"Wings Of War Rules? Newbie needs help" Topic

Hi All
I'm interested in the Wings Of War arial combat rules but I have a couple of problems / questions:
1) I can find "expansions" packs, (such as "Burning Drachens", "Watch your back", "Top Fighters" etc), but what are the "Core" rules called????
2) Can anyone tell me where I can get them?
3) Are the "Playmats" any good / value for money?
Any assistance is appreciated.
BTW, I'm in Australia.
Cheers

The core rules come in all the boxes. The earliest box was "Famous Aces", which has only the core rules, but the later boxes have those in addition to their specialised rules for balloon-busting, two-seaters, ground attacks and what-have-you.

So the only reason to buy "Famous Aces" if you already have a later box is for the plane stat cards and movement decks really (and those come with the model planes, so if you are buying them you really don't need it).

Can't speak for the play mats, as I ain't seen 'em.

Have no idea about Aussie availability, sorry.

Hi Plynkes
You've been more than helpful.
Cheers!

I should be clear that my statement is regarding the original Great War edition of the game. I don't know anything about the World War Two version, whether there were any expansions, and if there were if they were handled in the same way or not.

Actually, the 'damage decks', which are essential to play, come only in the WOW boxed sets, not in the booster packs or miniatures. There are places on the net where you can download the specs for a damage deck to make your own cards or construct a table, but if you want a gen-u-wine offishul WOW 'A damage deck' (twin .30 MGs), you must buy the 'Famous Aces' set. The 'B damage deck' comes in 'Watch Your Back', the 'C damage deck' in 'Burning Drachens'.

In the WWII sets, the damage decks have been redesigned as sets of damage chits. 'Dawn of War' includes A, B and C sets. 'Fire in the Skies' contains A, B, C and D sets. Again, the damage chits are only available in the boxed sets, not in booster packs or miniatures.

If you have the stats, it is possible to gin up home made sets of damage chits for both WWI and WWII WOW.

Not wishing to contradict you, Zippy, but 'Watch your Back!' comes with an A Deck too*, so you really don't need the extra expense of buying 'Famous Aces.'

*At least, mine did. I have two A decks, one from each of the above-mentioned boxes.

Can I add to the confusion? "Watch your Back" normally only comes with a B deck; "Burning Drachens" has A, C (for ack-ack) and D (for 'flaming onions'). There are variant rules to allow you to use an A deck to simulate B damage and vice versa, however.

"Famous Aces" has a good variety of single seaters
"Watch Your Back" has a few single seaters as well as two-seaters
"Burning Drachens" has a couple of single seaters, balloons and anti-aircraft artillery.
As stated they all have the core rules; and in addition the full rules are available on the web.

Here's a point worth keeping in mind –
My group and I have played 5 player games with 20 aircraft using the basic box plus Burning Drachens, and encountered few issues regarding the damage decks. We sometimes mix up the manoeuvre cards, though! I'd opinion that BD is the only suppliment you need, from that experience.

Ah, maybe that second A Deck did come with "Burning Drachens", Advocate. It is currently living in the "Watch your Back" box, but it may well have moved house somewhere along the line.

I do definitely have two As though, one of which came with something other than "Famous Aces."

I have only "Burning Drachens" and can confirm that it comes with A, C, and D decks.

You can get away with just buying Burning Drachens and the minis. The Burning Drachens rules has everything you need ( it's backwards compatible ) . If you just need the rules, though, you can find them here:

link

As for the mats, they are very nice, but in no way, shape or form necessary. You can play on any flat surface, though I recommend some kind of cloth to keep the cards from sliding around.

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the tips / advice.
Can I take it that the "Basic box" is similar to this 12 aircraft set:
link
(Oh, and is the asking price in the link OK??)
Also, if I get the set above and "Burning Drachens" I'll pretty well have all the rules / cards I need?

BTW, this has been of great help!
Cheers

trailape,
HI.
I am also in Australia (mudgee NSW).
To be honest it is MUCH cheaper to buy the miniatures from OS than stores in Oz. I have bought the full series 1 and 2 and 3 from the US at US$8.95 each compared to the A$20 each the local shops want and post for the 12 planes adds about $15 USD to the total. For convienience or 1-2 planes then local is fine. Obviously you have to watch the exchange rate as they have been on a bit of a roller-coaster over the last year!

regards
Peter H

I bought my stuff from the warstore:

link

$28 USD for box
$10 USD for each plane

Should be able to get the same set for $148 USD but I do not know the shipping difference.

I will say that the Red Baron, and most of the original series is out of stock, so it is not a terrible deal, about $3.5 USD premium per plane.

I like the WOW, but use my planes to play Blue Max :)

Hi Guys
Well to hell with supporting our econemy, (just to get screwed).
It's an order with our friends in the Good Ol' USA then!
Cheers

Hey Peter H
Where did you purchase your planes from OS?
Cheers

trailape.
I get them from bouldergames.com
then go to search and type in miniatures.
Where are you located?

Peter

Hi Peter
I'm in Melbourne.
Thanks for the link.
Cheers