(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fgrogheads.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2FBOB-SPLASH.jpg&hash=cf643bb3de24f6ba5d407a8cce4f3207a5c7fc33) (http://grogheads.com/review/17477)
Having played this, I thought the quality of the plastic planes was appallingly bad and warranted a reissue. The game itself is fun, if a little too random for my personal liking.
What about them didn't you like? As I say, they're just upscale markers so they didn't bother me much.
As to the randomness, many have taken to house ruling that the Germans can pick some or all of their missions. I don't think it needs it, but I take the point.
Quote from: Cyrano on March 31, 2018, 09:59:40 AM
What about them didn't you like? As I say, they're just upscale markers so they didn't bother me much.
As to the randomness, many have taken to house ruling that the Germans can pick some or all of their missions. I don't think it needs it, but I take the point.
The ones I saw weren't just slightly mis-shapen, they were badly warped. I realize there's no effect on game play, but I'm sure they were part of the "sizzle" used to promote the KS. If I had purchased the game, I would have been very disappointed. I do give them credit for reissuing them free for the backers.
I could see letting the Germans choose their missions. In the game I played, the Germans had some very bad card draws. Most of the game, the missions were all down south. The British southern sectors were severely tested, but the northern sectors were barely touched. At the end of the game, when the Germans finally got the mission cards for the north, the British were able to meet them with full strength. There was little chance the Germans were going to inflict enough damage to offset the VPs they gave up in losses.
I only played the one time, so that may have just been a fluke thing due to bad card draws. I enjoyed the game and it does present you with interesting/difficult choices. The mechanic of inflicting your own losses as well as enemy losses is pretty neat. You can hose yourself pretty badly with you own dice (something both sides did a couple times).
You were spot on in pointing out the issues with the rule book. We ran into the ambiguity and lack of clarity in places. Still, it's a fun game. My side winning may have helped my enjoyment.
Subpar plastic models aside this game does look like fun. I'm a little worried about bad card draws though that mirth mentions.
Ooh, mangled plastic.
That would have displeased me mightily. Come to think of it, I did read about folks having to bend parts back in place, but I didn't think it was anything dramatic. There's no disputing that they tried for an "ooooh" factor on some of this and failed. The croupier sticks magically became a 25% discount coupon for all backers.
Did you play using the larger map? Curious how many picked it up.
the planes look like they were snagged out of a copy of axis and allies.
Quote from: Cyrano on March 31, 2018, 08:30:38 PM
Did you play using the larger map? Curious how many picked it up.
It was the larger map which was very nice. A buddy of mine backed the KS. He's planning on using the game as a basis for a larger BoB game he plans to run at Huzzah! in May.
Quote from: Bison on March 31, 2018, 08:32:46 PM
the planes look like they were snagged out of a copy of axis and allies.
TBH, what you get in an A&A game are better than what I saw in BoB. That's why I thought the reissue was warranted.
Now you've compelled me to fish out my A&A (1941 ETO and PTO) to make the comparison...
Curious to see what your crew comes up with, given the cool stuff they've played in the past. Honestly, though, given my relatively limited interest in the subject, this would be my go-to BoB game. I was trying to convince myself to pick up "Eagle Day" during the Matrix sale, but just couldn't pull the trigger.
Does this game have solo rules?
I thought it did and, if so, would have loved to have that mode of play reviewed.
Yes it does and the rules are very clear. It's a fantastic system.
There's a solo British campaign, a solo German campaign and a two player campaign and rule sets for each.
That's the "other" Battle of Britain. This one has plastic planes and is much simpler.
This is like the old TSR Battle of Britain game, which I think I still have somewhere around here.
oops. Sorry. :notworthy: