GrogHeads Forum

I've decided to do another AAR for RAF:Battle of Britain.

I remembered when I first done one a few years ago that the rules were very well presented and easy to follow and I've been itching to get back onto it. As Photobucket destroyed my last AAR by removing all the photos, I'll do another one.

Kind of bizarre that I did that last one in December also - and 4 years ago in December 2013!!

This one will be the longer 4 day The Hardest Days scenario.

So here goes.

The Hardest Days
Following a month of skirmishing over the Channel in July 1940, the Battle of Britain proper got underway with several intense raid days from August 11th - 18th. This period included raid days now historically known as Eagle Day (13th Aug), the Greatest Day (15th Aug) and the Hardest Day (18th Aug). German raiders concentrated on forward airfields, ports and radar stations in the hopes of engaging the RAF for a knockout blow

Setting Up For Play
Card Preparation
Set the Target Deck, Raid Event Deck, Day Event Deck and German Strategy Deck into accessible piles
Remove Target Cards 35-60 and Raid Event Cards 132-134 from the piles.
Shuffle each deck and place face down


Unit Placement
Place all 27 Hurricane and Spitfire counters full strength up in their respective sectors (but not Blenheim Sqns)
Place all 77 Gruppen counters full strength up in their assigned air bases


Target Priorities
Place the Priority Markers on the Target Priority Track as follows

• Low Priority - Cities and Industry
• Medium Priority - Airfields
• High Priority - Ports and Radar

Other Marker Placement
Put the Clock marker in the 0600 space in the Clock
Place the 7 time markers on the Raid Planning Track
Detection Marker on the Detection Track
Day marker on August 11 box
Victory Point marker on the 0 box, British Side (+) up


All set up.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4583/38897615372_bb2374ff90_o.jpg)

The might of the German Luftwaffe is poised and ready to launch the first of many days which will see raids all over southern England. The brave but few RAF pilots await the onslaught.


Sequence of Play

• Daily Planning Phase - Occurs once each day at the start of the day
• Raid Phase - Perform several times a day for the number of raids you have
• Airfield Operations Phase - Performed several times each day as the clock marker moves around the clock
• Calendar Update Phase - Performed once per day after the last raid

(anyone who has gone looking will spot immediately that I robbed this first part from my previous AAR (why reinvent the wheel?)

great  :D  O0

...this reminds me to get my PC-driven version up and running on this snowy winter days

I look forward to reading this as it unfolds. BTW, having that frame around the map and plexiglass (is it perspex in across-the-pond-speak?) makes the whole thing very spiffy looking.  O0

Perspex  O0

They were fairly cheap frames and meant I didn't have to fold the maps up and could keep them protected.

Quote from: Staggerwing on December 09, 2017, 08:18:38 AM
I look forward to reading this as it unfolds. BTW, having that frame around the map and plexiglass (is it perspex in across-the-pond-speak?) makes the whole thing very spiffy looking.  O0

For me, it was cheaper buying a big poster frame that came with the plexi online, rather than going to a store and getting a cut piece of plexiglass by itself. 

Sorry for the pictures. The light in my room isn't great and the camera flash often bounces back off the cards - so there's a mix and match of flash and non-flash. I'll try and sort out a proper lamp for the next lot of photos.

Daily Planning Phase
Night Raid Planning
Night raids rarely had an impact on the operations of Fighter Command and are not detailed like the day raids. However, night raids were an effective and dramatic method of German bombers to attack cities and industrial targets with little risk of air combat


German Night Raid Commitment
Looking at the priority of Cities (low) and Industry (low) and comparing those values to the German Night Minimum/Maximum Chart I can see that I can assign between 2 and 4 bombers to the Night Raid.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/24103593347_360c145dd0_b.jpg)

Aircraft assigned can be He111s, Ju88s and Do17s and come from either Luftflotte II or Luftflotte III. I assign 2xHe111s and 2xDo17s to the Night Raid from Luftflotte II.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4585/38082077765_7eedf8eeb3_b.jpg)


German Strategy Draw
This does not start until Aug 12th


Raid Target Selection
I get to choose 10 targets.

