"Wings of Glory - WWI or WWII?" Topic

I've recently found out about, and become interested in, the Wings of Glory games, but I'd like to stick to one period for starters, so I thought I'd ask for advice, or people's thoughts on the differences between the two.

Aesthetically, I find that I'm slightly more drawn to WWI aircraft, but not so much so that I'm not considering WWII as well. I gather they use pretty similar core mechanics, but what sets them apart, as far as gameplay goes? Does one offer particularly more varied or interesting gameplay, in your opinion?

Thanks!

One difference: The Nexus Games version of Wings of War (WWI) was designed to be played only with airplane cards if you preferred. The models were optional. To play Dawn of War (WWII) in bigger games, you'll need to invest in the proprietary 1/200 models.

Big card-only WoW games used to be fairly common at European game conventions. By purchasing some boxed rule sets and some reinforcement card packs, you could amass multiple copies of the different maneuver decks, so that you could operate three or four planes that use the same maneuver deck in a game.

Many of us like to fly a homogenous flight of Camels or Albatrosses rather than a random assembly of different airplanes. Only one or two copies of each maneuver deck are found in the boxed rule sets. The reinforcement card packs each contain two or three additional maneuver decks. Of course each model includes a maneuver deck, but some would rather play WoW with only cards, and not invest in the proprietary models.

I don't know whether this policy has been continued for WWI Wings of Glory. I don't think they're republished the reinforcement card packs, which were the main source of extra maneuver decks, other than the models. There's probably enough Nexus games inventory around to support card-only WWI play if that's your preference.

The Dawn of War (WWII) version always leaned more heavily on the models. A few reinforcement decks were published, but many maneuver decks were only available as single copies in the Fire In The Skies boxed set. This was intentional marketing policy, to push players into buying the models.

You can play WWII games with one P-40 and one P-39 vs. one Hien and one Hayabusa from the boxed sets. To fly homogenous flights of the WWII planes, you'll have to buy models for the additional maneuver card decks.

So. I'd advise you only to buy into the WWII game if you plan to buy lots of the pre-painted 1/200 models, at $15 USD-$20 each.

I think, in general, most people like the WW1 game best, as it plays very nicely and is a lot less 'serious' in feel. The models are lovely too!

In the WW2 game, the planes move "faster" than in the WW1 (of course) so it seems that you whiz by your opponent almost before you can draw a bead on him and fire. IIRC that is because in the WW1 game you only plot out one move at a time while in the WW2 game you have to plot out two moves and can't look at the second move when you plot the third. So you are trying to remember during the first move what you are going to do second so you can then continue with a logical third move. Sometimes "fun" and "interesting" maneuvers happen. Or you think you are plotting a right turn when you actually placed the left turn marker down.

Both games are enjoyable and are very quick playing.

link (Note: The first WW1 report has some pictures of the WW2 dogfight interspersed in it.)

We played three WW1 dogfights in two hours or so and a WW2 one in about an hour.

Jim

Jim, you have your games mixed up. :-)

From the rulebooks:

WWI GAME:
Planning
"At the start of the turn, players choose three cards from their planes' maneuver decks. These cards are the three maneuvers that each plane will perform during that turn. Place these cards facedown in the three spaces of the game board. The card in space 1 will be the first to be performed, the card in space 2 will be the second, and the card in space 3 the third."

WWII GAME:
PLANNING
"At the start of the turn, players choose an unused card from their planes' maneuver decks. This card will be the maneuver that each plane will perform in the next turn, after the one already planned. Place the card facedown in the second space of the console, with a speed marker facedown on top of it. The maneuver indicated by the card in space 1 will be performed this turn; the card in space 2 will be performed next turn."

The WWII game is more maneuverable and reactive. The WWI game is more like a chess game, with lots of players standing with one hand in their trouser pocket and the other rubbing their chins, thinking ten turns in advance.

I am proud to be in the minority of players who prefer the WWII game.

BTW the WWII rules AFAIK don't mention anything about not looking at our face-down maneuver cards. And it they do mention it--posh on them, I say! I always look at my planned maneuver card.

If you want some WWII planes cheap, check Miniature Market. They have some originals left for $6. USD Shame you didn't ask last month. They had a ton of WWII left, including the old box sets for several dollars. The old planes work with the new planes.

