View Post
    I like the idea of team racing! Nice pictures! I might have to try teams in my gun-less air racing.
    I based it (loosely!) on Formula 1, with teams of two cars (planes) and the winner being determined by the Team (Constructors' Championship) with the highest total score.
    Another Race idea I had was a kind of 'Cycling Pursuit', with planes starting airbourne at set positions around the circuit, the winner being determined by the first plane to gain a base overlap on his opposite number.................naturally, such a game could run for an extended duration, with multiple circuits completed, before generating a result! The advantage of this is the capacity of the circuit to accept a considerable number of racers, spaced evenly around the course.

    Please post pictures of any Team races you try out.

    Thanks for the Rep!
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  23. #23

    Default

    FANTASTIC that looks great Tim, some brilliant photos of the event and an exciting commentary, very nicely done. The planes of course look superb.

    It's interesting that landing should be so hard for an experienced pilot, after all he must land after each flight

    Great idea, from concept to execution.

  24. #24

    Default

    Thanks for the kind praise, John, and for the Rep!

    Quote Originally Posted by Vagabond View Post

    It's interesting that landing should be so hard for an experienced pilot, after all he must land after each flight
    So true!
    Still, on purely experience-based gameplay, how many of us have actually "landed" a model, and how many times? I personally have only ever "landed" twice...……………….crashes, well, I've had MYRIADS of those!
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  25. #25

    Default

    Great scenario and exciting report. Got to try this one on our side of the pond. Excellent !



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