"PSC - new Battle of Britain game on Kickstarter!" Topic

Battle of Britain game on Kickstarter!

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We are very proud and excited to announce our newest boardgame – The Battle of Britain by Richard Borg, a remastering and upgrading of the classic, much loved old TSR classic.

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Designed by Richard Borg, the highly acclaimed designer of Memoir 44, Battle Cry and The Great War (amongst others!), this upgraded version takes all the brilliant mechanics and features of the original game and adds new features to give an even more exciting and satisfying gaming experience, including new streamlined dogfighting and fuel rules, ace fighter squadrons and the ability to play shorter scenarios in 1-2 hours or the full campaign game in 3-4 hours.

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Take command of RAF Fighter Command, marshalling your too few fighter squadrons to protect your homeland's cities, industrial resources, airfields and vital radar chain against the waves of Luftwaffe bombers intent on destroying them and the swarms of fighters intent on shooting the RAF out of the sky. Is that bomber attack a feint or is it the main effort? Are they heading for London or Tangmere airfield? Can you thwart the Luftwaffe's bombing missions, tear the heart out of their bomber and fighter squadrons and survive long enough to win the game?

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Take command of Luftflotte 2 and 3 in Northern France and Luftlotte 5 in Norway and use your numerous bomber squadrons, protected by your numerous fighter squadrons, to complete a number of specific bombing missions to win the game. But don't be fooled by your starting strength! Your losses will not be replaced as the Spitfires and Hurricanes carve holes in your ranks. Your medium bombers are not really suited to mass strategic bombing and will struggle to complete their missions. Your fighter squadrons, although mainly composed of the excellent Messerschmidt 109, will struggle with fuel, not having the range and endurance to protect your bombers properly.

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In addition, the Plastic Soldier Company has added its plastic miniature expertise to create some fantastic little 1/300th scale plastic airplane models. The base game will have 12 Spitfire fighter models and 7 Heinkel 111 bomber models but we are hoping all you lovely Kickstarter backers will propel us past an exciting ladder of stretch goals to add Hurricanes, Dornier 17s, Junkers 88s, Stukas, Bf 109s, Bf 110s and even Blenheims and Defiants! Some of these will replace Heinkels and Spitfires to give more variety whilst others will be additions to the respective air fleets, and some (Stukas, Blenheims, Defiants and even the venerable Gloster Gladiator) will be Kickstarter exclusives.

Pledge now on Kickstarter and help bring this fantastic new game to life!

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Best wishes
Will

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Really prefer 1/600 scale aircraft or no aircraft at all with the game.

Hm.

"Some of these (1/300 plastic aircraft) will replace Heinkels and Spitfires to give more variety whilst others will be additions to the respective air fleets, and some (Stukas, Blenheims, Defiants and even the venerable Gloster Gladiator) will be Kickstarter exclusives."

So, unless you go with the KS, and hope that enough other people do so too, you won't be able to get several notable aircraft types involved in the battle?

I can live with that, if said aircraft are, for example, available post-KS as add-on sets (maybe in resin, for example) but when you release an historical simulation, leaving out several of the participating units (or at least, representations of them) it stops being historically accurate, doesn't it?

I mean, if it was just a tactical air combat game, set during the BoB, that would be fine. Defiants, for example, didn't fight in all the actions, nor did Stukas.

But if this game is supposed to encompass the entirety of the Battle, how can some units be 'exclusives' – that is to say, unavailable to all but a select few?

Plastic 1/300th for a board game instead of 1/600th tabletop miniatures might work. If I liked ithe board game I probably would replace them with my metal miniatures.

Looks good – backed :)

@MacrossMartin – the game is a strategic one and the models on stands denote formations of many different aircraft. The key factor is what squadrons make up each stand or flight. These are denoted by squadron cards as above.
The original game just had spitfire models for RAF and Bf109s for Luftwaffe. Visually, I thought it would be really cool to have lots of different airplane models – especially German bombers

Catman –

Yes, I get that a game that supposedly represents the entire Battle of Britain is a 'strategic' one. Rather apparent.

Having different models is certainly more 'cool' than having only one or two types. One could argue that beyond the 'eye candy' factor, the differing types of miniatures are pointless, if they have no mechanic within the game. However, you didn't answer my concern – why the exclusivity?

