I am designing a WW1 campaign and want to include the option for pilots to disengage from the mission should they meet certain criteria. I have sketched out some potential rules and would welcome comments. I would also like to hear about any existing house rules regarding being forced down.
Forced Down
Once on a mission, pilots will attempt to complete the mission but sometimes discretion is the better part of valour. In order to preserve his forces, the player may be able to disengage his aircraft either singly or collectively. Individual pilots may disengage according to the criteria listed below. Aircraft must exit the friendly side of the board to disengage. If they disengage, they are considered ‘forced down’. The enemy gain a point for each aircraft forced down but not the extra points for an Ace being killed.
Rookie Pilots may disengage if any of the following criteria are met:
• No other seasoned pilots or Aces remain on the board;
• Once they have taken one third of their damage points, rounded up;
• If they are on fire, smoking or suffer any other aircraft malfunction;
• If their guns jam or
• They are wounded.
Seasoned pilots may disengage if any of the following criteria are met:
• No other friendly aircraft remain on the table;
• Once they have taken half their damage points, rounded up;
• If they suffer two or more aircraft malfunctions simultaneously;
• If they suffer a gun jam and an aircraft malfunction simultaneously or
• If they are wounded.
Aces may disengage if they are the only aircraft remaining on the table and either suffer from two or more of the following criteria:
• If they suffer two thirds damage points, rounded up;
• If they are wounded;
• If their guns are jammed or
• If they suffer two or more aircraft malfunctions.
Actions on being forced down
If an aircraft is forced down, the pilot will attempt to land. Depending on the damage sustained and the skill of the pilot he will either force land or crash land. If he crash lands, there is a chance that the pilot and any observer will be wounded or killed. The table below shows how to determine the outcome of being forced down. Roll 2D6 and add or subtract the following scores to determine the result. Conditions are cumulative. On a score of 3 or below the aircraft crashes and the pilot is killed, on a score 4-8 the aircraft crashes and the pilot is wounded, on a score of 9+ the aircraft lands safely and the pilot is unharmed.
Conditions Score Adjustment
Rookie -1
Seasoned Pilot +2
Ace +4
30% damage -1
50% damage -2
75% damage -3
On Fire -2
Rudder malfunction -1
Smoking -1
Pilot wounded -2
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