DOG FIGHT

[Dubar]

Haven't played since November, it's cold outside so I thought this would make a good day for something flying.

Presently have Brits and Germans going at it: 1 Sopwith Camel, 1 Sopwith Tripe, and 1 Sopwith Pup against 1 Albatros DII, 1 Albatros DVa, and 1 Roland DII.

Also, found an error on the COMBAT page step 3-F pertaining to the NOTE (should be NOTE 3 not 2) in my homemade rules and have included a corrected copy here, along with a few photos of the current game.

Anyone playing these rules...if you find a problem or a better way please let me know and I'll make the change or at least take it under consideration.  I saw in another post that it's been downloaded 21 times, thank you for taking an interest!!!

RULES PDF (first attachment below)

[Dubar]

I plan on running a few games doing something other than dogfighting, such as Recon and Bombing, in order to "flesh out" the rules a bit more.  I'll post what I find here along with any changes to the rules.

I've been scouring the web trying to find sources for scenarios as well.

[gweirda]

I've been scouring the web trying to find sources for scenarios as well.

While not a direct scenario source, I've often turned to this site/page ( https://www.theaerodrome.com/today/today.cgi ) as a lazy-man's source of inspiration - putting together claims for a day can sometimes show a picture of the action that occurred and who was fighting whom.

[Dubar]

Thanks!!!  I've visited their forum in the past but never registered until now.  Actually I thought they were defunct!!!

I played a game yesterday using a Bristol F2B on a recon of 3 targets, with a Siemans Schuckert DIV and a Pfalz DVIII for the Germans, things did not turn out well for the Bristol!!!

I have a note in the rules suggesting to equal the number of weapons and didn't follow it, 4 guns against 2 turned out to be an uneven battle.  The higher speed of the 2 German aircraft probably contributed as well but next game I'm going to send along an escort fighter with the observation plane, or make it 1 against 1.

As it turned out the Bristol never made it to the target area with the pilot received 2 wounds which cut their movement down, resulting in easy pickings for the Hun.  The Bristol turned to go back home after trying to hide in a cloud bank (forced to fly off the edge of the board, when he came back on the Hun were waiting for him) but never made it across their own lines.  The Pfalz was credited with the kill.

[Moriarty]

I plan on running a few games doing something other than dogfighting, such as Recon and Bombing (snip)
I've been scouring the web trying to find sources for scenarios as well.

What? Have you never read any ‘Biggles’ books? :-)

I can recommend getting a copy of the Wings at War ‘Duel of Aces’ game, from Tumbling dice. The rule books have (so far) given period scenarios for each game.

[Dubar]

Nope, never seen Biggles here in the states! 

I'll look into Duel of Aces, thanks!!!

[Moriarty]

Bloody Hell!
The series was required reading for English school children in the 50’s & 60’s. Not by the school, by your peers :-) The author, however, was a WW1 pilot - his work was informative enough to influence the tactics of RAF pilots in WW2. Hereunder find a link to an online copy of ‘Biggles Goes to War’. Enjoy!

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b7ea2794cde7a79e7c00582/t/6492637ae7e8ac794f0853c8/1687315324240/biggles+goes+to+war.pdf

[Michi]

Nope, never seen Biggles here in the states! 

Somebody must help that man! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-S06lKSCSs

[Dubar]

LOLOLOL!!!  Thanks guys for the links, my Welsh mom should have told me!!!

[Dubar]

Yesterday I tried a game using a Breguet XIV A2 with a Nieuport 17 doing recon against a Fokker DR1 and Roland DVIb.  Not sure if it was the 5 guns against 4 or the Breguet and Nieuport were simply lucky but they managed to shoot both German aircraft down and successfully recon 2 of 3 targets.  The Roland pilot received 2 wounds which limited his movement before his aircraft was destroyed.  The Breguet observer was on his game, the twin Lewis guns were deadly.

This morning I thought I'd give it another go using the same 4 aircraft.  This time the Germans peppered the Breguet, killing the pilot on what seemed like numerous rolls of 6 and sending the plane down in flames.  The Nieuport did get some revenge, he managed to finish off the Roland while he was concentrating on the Breguet.

The game is not over, I still have the Nieuport and the triplane in the air and they both smell blood!!!