Note, I have all the planes in the WoW and WoG releases except the bombers (a bit pricey and useless IMO) and the newer super-fast planes, like the Mustangs. These faster planes have larger cards/bases, so they move farther in a turn compared to an old Hawker for example.

Cool Stuff Inc also sells planes discounted. I will tell you, once you play with the planes no one will want to play with the cards. I have all the cards. They never get used since I got the planes.

Here are some pics of a game I played with my son last year. Some P40s take on a Stuka and escort flying home from a mission. If we had played with the fuel rules, I would have caught both those planes! Instead, they escaped at full throttle. Rats!

WW I

Thanks for the rundown, guys. And thanks for the tip on Miniature Market and Cool Stuff Inc., CPBelt! I definitely want to play with miniatures, so no cards-only for WWII isn't a drawback. I'm thinking I'll start out with WWI, and also pick up the WWII stuff at some point down the line, since both of them appeal to me.

So, a few follow-up questions.

- What is the difference between the rules in the duel packs and the rules in the starter set? I thought I'd start off with the Fokker vs. Camel duel set, and maybe 1-2 additional planes per side, so I want to know if I'd need the regular starter on top of the duel set, to ay the other planes.

- Any recommendations on particular planes to start with, or that would fly well with the planes from the duel set?

- I noticed there are a few variant paint jobs for each plane. Does each variant handle differently in the game, or is it just for looks?

Thanks!

--The duel packs have everything you need for a dogfight, rules, rulers, cards, counters, 2 cockpit boards, damage decks, etc.

--Individual plane packs don't have counters and damage decks, or cockpit boards.

--The boxed rules have damage decks, counters, cockpit boards (6 I think), rules for AA guns, bombing missions etc. Advanced pilot abilities etc. It's lots of chrome and makes using the additional plane packs possible. It's definitely a buy it later item if you like the way the game plays with the duel packs.

Two duel packs is probably the best way to start. You'll get damage decks, counters and cockpits for all the planes. I'd get one of each to start. You'll very rapidly want to set up battles that use more than two planes. Two planes can be a little dull.

--Planes handle the same regardless of their paint jobs. that's just eye candy.

I recently picked parts of the basic set (missing rules and some cards) and a few planes at Half Priced Books. How do you know which maneuvers each type of plane can preform? A D7 and a DH2 should have different characteristics in a game, or does this not matter?

Each airplane type uses only one kind of maneuver deck. The Spitfire I uses the A deck, the Bf-109 uses the B deck, the Hurricane I uses the C deck and so on. The Dawn of War boxed set included 1 A deck, 1 B deck, 2 (I think) C decks and 1 D deck. The number and kind of maneuver decks you own limits the number and kind of airplanes you can fly in a game.

Um. If you bought models. There should be an airplane card packed with each model showing the model's game stats, including which maneuver deck it uses. There should also be one maneuver deck of the appropriate type packed with each model.

So to clarify, the individual planes are not playable with only the rules in the duel set, and I would need the starter pack? Hrm, that's kind of a bummer, although the duel packs are the same price as two individual planes so I guess it's kind of a wash.

So to clarify, the individual planes are not playable with only the rules in the duel set, and I would need the starter pack?

Honestly, I don't know if Ares includes the full standard rules in the 'duel' sets. But they're available for free download, so mox nix:

link

aresgames.eu/2084

There are also lots of freebies on the Wings of Glory Aerodrome, so get thee thence and checkitout:

link

You need at least one damage deck which you'll only find in the duel package or the rules package.

Most of my sales have been WW1 over the years. WW2 seems fun though.

There is a lot of good advice here so I won't repeat it. If you want to test drive the game there are files for basic maneuver card decks on the Aerodrome website IIRC.

Hi,

Thanks for the information. With the rules I found online, I have now had a game with my 7 year daughter and she made my D7 explode. Any ideas of where to finds more planes besides the usual flea-bay? I see that Michigan Toy Soldier has them, but I do not feel comfortable with giving them my credit card. Used planes would be fine.

Thanks

From looking around a bit, it seems you can find them at Miniature Market, The War Store, Cool Stuff Inc., and even Amazon, usually for a decent price. Maybe also the BoardGameGeek marketplace, for used planes?