5 targets are for Low Priority targets for Cities and Industry
4 targets are for Medium Priority targets for Airfields
1 target is for a High Priority target for Radar Net

This is the German Raid Priority Table I use to determine whether a target card results in a No Raid, Minor Raid or Major Raid
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4595/24103591547_1255c0dfba_b.jpg)

Of the Low Priority targets, 4 result in a No Raid because they are Strategic Value 1 or 2 and 1 target results in Minor Raids
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4739/38082077025_6bd31a3f1e_b.jpg)

Of the Medium Priority targets, 1 is a Strategic Value of 2 and is a Minor Raid and the other 3 are Strategic Value 3 resulting in Major Raids
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4585/24103589307_36175ce996_b.jpg)

The High Priority target is Strategic Value 2 and is a Major Raid
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4642/24103588127_9340d22ef4_b.jpg)

These are my targets for the first day of the campaign
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4646/25097204848_02cbd3881b_b.jpg)


Bomber Assignment
Minor Raids can have no more than 3 Gruppen assigned to them and Major Raids can have a maximum of 12 Gruppen (Gruppen refer to fighters and bombers). Gruppen can only be assigned from the Luftflotte specified on the target card.

Southend has 2 bomber Gruppen assigned
Kenley has 2 bomber Gruppen assigned
Poling has 7 bomber Gruppen assigned
Hornchurch has 6 bomber Gruppen assigned
Biggin Hill has 4 bomber Gruppen assigned
Biggin Hill has 3 bomber Gruppen assigned


German Fighter Assignment
Southend has 2 bomber Gruppen and 1 fighter Gruppe assigned
Kenley has 2 bomber Gruppen and 1 fighter Gruppe assigned
Poling has 7 bomber Gruppen and 5 fighter Gruppen assigned
Hornchurch has 6 bomber Gruppen and 6 fighter Gruppen assigned


You will notice I've not assigned any fighters after the third slot. You are not required to. You are only required to assign fighters to the first 3 time slots for the day and then you assign the fighters when you get to the "second half" of the day.

I place the raids on my Raid Planning Track. I can assign a maximum or 3 raids per time slot.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4523/38082074165_a200b5d41f_b.jpg)

It was unlucky I think that Luftflotte II is taking the brunt of the targets today...especially as they have 4 Gruppen assigned to Night Raids. They're spread thin, but they've managed to meet their commitments.

Night Patrol Assignment
Here it is determined which Blenheim squadrons will patrol against the Night Raids

In order to do so, I roll a die and check the result on the current date on the British Night Patrol Table. I roll a 3 and looking at the table, 3 for the 11th Aug column shows 1 Blenheim Squadron is on patrol.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4546/38979159362_d0bec922cb_b.jpg)

That Squadron is from Sector 6 Group 11
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4562/38979159092_5e23d42bff_b.jpg)

I then move the Blenheim Squadron to the Night Raid box
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4571/24151192207_77032e95ce_z.jpg)

Night Raid Interception
I check the Night Raid Interception Table to check the chances of an interception.

I cross reference the table by looking at the number of Blenheim Squadrons and the number of Gruppen. I have 1 Blenheim Squadron and 4 Gruppen and the table says there's 0 chance of interception.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4525/25146151428_514dc13969_b.jpg)

So I don't have to roll to check for Interception.


Night Raid Combat
As there's no interception, there's no Night Raid Combat to be had.


Night Raid Bombing
To resolve Night Raid Bombing I take the number of Gruppen, roll a die and check the Night Raid Bombing Table. I have 4 Gruppen and I roll a 6 which results in -2VPs and 2 Industry Damage Points. YES!
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4530/27239324559_9ca79ff789_b.jpg)

I move the Victory Point Tack down from 0 to 2 and flipping it from the + side to the - side (indicating victory points in favour of the Germans)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4562/38130576835_7891092101_b.jpg)

Industry Damage results in lost Aircraft Replacement Points to the value of the damage (in the above case 2 points of aircraft replacement points). This is explained in rule 10.24
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4570/38980987512_2235f8eb7f_b.jpg)

So I move the chit with the most value (Hurricane replacements) from 9 to 7
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4563/38981193202_3a1aceba62_b.jpg)

This is a seriously fun game  O0

Awesome work, JD!

