How to tackle a problem like 3-dimensional combat? This week I discuss aerial combat wargames and (briefly) discuss how a few handle the complexities of warfare in three dimensions.
My personal preference is 'Lacquered Coffins' by Tom Jensen - a much overlooked and underrated set of rules available on Wargames Vault. It is easily learnt but deals with many of the complexities of aerial warfare in a simple fashion. Clouds permit concealment and ambushes, movement and manoeuvre employ a simple ruler/tape measure and school protractor and speed and altitude are indicated by micro dice. Can be used for any theatre of war in WW2 with plane details for most nations. A device I have never found in other rules is that relative speeds between aircraft are considered when calculating chance of success in targeting. Also all planes are obliged to fly in a straight line a distance determined by their current speed before manoeuvring. Above all there is no attempt by the author to push expensive accessories such as cards, tokens, templates or indeed model aircraft. One might say this is not commercially minded (and probably accounts for the low profile these rules have) but it is refreshing to find a set of rules that emphasises research and gameplay over commercial success and sales promotion.
Back in the early 80s played the Ace of Aces WW1 game where each player had a book which showed the view from the cockpit as you selected a manouver and cross referenced with your opponents manouver to determine which page to go to. I expect this would seem a bit antiquated with modern computer games but at the time it seemed quite a clever method. Could only do two player games though!
That was a very good analysis. I'd hazard a guess that "energy management" is one of the hardest things to replicate without bogging the players down in calculations. Example; A Spit MKI will on paper, outturn a BF 109-E4 anyway of the week...... BUT, if that Spit is low on energy i.,e. doing about 150 knots, and the 109 has an energy advantage , say it's doing 200 knots, that 109 is going to out-rate the Spit and end up behind it It's hard to simulate. Subbbed. i
I'd be interested in a video about what you use to base your planes. I was mounting some spaceships on bases recently, and found it an utterly miserable experience. Not eager to try anything aerial-based until I solve my basing problem!
Another excellent video Lee. It may come as no surprise, but my favourite set of rules are Bag the Hun/Algy Pulls it Off. The card draw system allows for the individual pilots to shine and for player's the take advantage of actual dogfighting tactics, such as gaining height, getting on the tail and other skills. Also, the damage system isn't based on hit points, but actual damage to an aircraft's systems and mechanics. Like the game you played it also has a system of blinds called bogeys that may or may not be spotted but still operate like aircraft.
Alex, have you tried Fire in the Sky by Fireball Forward? It is a different style of aerial wargame since you are commanding full squadrons instead of individual airplanes. There first volume is focused on 8th Airforce bombing campaign of Germany. They will soon release a second volume for the Battle of Midway. ruclips.net/video/QNcRCcCeEek/видео.htmlsi=Tpr2p23fC75fMF1O
Favourites? Avalon Hill's (ex-Battleline) Airforce. An old hex and counter board game, with a lot of depth and record keeping. Ace of Aces book series. A two player book based game - recently had a reprint via kickstarter. Good detail and very fast play. Honourable mention X-wing - but as an effectively 2d game it has more in common with Gaslands than a fighter sim.
W Wings big selling point is the manouevre wheels and order of moving and firing, which makes it a far more entertaining game than it had any right to be.
I prefer the more abstracted games with the templates, or Blood Red Skies, I prefer generally lighter more abstracted games, very beer and pretzel with a lighter mental load. I do IT project work at the moment or Admin based role if not that, so a switch off from constantly reading, analsing thinking about what I'm reading and next action steps. Enjoyable work and not unrelated to generamanship and game lay but at a more leisurely fashion for my hobby.
My current preferred game system is the Wings of Glory system and related games., such as X-Wing, Star trek Attack Wing and even sails of Glory! It gives a good playable game. I have played games using vectors, such as Full Thrust, but though realistic take too long and lose the feeling of a fast fight. My first experience of air gaming was Mike Spick's Air Battles In Miniature, in the 1970s, though we used 1/300 aircraft rather than half kits! Intrigued by hex games. I did have plans to adapt the Clix version of Crimson Skies to WW2, using octagons, but never did get round to it.
Only tried X-Wing and Blood Red Sky. The former unfortunately developed into optimizing rare cards and ships. The game itself and movement were pushed into the background. 😐 At some point I want to try “Bag the Hun” or something similar.🤔
Perfect timing! My son and I just watched the first episode of Masters of the Air and he was asking if there were any aerial combat games we could play. I'll definitely be looking into some of the games you mentioned. Cheers.
There was a game produced recently were you play entire wings and squadrons, fairly simple but looks fun on my list as 6mm or 1/300 aairplanes for an epic look ruclips.net/video/IRFMdtQZL8w/видео.html
I've only ever played one ariel combat game, at Campaign about 2 years ago. It was more abstract with flights of German fighters and bombers coming to bomb a city. I had to defend using fighters. I can't say I won, more likely lost as my forces were decimated. It was a good, quick game. I'd rather be an AA battery commander
My personal preference is 'Lacquered Coffins' by Tom Jensen - a much overlooked and underrated set of rules available on Wargames Vault. It is easily learnt but deals with many of the complexities of aerial warfare in a simple fashion. Clouds permit concealment and ambushes, movement and manoeuvre employ a simple ruler/tape measure and school protractor and speed and altitude are indicated by micro dice. Can be used for any theatre of war in WW2 with plane details for most nations. A device I have never found in other rules is that relative speeds between aircraft are considered when calculating chance of success in targeting. Also all planes are obliged to fly in a straight line a distance determined by their current speed before manoeuvring. Above all there is no attempt by the author to push expensive accessories such as cards, tokens, templates or indeed model aircraft. One might say this is not commercially minded (and probably accounts for the low profile these rules have) but it is refreshing to find a set of rules that emphasises research and gameplay over commercial success and sales promotion.
