DOG FIGHT

[Dubar]

I got tired of having to setup 3 tables and cover them with the hex battle mat, so I tried simply using the carpet on the floor!!!
I did have to make an instrument or sorts to control movement and distance to target.  I used a length of approx. 1/8" thick acrylic plastic sheet (it's probably metric but I didn't measure it), made cutouts the same size as the 2 sides of hex bases I use on my stands, attached a small handle, and painted it a color.  I made it 12 hexes long, I think the longest movement any aircraft I have is 11 hexes so this is plenty long enough.

So far it's working fine.  The pluses are (1) I don't have to setup/takedown any tables or mats and (2) it gives me a much larger "sky" to battle in, approximately a 10x10 space vice the 4x6 I was getting with three 2x4 tables.

The downside is, at my age, I get dizzy when I bend over, so this may be short-lived or I may have to come up with a long handle to keep from bending over!!!  Using the 3 tables without the mat is a no-go, they're too slick and the aircraft tend to slide around on their own when the tables are tapped.

I did put some marks on the underside of the hex bases, going from the center post to the outer corners of the front flat, this will be used as the zone or cone the aircraft may fire in.  Without a hex mat restraining where things are located it makes no sense to say you can only shoot at a target "directly" in front of you.  In real life, all in would take is a little rudder pressure to spread your shot pattern.

No changes to the rules (yet) but I am thinking of going to a 10-side die for the Burst die.  Presently, a 6-sided die, with a 1 or a 6 causing a jam, gives you a 33% chance of getting a jam when firing a medium or long burst.  A 10-side die, with a roll of 1 or 0, will lower that to 20%.

I've played 3 turns on the floor so far and as of now the Nieuport 28 has had a jam (turn 2) and the Salmson 2A2 observer has been wounded by one of the two Fokker DVIIIs.  The Salmson has also taken 5 (of 40) hits.