+1  :)

JD do You choose  the targets freely or have to draw them from a stack?

so is their a strategic layer plan (in the limitation of what Berlin had ordered) a strategy you have made up

Quote from: MikeGER on December 13, 2017, 03:15:41 AM
+1  :)

JD do You choose  the targets freely or have to draw them from a stack?

so is their a strategic layer plan (in the limitation of what Berlin had ordered) a strategy you have made up

You have a stack of target cards and they're shuffled at the beginning of the game. You then draw 10 cards (8 if there's early morning haze) and you get to choose from the target cards selected. Some will be removed from you due to their strategic value and the Target Priority set. You don't have to engage with all targets either.

I don't know if that randomness equates to no strategic layer - I suppose it does because I can't purely focus on big raids and going after airfields for example. I could in the sense that I could choose not to attack industry and cities.

So I guess I have no strategic control over what's being targeted. Perhaps that's to do with the solo element and play balance - I don't know.

Perhaps the Target Priority and the Strategic Value on the target cards provide that strategy layer - but it's not something you as a player have control of.

That does make me wonder how it would play out if I was able to focus purely on Airfields or Radar  :dreamer:

THX for the explanation  :)

for immersion just imagine just like that priority list it simulates the sophomoric of Göring and stupidity of the Führer and their historical validated wish to micromanage often instead of let their subordinated professionals in the field doing their stuff

Quote from: JudgeDredd on December 13, 2017, 03:50:16 AM

Quote from: MikeGER on December 13, 2017, 03:15:41 AM
+1  :)

JD do You choose  the targets freely or have to draw them from a stack?

so is their a strategic layer plan (in the limitation of what Berlin had ordered) a strategy you have made up

You have a stack of target cards and they're shuffled at the beginning of the game. You then draw 10 cards (8 if there's early morning haze) and you get to choose from the target cards selected. Some will be removed from you due to their strategic value and the Target Priority set. You don't have to engage with all targets either.

I don't know if that randomness equates to no strategic layer - I suppose it does because I can't purely focus on big raids and going after airfields for example. I could in the sense that I could choose not to attack industry and cities.

So I guess I have no strategic control over what's being targeted. Perhaps that's to do with the solo element and play balance - I don't know.

Perhaps the Target Priority and the Strategic Value on the target cards provide that strategy layer - but it's not something you as a player have control of.

That does make me wonder how it would play out if I was able to focus purely on Airfields or Radar  :dreamer:

  Burning Blue has the same approach: the Germans get a list of raids based on historical raids in different phases of the battle.  In the Most Dangerous Enemy, Stephen  Bungay reviews the German planning for Eagle (the air offensive against England) and finds it there was not much of a plan.  He concludes:
Sealion was a bad plan.   Eagle barely merits the name of 'plan' at all.  It amounted to little more than flying over England, dropping some bombs on various things to annoy people, and shooting down any fighters which came came up as a result.
Which is okay, I suppose for some gaming purposes, though there are other ways to approach the situation as a game.  For example, you could apportion different historical options -- the Germans could jam the radars and the RAF could have inland radars and radar for Night fighters and so on.  You might also want to include preparing for Sealion, but there there is a very tight time schedule and the RAF was very successful in bombing the invasion barges so that's hard to work out in a way that gives the Germans more options.

Quote from: MikeGER on December 13, 2017, 04:27:50 AM
THX for the explanation  :)

for immersion just imagine just like that priority list it simulates the sophomoric of Göring and stupidity of the Führer and their historical validated wish to micromanage often instead of let their subordinated professionals in the field doing their stuff

  The target list does cover what the subordinated professionals chose to bomb, since one the basic problem with the Eagle plan was that there was no real overall guidance from Goring or anyone else.  The airfleets chose their targets from a target list that eventually included everything.   

