Caproni questions about playability

[Derrick]

I've been not about the big bombers. I just find that we typically play photo recon or straight skirmish. So non-maneuverable two seaters have been more than good enough for my table.

However, I see I can get a Caproni at a reasonable price. So I started looking at scenarios. And it looks like most scenarios require two big bombers.

The questions are is a Caproni worth it if:

1. I only buy one
2. I mostly play on one WoG mat
3. Not really leaning towards bombing missions with the two seaters I have.
4. Mostly playing solo at the moment

?

[Teaticket]

One is definitely better then none. A big bomber can be a lot of fun. In solo it can fly random either on your side or for the enemy.

[milcoll73]

they definitely add a level of fun to a scenario.

[monse]

Two scenarios included in this scenarios file feature one Caproni Ca.3 (or one Gotha G.V) :
Looking down
Rescue behind the lines

http://www.aresgames.eu/6412

Playing on one mat may be sufficient even with one bomber played automatic : when the bomber has exited the gaming surface, it can be reintroduced at the place it has exited, going back to its side.

Attachment 289043

[Windy Jack]

We have certainly played games with a single Caproni, one recently against some Phonix. It was a good game in which the Caproni was successful.

[Derrick]

We have certainly played games with a single Caproni, one recently against some Phonix. It was a good game in which the Caproni was successful.

Can you provide basic details of your set up and win conditions?

[flash]

..The questions are is a Caproni worth it if:

1. I only buy one
2. I mostly play on one WoG mat
3. Not really leaning towards bombing missions with the two seaters I have.
4. Mostly playing solo at the moment

If you can get one at a reasonable price now and you don't buy it - you will regret it later... Then we'll have to listen to you regretting that decision...!
If you buy one, you may find another cheap one day and then have the pair for those other scenario's.
You mostly play solo at the moment - there are AI charts for bombers so you can fly with or against it.
One day you'll meet someone to game with and they might have one bomber too - then between you you'll both have a pair to game with.
There might come a time when you really want to blow shtuff up

Ah, decisions, decisions...

Buy it you know you want to !!

[Derrick]

Well, I have like my own to buy checklist, and a Caproni was not on it so it will be a detour to my completed personal list...

[monse]

Can you provide basic details of your set up and win conditions?

Part of a 4 scenarios late summer 1918.
One of this scenario involved a french Caproni with its US Spad XIII escort which must drop bombs on german trenches and machine gun targets.
Two German fighters (Fokker DVII, Siemens Schuckert D.III) attack the intruders.
During the game, the Caproni successfully bombs and destroys a MG target but it exits the gaming surface because of left and right rudder jammed (special damage inflicted by trenches fire).
The Fokker D.VII is shot down and the Spad is eliminated because it exits on the wrong side.

[zenlizard]

If, as you say its'a reasonable price. There are, as others have pointed out, a few scenarios involving only one bomber; and others involving two or more can be modified in terms of aircraft to have only one.

and if after all that, you can't find another one at a reasonable price, that means their after-market value has appreciated-so, if after all that you find that the big bombers are truly not for you, you could probably re-sell it for a little profit.

[Marechallannes]

Buy it.

[Baxter]

I love my Caproni and I have 4 of them. My favourite is the Leo model. This is a better model that the Ares one imho

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Italian-Air...-/143391435975

As with all 3rd party planes you would have to get the base, pegs, cards and chits, but that is not an impossible task.

[abovetheclouds]

Thanks Gary, that is a nice looking model. Adding it to my want list. And I bet I'd receive it sooner than my 2 Caproni's and 2 fighters that are stuck in the Australian postal system.

[camelbeagle]

There are some really good automatic pilot rules for bombers in the Battle for Britain rule set. They can be used with WWI pretty easily. Have the bomber run on auto and you can be the escort or the attacking defenders.

[Derrick]

Thanks for everyone's input. Alas, I was too slow for that price. If I ever see it again like that, I'll know to scoop it up.

In the meantime, I was able to get some smaller planes that were on my want list.

[Windy Jack]

Can you provide basic details of your set up and win conditions?

Derrick, the details below come from the AAR of the game I was thinking of. So if you want to see the Caproni in action you could have a look at that. (060419 "Italians and Austrians in the same skies") I think we only had three players that night, so each plane was flown by a human.

SCENARIO
A Caproni Ca3 doing a run is intercepted by two Phonix D.Is. [In game terms this means the Caproni has to fly the length of the table and back.]

Planes
Italian: Caproni Ca3 flown by Casimiro Buttini with crewman Luigi Remitti.
Austrian: Phonix D.I flown by Karl Urban (sandy coloured), and one flown by Kurt Gruber (dark colour)

Special Conditions
Although we were not using altitude rules, we agreed the rear gun of the Caproni would have 360o arc of fire. This was to balance the extra fire power and damage points of two Phonix.
We also agreed that for the Phonix a gun jam could not be fixed, and so any Phonix with a gun jam would leave the playing surface as promptly as possible.
The Phonix pilots did have some Ace Skills. Urban had Acrobatic Pilot, and Gruber had Acrobatic Pilot and Perfect Aim.