Also, forgive me if I sound like I'm just here to criticise, but who designed your map? I have some quite good references by Alfred Price and Jon Lake with some accurate maps of the Fighter Command Group boundaries you can borrow…

There are times when you just shake your head and wonder at people…………….you can with a little effort write things in a positive even maybe witty way thats engaging and interesting…….or you can………
L

Leon: +1

Thanks for the announcement Catman2. I'm in.

Looks great, I may have to consider this.

Cool wins with me…

I'm reverting to my inner 10 year old – I want lots of different airplane models to play with
As for exclusivity:-
1. If the Kickstarter goes well most of the main airplane types will be in the retail version of the game – Spitfire, Hurricane, Bf 109, Heinkel 111, Ju 88, Do 17, Bf 110
2. The Kickstarter backers deserve a few extra goodies for helping to fund the production of the game
3. Some of airplane models do not lend themselves to mass production, one piece plastic injection moulding – the Stuka and Gloster Gladiator in particular.

And yet Hasbro has Stukas in their Axis & Allies plastic figure set, fixed landing gear and all.

I figure I'll replace whatever toy airplanes come with the game with my already-fully-built-out-and-painted 1/300 BoB collection. But more plastic airplanes are always nice to have.

I'm really interested in this.

I'd love the planes to be 1/285 scale to fit with the existing Radian range but I think I'd still buy the plastic planes to use in this game and as single colour 'bogies' in Bag the Hun.

The only thing I'm not sure on the models is the relief to the national markings. I think that might put folks off buying them if they want to paint them up for this or any other game. Raiden and have become expensive in the UK and I think a range of relatively cheap plastic planes would be a boost to the air combat hobby in general, especially those who want to field stacks of bombers.

Catman –

I can appreciate that, with injection-moulding, you need a fair whack of capital up-front to get the dies cut, etc. Thus, successful KS = lots of types of aircraft. Fair enough.

It's good that the objective is to provide a good selection of types in the retail edition, although it's a pity that decision is dependent on the result of the KS. Would have made me more confident if they were already a part of the 'deal'.

I think the crowd who get into this will be more than happy without the 'exclusives' while non-backers will be disappointed to have missed out. How about offering flight / squadron packs of the miniatures instead? I have no doubts people would jump at the chance of fielding whole armadas of 109's and Spitfires. I'm sure your inner 10 year old agrees… ;)

Sorry if I came over guns blazing earlier; the Battle of Britain is something I get rather passionate about.

I have the original version of this game. How much has changed? It was always a lot of fun to play.

No worries MacrossMartin – passion is good!

The aim is to be able to offer "booster" packs of minis as well

@Wargamer Blue – a good question!
I loved the old version but this is better!
I asked Richard to revamp the old rules to give a quicker, more streamlined game but without losing the solid engine of the original game. The full campaign game can be played in 3-4 hours but you can also pay one of 3 scenarios in 60-90 mins or create your own game length to suit.

Without running to a 17 page essay, there are core changes to dogfighting and fuel (bombing remains similar), mission cards and allocating missions plus allocation of squadron cards to flights and new Ace squadron rules. Plus numerous other little tweaks

Got the email this morning and backed it, bang goes my cut back on KIck Starter pledge, but it's in GBP not USD so my biggest reason for cutting back was undermined.

Well played Sir

Wow – funded in under 5 hours!

Huge thanks to everyone

Now, lets get cracking on those stretch goals………

Best wishes

Will

Backed……

Leon

Pretty cool! My original copy has long since wandered off, so a new one that plays faster would be excellent. My uncle may still beat the pants off of me in The Russian Campaign (even after 25 years…) but I'll stomp him flat with this game!

Saw it on FB and backed it right away. Was bummed that I could have saved money on the Tank Expansion I bought earlier this week….lol

Leon +1

MaCrossMartin said

Hm.

"Some of these (1/300 plastic aircraft) will replace Heinkels and Spitfires to give more variety whilst others will be additions to the respective air fleets, and some (Stukas, Blenheims, Defiants and even the venerable Gloster Gladiator) will be Kickstarter exclusives."

So, unless you go with the KS, and hope that enough other people do so too, you won't be able to get several notable aircraft types involved in the battle?