Quote from: JudgeDredd on December 13, 2017, 03:50:16 AM

Quote from: MikeGER on December 13, 2017, 03:15:41 AM
+1  :)

JD do You choose  the targets freely or have to draw them from a stack?

so is their a strategic layer plan (in the limitation of what Berlin had ordered) a strategy you have made up

You have a stack of target cards and they're shuffled at the beginning of the game. You then draw 10 cards (8 if there's early morning haze) and you get to choose from the target cards selected. Some will be removed from you due to their strategic value and the Target Priority set. You don't have to engage with all targets either.

I don't know if that randomness equates to no strategic layer - I suppose it does because I can't purely focus on big raids and going after airfields for example. I could in the sense that I could choose not to attack industry and cities.

So I guess I have no strategic control over what's being targeted. Perhaps that's to do with the solo element and play balance - I don't know.

Perhaps the Target Priority and the Strategic Value on the target cards provide that strategy layer - but it's not something you as a player have control of.

That does make me wonder how it would play out if I was able to focus purely on Airfields or Radar  :dreamer:

As the British, the Germans have a starting target priority list (I think based on the scenario/starting date). As the game progresses, if your RAF is inflicting significant losses against the Germans, those target priorities may change. So, the tempo of the Luftwaffe's offensive may change from focusing on radar stations and airfields, to cities. As the British player, this is something you will hope for, because it will give you more time to react to raids, and will take the pressure off of your airfields.

The card system randomizes the targets for you, but again, IIRC the content of that target deck depends on the scenario/date. The game also simulates the amount of warning you have about a raid, so there's a chance that you might send your squadron(s) to intercept a German raid that ends up being a ghost, while the 'real' raid unloads on whatever target the game's card system generates. It's a pretty cool feature.

If you play as the Germans, you choose your targets, but I cannot recall offhand if you're hamstrung by High Command or get to make these choices yourself. (It's been a while since I played the Lion side of things.) I can't imagine you're not hamstrung, because that's one of the major events that can turn the tide against the Germans.

Dammit, JD. I'd been wanting to do an AAR on this game, but I get so overwhelmed with life sometimes that I can't get to it. But if you're doing the British side, maybe I'll start one with the German side. :)

Great AAR, JD  :bd:

...for those who don't have a physical copy yet or don't have the space to set it up undisturbed for longer (like me) but have TableTop Simulator there is a user-made module out recently

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1196796750

And if you are conveniently like me and don't like errors while doing the housekeeping and forget to apply some rules sometimes
Decision Games has the RAF Lion variant as a good standalone PC game
and the RAF Eagle Variant is in beta testing! (cant wait to get that too)       

Quote from: BanzaiCat on December 13, 2017, 06:38:40 AM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on December 13, 2017, 03:50:16 AM

Quote from: MikeGER on December 13, 2017, 03:15:41 AM
+1  :)

JD do You choose  the targets freely or have to draw them from a stack?

so is their a strategic layer plan (in the limitation of what Berlin had ordered) a strategy you have made up

You have a stack of target cards and they're shuffled at the beginning of the game. You then draw 10 cards (8 if there's early morning haze) and you get to choose from the target cards selected. Some will be removed from you due to their strategic value and the Target Priority set. You don't have to engage with all targets either.

I don't know if that randomness equates to no strategic layer - I suppose it does because I can't purely focus on big raids and going after airfields for example. I could in the sense that I could choose not to attack industry and cities.

So I guess I have no strategic control over what's being targeted. Perhaps that's to do with the solo element and play balance - I don't know.

Perhaps the Target Priority and the Strategic Value on the target cards provide that strategy layer - but it's not something you as a player have control of.