Sounds like an interesting set of rules.
Back in the early 80s played the Ace of Aces WW1 game where each player had a book which showed the view from the cockpit as you selected a manouver and cross referenced with your opponents manouver to determine which page to go to. I expect this would seem a bit antiquated with modern computer games but at the time it seemed quite a clever method. Could only do two player games though!
I have the Camel-Triplane books. I've heard it's being reprinted in collor.
I've got the books and even met the creator at the ORA in NY. Great fun game ❤
That was a very good analysis.
I'd hazard a guess that "energy management" is one of the hardest things to replicate without bogging the players down in calculations.
Example; A Spit MKI will on paper, outturn a BF 109-E4 anyway of the week...... BUT, if that Spit is low on energy i.,e. doing about 150 knots, and the 109 has an energy advantage , say it's doing 200 knots, that 109 is going to out-rate the Spit and end up behind it
It's hard to simulate.
Subbbed.
i
Yes, this is the big problem.
Great with another book reports (as opposed to an actual review), Lee - definitely one of the aspects adding personality and flavour to the channel🙌👍😊
I'd be interested in a video about what you use to base your planes. I was mounting some spaceships on bases recently, and found it an utterly miserable experience. Not eager to try anything aerial-based until I solve my basing problem!
Another excellent video Lee. It may come as no surprise, but my favourite set of rules are Bag the Hun/Algy Pulls it Off. The card draw system allows for the individual pilots to shine and for player's the take advantage of actual dogfighting tactics, such as gaining height, getting on the tail and other skills. Also, the damage system isn't based on hit points, but actual damage to an aircraft's systems and mechanics. Like the game you played it also has a system of blinds called bogeys that may or may not be spotted but still operate like aircraft.
Alex, have you tried Fire in the Sky by Fireball Forward? It is a different style of aerial wargame since you are commanding full squadrons instead of individual airplanes. There first volume is focused on 8th Airforce bombing campaign of Germany. They will soon release a second volume for the Battle of Midway. ruclips.net/video/QNcRCcCeEek/видео.htmlsi=Tpr2p23fC75fMF1O
@@landsknecht1525 I've played it and released a video about it... ruclips.net/video/Rjg_jtw2wSA/видео.htmlsi=mkqAQj3u7zfHblri
Favourites?
Avalon Hill's (ex-Battleline) Airforce. An old hex and counter board game, with a lot of depth and record keeping.
Ace of Aces book series. A two player book based game - recently had a reprint via kickstarter. Good detail and very fast play.
Honourable mention X-wing - but as an effectively 2d game it has more in common with Gaslands than a fighter sim.
Great choices.
W Wings big selling point is the manouevre wheels and order of moving and firing, which makes it a far more entertaining game than it had any right to be.
I prefer the more abstracted games with the templates, or Blood Red Skies, I prefer generally lighter more abstracted games, very beer and pretzel with a lighter mental load. I do IT project work at the moment or Admin based role if not that, so a switch off from constantly reading, analsing thinking about what I'm reading and next action steps. Enjoyable work and not unrelated to generamanship and game lay but at a more leisurely fashion for my hobby.
My current preferred game system is the Wings of Glory system and related games., such as X-Wing, Star trek Attack Wing and even sails of Glory! It gives a good playable game. I have played games using vectors, such as Full Thrust, but though realistic take too long and lose the feeling of a fast fight. My first experience of air gaming was Mike Spick's Air Battles In Miniature, in the 1970s, though we used 1/300 aircraft rather than half kits! Intrigued by hex games. I did have plans to adapt the Clix version of Crimson Skies to WW2, using octagons, but never did get round to it.
Only tried X-Wing and Blood Red Sky. The former unfortunately developed into optimizing rare cards and ships. The game itself and movement were pushed into the background. 😐
At some point I want to try “Bag the Hun” or something similar.🤔
Yeah, the META game of cards killed the game when they had to bring out version 2 to address the power ups that made the classic ships redundant.
Perfect timing! My son and I just watched the first episode of Masters of the Air and he was asking if there were any aerial combat games we could play. I'll definitely be looking into some of the games you mentioned. Cheers.
I've played Wings of Glory and that's a fun & easy game to get started with. But all the games I listed are good fun for different reasons.
There was a game produced recently were you play entire wings and squadrons, fairly simple but looks fun on my list as 6mm or 1/300 aairplanes for an epic look ruclips.net/video/IRFMdtQZL8w/видео.html
Mark's Game Room has developed rules for big encounters and play some on their channel.
Tame Lee. You need to play on the floor of a sports hall with 1/48 scale WW1 planes on 6/0 masts. Great fun.
My knees hurt just thinking about that 😆
@@MiniatureAdventuresTV We had a couple of sets of floor layers knee pads.
I've only ever played one ariel combat game, at Campaign about 2 years ago. It was more abstract with flights of German fighters and bombers coming to bomb a city. I had to defend using fighters. I can't say I won, more likely lost as my forces were decimated. It was a good, quick game.
I'd rather be an AA battery commander
I really enjoy wings of war ww1 I didn't enjoy the ww2 version so much. I also used to enjoy x wing.
I personally prefer wings of war from the world war one far easier not much brain work definitely worth playing 🤠🤠🤠👍👍👍