All,

Well, I was able to get a second modern playtest of the new aerial combat rules in this weekend, and it was fun once again.  This time we've got Israeli F-16s up against Syrian MiG-23s, but it's more than that: the Israeli pilots are aces, but their are only two of them, while the Syrians are rookies, and there are four of them.

Even so, I was a little worried about the numbers advantage, so I started the Israelis off on their board edge, in a trailing position, on the Syrian flight's rear left quarter, and I gave the Israelis the advantages of altitude and the fact they had already 'spotted' the Syrians, who would go first each turn, but would have to roll to spot the Israelis.  It turned out the spotting issue wasn't much of an advantage, as the Syrians got in a lucky roll early on and were able to quickly to turn into their attackers.


The Syrians get into position and get off the first shot.


But the Israelis got the first score, with the Syrian pilot ejecting.

The fight was fun, but still took an hour and fifteen minutes...  I was real nervous about the numbers difference, and, to tell you the truth, I wouldn't run a 'real' game 2 vs 4.  I could see doing 3 vs 6, 4 vs 6 or 8, etc..., but 2 vs 4 leaves you too susceptible to one wacky roll (which isn't unrealistic, it's just not very much fun as a game).

The rules 'feel' right to me; there's nothing strange about them (to me), there's no weird result (so far).  I'll say the rules aren't the coolest thing ever, and there's nothing all that sexy about them, but they are giving a fast and fun game that feels (to me) like a dramatized dogfight.

For the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/03/somewhere-over-bekaa-valley-1982.html

V/R,
Jack

Nice report Jack.
23s should have a speed and height advantage, but rookie pilots, poor maintenance and worse missiles (and dodgy guns) means two Israeli pilots, with better missiles, would quickly best the Syrians.

Yep....Nice report, Jack.

Was I being impatient, and not giving some of the pictures enough time to load ?
Or have a few disappeared ?

Cheers - Phil.

Do like this; looks a really fun game.

As I said last time, the props are really simple but so effective

Love the 'missile' pipe cleaners etc .

Great effect of explosion!

I like your aerial games style!

regards

As always, thanks for the kind words fellas, hope you enjoyed it.  Next up is probably USN vs IJN over the Solomons, followed by Battle of Britain.  I was thinking to do BoB next, but I want to get fighters and bombers on the table at the same time for BoB, and figure I should probably do a straight fighter vs fighter fight first, so hit the Solomons with some Wildcats vs Zeros, then follow with BoB Spits, Me-109s, and He-111s.

Any questions or thoughts on the rules themselves?

V/R,
Jack