That does make me wonder how it would play out if I was able to focus purely on Airfields or Radar  :dreamer:

As the British, the Germans have a starting target priority list (I think based on the scenario/starting date). As the game progresses, if your RAF is inflicting significant losses against the Germans, those target priorities may change. So, the tempo of the Luftwaffe's offensive may change from focusing on radar stations and airfields, to cities. As the British player, this is something you will hope for, because it will give you more time to react to raids, and will take the pressure off of your airfields.

The card system randomizes the targets for you, but again, IIRC the content of that target deck depends on the scenario/date. The game also simulates the amount of warning you have about a raid, so there's a chance that you might send your squadron(s) to intercept a German raid that ends up being a ghost, while the 'real' raid unloads on whatever target the game's card system generates. It's a pretty cool feature.

If you play as the Germans, you choose your targets, but I cannot recall offhand if you're hamstrung by High Command or get to make these choices yourself. (It's been a while since I played the Lion side of things.) I can't imagine you're not hamstrung, because that's one of the major events that can turn the tide against the Germans.

Dammit, JD. I'd been wanting to do an AAR on this game, but I get so overwhelmed with life sometimes that I can't get to it. But if you're doing the British side, maybe I'll start one with the German side. :)

There speaks a man who read the rules rather than me who skims them and then reads as he goes.

Quote
Dammit, JD. I'd been wanting to do an AAR on this game, but I get so overwhelmed with life sometimes that I can't get to it.

AARs ar a lot of work.


As for this BC

QuoteBut if you're doing the British side, maybe I'll start one with the German side

Have you read my AAR? You do know I am doing the German side right?  :))

Quote from: bob48 on December 13, 2017, 06:46:20 AM
Great AAR, JD  :bd:

Thanks bob. Hard work these AARs.  O0

Thanks for doing this JD. I may have to make getting this game on the table one of my New Year's resolutions.

All my pleasure - really. I'm really enjoying it SW. The rules are clear with references to sub rules and steps in the appropriate places. Just one realaly cool game.

I wish I had a pair of those bloody clippers though so I could clip these counters - they're doing my nut in!  >:D (ducks from Barth)

 :knuppel2:

Quote from: JudgeDredd on December 13, 2017, 07:19:48 AM
Have you read my AAR? You do know I am doing the German side right?  :))

Ugrrrr....yes I meant you're doing the German side. I typed that in too much of a hurry. My bad! I could do the British side.

You're correct, they are a lot of work. If I do another AAR, I'm going to have to do it all in advance and finish it before I post it because I don't like doing half-finished ones.

Quote from: BanzaiCat on December 13, 2017, 10:03:14 AM
because I don't like doing half-finished ones.

Nor do we like reading them :P

How's that whole Outpost Gamma thing coming along BTW?

Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on December 13, 2017, 10:10:27 AM
How's that whole Outpost Gamma thing coming along BTW?

You're a good man for asking, SDR. Honestly it's comments like this that make me know I need to get back to it.

I have all the files still - it's all good. I need to reaquaint myself with it and get back into it ASAP.

Repair
Skip on 1st day of scenario

Time of Day and Weather Forecast
Set the time chit in the slot of the first planned German raid
The first German raid is to take place at 06:00, so I put the time marker in the o6:00 slot on the Clock Track
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/39023258552_07dd4e66cd_z.jpg)

I then determine the weather by rolling the die and consulting the Weather Table. I roll 4 for Luftflotte 2 and 4 for Luftflotte 3 resulting in Patchy Cloud in both areas
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4539/38172624115_f58d7f5705_b.jpg)

I place Patchy Cloud markers on both Luftflotte areas on the map as a reminder
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4594/38172624035_ffd07fe3aa_b.jpg)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4527/39023258152_43d539c915_b.jpg)

Meaty bit next - the Raid Phase

Quick question

During the Raid Detection Phase, it says to work out the die modifiers and then roll a die and add the modifier.

Do they mean 1 or 2 die? I looked up and the plural for a die is dice....so do I just roll 1 die?

Ta.

Can you work it out from the range of the results on whatever table its on?

