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Thread: Gritty Goblin Games Wings of War/Glory, 1 June 2023

  1. #1

    Default Gritty Goblin Games Wings of War/Glory, 1 June 2023

    AAR Infestation-A Kettering Bug Hunt

    The Gritty Goblin gang was two days from meeting this week and we were down to just two pilots-Irish John and myself. So I was trying to come up with a fun but challenging scenario when I remembered Larry R’s post about the Kettering Bug. Looking into the related posts by Zoe (the Brain) and Karl (the Jager), I decided on a Bug Hunt. I just needed some bugs, a simplified set of rules and a scenario! So 48 hours later Irish John and I played the following game.

    The Bugs are made from scrap pieces laying around (dowels and bass wood) and using some spare 40K bases to mount them using modeler putty.
    Simplifying Zoe’s movement system a bit, Bugs move in a straight line 2 inches a turn in one of three directions determined by a die roll as shown below:
    1-2: 45 degree to left
    3-4: Straight ahead
    5-6: 45 degree to right

    The next movement die roll is modified if a 3 or 4 was not rolled (the Bug didn’t fly straight):
    • If the die roll was a 1 or 2, add 1 to the next movement die roll
    • If the die roll was a 5 or 6, subtract 1 to the next movement die roll.
    • If the die roll was a 3 or 4, no adjustment to the next movement die roll.

    Bugs have a total of 8 damage points. Bugs explode when total damage reaches 8. If it receives more than 4 damage points in a single turn or catches fire, it also explodes. Special damage consisting of engine trouble, crew damage or smoke causes the Bug to crash. Rudder damage allows the Bug to continue until the die roll movement violates the rudder restriction causing the Bug to crash. For example the Bug rolls a one so needs to move left but it has already sustained left rudder damage. When a Bug explodes, any aircraft within a half-ruler distance draws a D-damage card.

    Scenario: Four bugs appear on the mat in the western edge heading east. Starting on turn 5 and continuing to turn 9 (for a total of 5 more bugs), a fresh bug appears at one of the three entry points at the western edge of the mat (NW corner; SW corner of W-center) determined by a die roll. The Germans happen to have two recon tandem aircraft in the area within one ruler distance from their eastern edge when the Bugs appear. A German plane respawns from the eastern edge one turn after that German plane is eliminated.

    The German objective is to prevent any Bugs from leaving the eastern mat edge and invading the Fatherland.

    The Entente objective is to have over half the Bugs exit the eastern edge or destroy more German planes than Bugs destroyed or crashed. Any Bug leaving any other mat edge cannot return and does not count toward the Entente objective.

    Initial deployment of the first four Bugs on the western edge of No-Man’s land.
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    Initial deployment of the two German Bug Hunters on the eastern edge- an Albatros C.III at the bottom and a Rumpler C.IV at the top. It’s a bit difficult to see because of its green “Irish” camo.
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    The Bugs head east in a disjointed “Bug” fashion while the Rumpler tries to figure out where they are going.
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    The Albatros approaches the swarm.
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    First blood or bug juice with the Rumpler hitting Bug #3 but getting its first of many gun jams and the Albatros smoking Bug #1, literally.
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    The Rumpler fires at and misses Bug #4 getting a rear gun jam.
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    The Albatros scores a minor hit on Bug #3 near the crater left by Bug #1’s crash site.
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    The Albatros fires a telling round from its rear gun setting Bug #3 on fire and exploding. Fortunately the Albatros is outside the blast zone.
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    The Rumpler fires and misses Bug #4 while Bug #2 heads eastward.
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    The Rumpler fires is rear gun at Bug #4 while trying to catch Bug #2 who is dangerously close to the eastern edge.
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    The Rumpler scores better on Bug #2 but not enough to stop it from closing in on the edge.
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    One last shot at Bug #2 before it escapes into the Fatherland. Unfortunately the Rumpler misses again and is rewarded with its third gun jam.
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    The Albatros is able to close and fire long range on Bug #4 resulting in its flashy demise. Fortunately the Rumpler, who is in the blast zone, draws a zero “D” card.
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    At this point three Bugs are destroyed but Bug #2 has exited the eastern edge. The Rumpler and Albatros head back west to take on the remaining five bugs as they appear on the western edge one per turn. Here the Bugs receive some damage while the Rumpler gets another gun jam yet again. Looks like his guns are getting gummed up with bug juice!
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    Bug #5 is somehow able to slip between both German planes with left rudder damage although receiving more serious damage.
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    The Rumpler closes in on Bug #5 with more damage while it successfully avoids a left hand turn which would have downed it. Now Irish John and I believe there is someone flying that Bug!
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    Keeping it in his sights, the Rumpler fires again at close range only to miss!
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    The Rumpler fires again and this time finds its mark at close range – uh oh!
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    Bug #5 goes down in a ball of fire with 10 damage points but not before taking out the Rumpler with the Boom card!
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    Bug #8 flies off the southern edge. Bugs #7 and #9 also left the field of battle while Bug #6 tried making a right turn against its rudder damage resulting in its splatting on the ground.
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    So the victory goes to the Allies with the Germans unable to stop Bug #2 from escaping over the eastern edge into the Fatherland.
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    Although unsuccessful, both pilots enjoyed the game. It was more exciting than initially thought in trying to figure out where the little buggers were going next. My thanks to Larry R, Zoe and Karl for their work in bringing this alternate reality game to life.

  2. #2

    Default

    I really enjoyed this AAR, Craig. Well played! Swatting the Bugs was not without peril, as the Rumpler crew discovered.

  3. #3

  4. #4
    Last edited by Savoir Faire; 06-02-2023 at 12:04.

  5. #5

    Default

    Nice scenario, Craig! The Germans will need to break the code and do some debugging.

  6. #6

    Default

    Nice AAR Craig. I thought that it was a fun scenario

  7. #7

    Default

    Really nice! Great AAR! My rep guns are jammed up!

  8. #8

    Default

    Great game Craig and a fine AAR.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  9. #9

    Default

    Great game and concept.

  10. #10

    Default

    Like your scratch built Bugs, Craig, where there's a will and all that !

    "He is wise who watches"

  11. #11

    Default

    There was some luck for the Germans with the exploding bugs. Unfortunately it was bad luck as well as good luck!

  12. #12



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