I can live with that, if said aircraft are, for example, available post-KS as add-on sets (maybe in resin, for example) but when you release an historical simulation, leaving out several of the participating units (or at least, representations of them) it stops being historically accurate, doesn't it?

I mean, if it was just a tactical air combat game, set during the BoB, that would be fine. Defiants, for example, didn't fight in all the actions, nor did Stukas.

But if this game is supposed to encompass the entirety of the Battle, how can some units be 'exclusives' – that is to say, unavailable to all but a select few?

Hm really. Well it looks like the KS is funded in less then 24 hours. I do indeed wonder at people, who really cares about your negative opinion. If you can not say something positive I would just keep quiet. It appears your support was not required.

First Stretch Goal unlocked!

6 Spitfires to be replaced by 6 plastic Hurricanes (the real workhorse of the Battle of Britain!)

+lots to what Leon said….

And I may just back this because…it does look rather interesting.

Just to be clear – the first stretch goal means the game will now have 6 spitfire and 6 hurricane models as opposed to 12 spitfire models

Nice! I pledged at the level to also get a copy of The Great War, since I missed out on it before.

backed. I think the game was very popular and well played at a time. It was on my radar at least.

One remark: I have noticed that the roundels and crosses are engraved on the models. Please don't. Colors should be enough to distinguish German from British forces and this still remains a good basis for those of us who want to paint the planes.

Also, agreed, 1/600 scale is more fun to represent several planes in a flight (but it is just my personal opinion

Can I ask, will the map board be mounted, or will it just be a sheet of card?
Any ideas if the game (old or new version) could be tweaked to make a decent solo game?

repaint,
Nice paint job :)
L

It appears that this is not a game that could be played solitaire with any degree of success. Please advise. Thanks.

I have the TSR version and a ton of 1/300 BOB aircraft already, but I still backed this. It looks great.

John de Terre Neuve –

"Hm really. Well it looks like the KS is funded in less then 24 hours. I do indeed wonder at people, who really cares about your negative opinion. If you can not say something positive I would just keep quiet. It appears your support was not required."

I'm sorry, I had this insane idea that a miniatures gaming forum is the right place for a person to express an opinion, positive or negative, about a related product. What was I thinking?

I think it is perfectly grand that this KS funded in under 24 hours. At what point did I express the opinion that I desired to see it fail, or that it needed my support?

Perhaps this was merely an oversight on your behalf. You may have failed to notice that I offered a positive suggestion, and an apology, to the OP, about 15 posts down?

Honestly, John, if you can't say anything positive…

That is OK Martin, I think I look at things maybe a little differently. I have no doubt the PSC people have put a lot of work into setting up this KS. I am not really sure how much maneuver room is left.

Maybe a poor analogy is going into a shop and looking for a jacket. You want one with buttons but all they have is one's with zippers. I am not really sure if I would say how come you do not have one's with buttons? I just would walk out and go to another shop.

Maybe I missed something in the OP, but I think Catman2 was presenting a product that he was hoping to sell. Not asking for advice on what he should sell.

Subtle but there it is.

I am not sure, but generally if I am not interested I just leave it at that. I am not really sure if expressing a negative opinion adds much.

But of course that is an opinion.

We gamers can be a beetchy lot ;p

@Paul B – mounted game board

@Repaint
Don't worry, due to popular demand, we are dropping the engraved insignia!

Blown through 2 more Stretch goals overnight!

GBP 25,000 – free RAF roundel and Luftwaffe cross stick on decals **KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE**

GBP 30,000 – replace 1 x Heinkel 111 with 2 x Bf 109 models

Cheers

Will

Love the "Battle of Britain". Richard Borg is a very good G.D. and has knack for making all his games playable & marketable with just enough detail.
I will certainly jump in on this one.