If not, try asking on BGG or CSW

Quote from: bob48 on December 19, 2017, 05:32:44 PM
Can you work it out from the range of the results on whatever table its on?

If not, try asking on BGG or CSW

Not really.

However, I did see, listed under the list of components for the game
two six sided dice
So they are using dice as plural - so I'm going with die = 1

Quote from: JudgeDredd on December 19, 2017, 05:39:56 PM

Quote from: bob48 on December 19, 2017, 05:32:44 PM
Can you work it out from the range of the results on whatever table its on?

If not, try asking on BGG or CSW

Not really.

However, I did see, listed under the list of components for the game
two six sided dice
So they are using dice as plural - so I'm going with die = 1

Aye, 'roll a die' does sound pretty specific.

Raid Phase
Raid Force Deployment
I select one of my missions from the first time slot and I choose Southend
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4596/39167632011_b8cbb11292_b.jpg)


I place my 2 bombers in the Bomber box
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4725/25302164928_7808b45745_b.jpg)


And I check the Channel Patrol Allocation Chart and see that 2-3 bombers requires 1 Me109 unit to be placed in the Channel Patrol Box. I only have the one unit, so it goes into the Channel Patrol Box - my bombers have no escorts!
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4726/25302165188_ec046ed36c_b.jpg)

Historical Note on Fighters
The Luftwaffe routinely protected bombers returning from England with fighters patrolling the English Channel


British Raid Detection
Working out the detection value I check the target card and the number of Gruppen.

• 3 Gruppen means a die modifier of +1
• The target card has 2 undamaged Radar Nets and with +2 points each, that's a further +4
• The Observer Corps for Patchy Cloud is +2 (OCV on the Target Card with the number from left to right meaning, Clear Sky, Patchy Cloud, Heavy Cloud)

That's a total die modifier of +7

Rolling the die and getting a 2 and adding the +7 gives a Raid Detection Value of 9. Looking at the Raid Detection Chart this results in a Warning of Sufficient and Intelligence of Poor
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4683/39167631331_0652e3a4b8_b.jpg)


Because the Intelligence on the raid is Poor I have to determine whether the British guess the raid to be Major or Minor. As there's only 3 Gruppen, the British guess that the raid is Minor


Raid Rendezvous Check
I roll a die and consult the Raid Rendezvous Check Table. A 4 is rolled and so the result is No Failure
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4730/25302164578_b0c14a049b_b.jpg)

Quote from: bob48 on December 19, 2017, 05:43:18 PM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on December 19, 2017, 05:39:56 PM

Quote from: bob48 on December 19, 2017, 05:32:44 PM
Can you work it out from the range of the results on whatever table its on?

If not, try asking on BGG or CSW

Not really.

However, I did see, listed under the list of components for the game
two six sided dice
So they are using dice as plural - so I'm going with die = 1

Aye, 'roll a die' does sound pretty specific.

Actually the phrase they use is roll the die which is what made me double think it.

Quote from: JudgeDredd on December 19, 2017, 05:25:18 PM
Quick question

During the Raid Detection Phase, it says to work out the die modifiers and then roll a die and add the modifier.

Do they mean 1 or 2 die? I looked up and the plural for a die is dice....so do I just roll 1 die?

Ta.

Yes, you're correct - 1 die. 1d6.

British Raid Response
British Raid Response Pool
Looking at the target card Southend
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4596/39167632011_b8cbb11292_b.jpg)

I can see that with a Warning Level of Sufficient I am to select the following aircraft to put into the Raid Force Pool

• 3 Squadrons from Sector 5/11
• 3 Squadrons from Sector 6/11
• 2 Squadrons from Sector 4/11

There are only 2 Squadrons in Sector 5/11

In total, the Raid Response Pool has 4 Hurricane Squadrons and 3 Spitfire Squadrons ready to intercept.


British Raid Response Priority
Looking at the Raid Response Priority Chart
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4731/38305907525_bca79638f2_b.jpg)

the modifiers are

• +1 for Target Sector is in 11 Group
• -1 for Target cards yet to be resolved in the same time segment

So there's a 0 modifier and a die roll of 2 with 7 squadrons in the Raid Response Pool means I remove 4 squadrons (randomly) from the pool and returned to their sectors.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4728/38305907435_87fda54cd6_b.jpg)

This leaves me with 2 Hurricanes from Sector 5/11 and 1 Spitfire from Sector 6/11

Raid Response Tactics
As the Intelligence is Poor, I look at the Poor Intelligence Chart in the Raid Response Tactics Charts.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/38305907215_1561f6125e_b.jpg)

It shows that with a Minor Raid and 3 aircraft in the Squadrons in Pool, I assign 2 Squadrons resulting in 1 Spitfire Squadron from Sector 6/11 and 1 Hurricane Squadron from Sector 5/11. The other Hurricane Squadron from Sector 5/11 is returned to it's sector.

Deploying Squadrons
I move the Raid Response squadrons to the Hunt Box on the board
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4693/38305906975_ac4eacd79b_b.jpg)

Hunter Interception
There are no Gruppen in the Hunter Box and so all Raid Response Squadrons move to the Bomber Box
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4637/38475703334_cb19a408d0_b.jpg)


Raid Approach Event
I pull an Event Card and implement the Approach Event. This results in the Patchy Cloud in Luftflotte 3 becoming Broken Cloud
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4640/24322585747_1496780772_b.jpg)

Hunter Attack
No Gruppen or Squadrons are present so there's no Hunter Attack to perform


Raid Target Event
I pull an Event Card and implement the Target Event portion. The section designated L is for the Lion game. So I look at the section designated E, 2 which means it's applicable to Eagle scenario and 2 player.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4728/39182954191_e6183105c9_b.jpg)

The card states that Bomb Damage is reduced by 1 and VPs Count.

Squadron Interception
As the number of Gruppen is equal to the number of Squadrons, then all Gruppen are engaged by the Squadrons. There's no Me109s in the Close Escort box to help out

Squadron Attack
The squadrons are ready to attack the Gruppen. I add up all the Combat Values of ALL aircraft (squadrons and Gruppen) which results in 21. I check the Combat Results Table
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4601/38325193015_5b6248eac3_b.jpg)

I have 2 Gruppen and so I look down the column with 2 Gruppen (the Germans have no depletion yet).
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4597/39201518491_2fbe3a83a2_b.jpg)

I then check for the number I have as a Combat Value and can see I'm at row I.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4644/39201738641_c73caae4f8_b.jpg)

I roll a die (and roll 1) and check the Combat Results section to the right to see what damage is to be assigned to what units. I can see for the Germans that A Gruppe suffer Light Loss, B Gruppe Abort and C units suffer Heavy Damage and for the British A units Abort with B and C units being unaffected.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4680/38325192825_78fc9be76b_b.jpg)

I look at the Combat Damage Charts and specifically the Units in Bomber Box
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4601/39201518241_725281065b_b.jpg)

I can see the results above means the A Gruppe which had a result of Light Loss moves to Light Loss and also +1 VP (in the British favour) and the B Gruppe Abort resulted in it moving to In Flight and is Reduced
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4639/38325192595_211c2e4423_b.jpg)

These are not good results for the Germans and shows how ropey it is when sending bombers without escorts.

I also check the Combat Damage Chart for the RAF Squadrons and can see that both squadrons are A units and therefore both Abort which results in them being moved to the In Flight box and being Reduced
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4598/38325192495_c05f1bf858_b.jpg)

RAF Squadrons and Gruppen are moved from the Bomber Box to the In Flight box as stated in the Combat Damage Chart
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/39201518061_a444a54bb3_b.jpg)


Bombardment
No Gruppen made it to the target so the Me109 unit in the Channel Patrol Box are moved to the In Flight Box
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4598/38325192335_de77896231_b.jpg)


German Recovery
Looking at the In Flight Box I see that the German Bomber Gruppe there is returned to it's airfield returned to Full strength and the Me109 is moved to the clock +3
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4687/25336769598_378e8cbafe_b.jpg)