"Starred" it on KS. Depending on how this 3 payday month goes I may have to re-consider the KS pledge I made about buying things…

ADD ONS:-
For all the early-birders (and anyone else!) who want to add any of the other PSC boardgames to their early bird pledge, you can now add any of the following to your pledge, at no extra shipping cost:-

Commands and Colours The Great War £45.00 GBP (msrp £60.00 GBP)
The Great War, Tank Expansion £30.00 GBP (msrp £40.00 GBP)
The Great War Whippet tank booster pack £13.00 GBP (msrp £16.50 GBP)
Quartermaster General: Victory or Death £35.00 GBP (msrp £40.00 GBP)
Hold the Line, The American Revolution £45.00 GBP (msrp £60.00 GBP)
Hold the Line, French Indian Wars Expansion £30.00 GBP (msrp £40.00 GBP)

When you are logged into Kickstarter there is a tab/button top right which gives you all your KS activity – go to campaigns backed and click on the Battle of Britain KS campaign. Next to your pledge on right near top is a manage pledge button, click and there you can increase the amount of your pledge to cover the cost of any add ons you want. When the campaign ends we will send you a backer survey to confirm exactly what you have pledged for.
Cheers
Will

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Doesn't KS take a slice of funding? If so, why not just provide special offers on the other games separately?

But looks interesting. I failed to join the 25lbr KS as I couldn't get my head round how to pledge up, but this seems reasonably clear

Marc

I still have the original TSR game and love it, so I'm in! I always wanted to run the game as a campaign, but handle actual interceptions as a table top battle rather than just rolling dice. Very interested to see if the new rules handle this – and of course I painted the original Spitfires and 109's so can't wait for the new aircraft!

Another stretch goal unlocked!

GBP 35,000 – Extra sets of German and British dice [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE]

The retail version of the game comes with 6 RAF dice and 6 Luftwaffe dice but in some circumstances in particularly heavy bombing runs more than six dice are needed and re-rolls are required. So these extra dice sets just make it easier on the gameplay!

Cheers

Will

A little Friday afternoon treat for all our lovely backers!
I've lowered the next stretch goal to GBP 37,000 to unlock 2 x replacement Dornier 17s and moved and lowered the Ju 88s and Bf 110s above the croupier sticks.
So the stretch goal ladder now reads:-
GBP 20,000 – Replace 6 (of 12) x Spitfire plastic models with 6 x Hurricane plastic models. the game will now have 6 x Spitfire and 6 x Hurricane models. **UNLOCKED**
GBP 25,000 – Aircraft RAF roundel and Luftwaffe cross stick on decals [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE] **UNLOCKED**
GBP 30,000 – Replace 1 x Heinkel 111 plastic model with 2 x Bf 109 plastic models **UNLOCKED**
GBP 35,000 – Extra sets of German and British dice [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE] **UNLOCKED**
GBP 37,000 – Replace 2 x Heinkel 111 plastic models with 2 x Dornier 17 plastic models
GBP 40,000 – Replace 2 x Heinkel 111 plastic models with 2 x Junkers 88 plastic models
GBP 45,000 – 2 x additional Bf 110 plastic models GBP 50,000 – 2 x mini croupier sticks, like they used in the Fighter Control rooms in 1940! [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE]
GBP 60,000 – 1 x additional Junkers 87 Stuka plastic/resin model [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE]
GBP 70,000 – 1 x additional Bristol Blenheim plastic/resin model [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE]
GBP 80,000 – 1 x additional Bolton Paul Defiant plastic/resin model [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE]
GBP 90,000 – 1 x additional Gloster Gladiator plastic/resin model [KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE]
Cheers
Will

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Another stretch goal unlocked!

2 x Dornier 17 bombers to replace 2 of the Heinkels

Cheers

Will

Another stretch goal unlocked!

2 x Junkers 88 bombers to replace 2 of the Heinkels

Now – those lovely Bf 110s at GBP 45,000!

Cheers

Will

Extra plane packs and oversize gameboard add ons!

You can add packs of extra airplanes:-

1. Pack of 3 Spitfires GBP 1.95

2. Pack of 3 Hurricanes GBP 1.95

3. Pack of 3 Bf 109s GBP 1.95

4. Pack of 2 Heinkel 111s GBP 2.95

5. Pack of 2 Dornier 17s GBP 2.95

6. Pack of 2 Junkers 88s GBP 2.95

7. Pack of 3 flight stands GBP 1.95

These detailed plastic 1/300th scale aircraft, together with their flight stands are also ideal for other WW2 aerial games, tabletop or boardgame.

Due to popular demand following our hugely successful oversize demo game at UK Games Expo, we are also now offering oversize 5' by 3' (approx.. 152cm by 91cm) game board play mats. Made from a durable, non tear vinyl material, they are easily rolled and unrolled and will be packaged rolled up in cylinder:-

Oversize playmat: GBP 45

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