Clock Check
I flip the target over to show that mission is complete.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4637/27425711239_ce735f1aeb_z.jpg)

That concludes this Raid Phase and I return to Step 1 of the Raid Phase for the second raid in the time slot - Kenley Airfield


I think now that I've given a breakdown of the rules I'll change direction for the remainder of the AAR, I'll try and do it more in a story mode than giving every detail like charts to check etc...though I'll try and remember to do so for parts I haven't completed (for example, bombing, Airfield Operations and Calendar Update

Nice work, JD!  O0

Ha - cool tune.

I should be putting more escorts with the bombers. I have a strange feeling my other "minor" raid is going to go south.

It's a war of attrition. If you want to wear the RAF down, you absolutely have to use as many fighters as possible to escort and conduct fighter sweeps (can't recall if fighter sweeps are a choice for you in Lion).

I'm doing Eagle  :pullhair: :DD

I KNOW

lol I was waiting for you to respond to that ;D

lol - you leg puller you!

Sorry, I'll stop trolling your thread with inane comments.

For now. :)

Sorry but I won't be continuing the AAR.

My laptop is broken and it's too much work doing it without one. I've been leaving the game until I managed to sort the laptop out, but that means it's been sitting there for a week and my daughter is getting impatient to get Star Wars:Rebellion back on the table - far be it for me to thwart the desires of my daughter to play a baordgame - with her dad.

So I'm going to get the game going and done so Star Wars:Rebellion can get another outing - before she grows up and moves away from boardgames - WITH HER DAD!!

As I said in another post though - you don't need an AAR for this one. This is the best solitaire game I've ever played and there's alot to do AND it's about the Battle of Britain. The rules are super simple and very, very easy to follow. If that's not enough you can play as the British or Germans AND there's a two player mode too.

So just go and get it.

Apologies to anyone who was waiting on the next installment.

THX for the AAR, JD  :clap:

it was long enuf to get my mouth watered again and a sudden urge to jump into my RAF collection again  :)
(probably the PC game, the table is still reserved for First Martians ...but that is another story :-") 

I think with your experience you would be the perfect fine chap to beta the PC version of RAF Eagle O0

Quote
Computer Game Playtesters
RAF Eagle is in beta testing. E-mail Doc at doccummins@decisiongames.com if you are interested in helping with the beta testing.

Quote from: JudgeDredd on January 12, 2018, 04:13:54 AM
Sorry but I won't be continuing the AAR.

My laptop is broken and it's too much work doing it without one. I've been leaving the game until I managed to sort the laptop out, but that means it's been sitting there for a week and my daughter is getting impatient to get Star Wars:Rebellion back on the table - far be it for me to thwart the desires of my daughter to play a baordgame - with her dad.

So I'm going to get the game going and done so Star Wars:Rebellion can get another outing - before she grows up and moves away from boardgames - WITH HER DAD!!

As I said in another post though - you don't need an AAR for this one. This is the best solitaire game I've ever played and there's alot to do AND it's about the Battle of Britain. The rules are super simple and very, very easy to follow. If that's not enough you can play as the British or Germans AND there's a two player mode too.

So just go and get it.

Apologies to anyone who was waiting on the next installment.

NP.  Thanks for the wonderful AAR and good luck with Star Wars Rebellion!

Good stuff. You just made me want to break it out and do one, too. :)

Quote from: BanzaiCat on February 11, 2018, 12:48:17 PM
Good stuff. You just made me want to break it out and start one, too. :)

ftfy

Gee, thanks.

Quote from: BanzaiCat on February 11, 2018, 01:07:06 PM
Gee, thanks.

>:D

Now that's a game you can take with you when you go wondering in the outback.

Quote from: bob48 on February 11, 2018, 02:03:13 PM
Now that's a game you can take with you when you go wondering in the outback.

LOL - it might be a good choice as it is light. I'd been considering GMT's Conquest of Paradise since it would be appropriate for the area, but that one's heavy.