"WWII simple aircraft rules: any recommendations?" Topic

Hi folks,

I imagine I'm not the only intrigued by the re-release of "The Battle of Britain" game with plastic aircraft. Since it won't be released until 2017, I wouldn't mind doing some WWII aerial gaming in miniature in the meantime. I'd be content with a few planes per side, probably just fighters, but maybe a few bombers too.

Can any of you recommend any simple WWII air combat rules, even if they're "beer and pretzels" games? Thanks in advance for your help!

Jeff

If you specifically want BoB, try to get the old Squadrons rules, they are the precursor to the Blue Sky series. Otherwise, Check Your 6! is only a little more complex and very popular so you won't lack for opponents.

Bag the Hun is very easy to pick up and play. It also has a full campaign supplement for the Battle of Britain.

Alternatively, for a real Beer and Pretzels option, you could try the Table Air Combat system.

This is on special offer at Wargame Vault and uses cardboard counters together with a really neat movement template. The rules are included in each aircraft set and there are plenty to choose from including a Battle of Britain bundle.

Very cheap and ready to play once you cut out the bits. No reason why it couldn't be converted for use with 1/600 scale miniatures.

You could look at the Junior General website, it has a free set of rules for air combat. juniorgeneral.org

Another site is the Mustangs set of rules at link

It is a little more detailed than Junior General, but both are free.

Squadrons and another vote for Mustangs.

Wings of War?

The WWII version of Wings of Glory (formerly Wings of War or Dawn of War) is now only sold with pre-painted 1/200 models, mostly fighters. It saves you the trouble of painting up models, but the pre-paints cost about $15 USD each (the package includes an official flight stand and a required movement card deck). Also the scale is different from the 1/300 models you'll get with the BoB Kickstarter, and that most players use for CY6! But you can play the game right out of the box.

Check your six is not a difficult game---the charts do most of the work leaving the player to focus on decision making.

I second the suggestion for Table Air Combat---fun and simple with some really clever mechanics.

The Axis & Allies Air Force CMG is a good B&P ruleset that IMO hits all the marks. It comes with six prepaints, about twice the size of the WoG planes, but you could use whatever. Unlike pretty much every other CMG, every stat card for the planes in the series are included.

Another vote for Scramble. he Blue Skies rules it was the basis for are excellent. You could also look at "Scramble for Britain" from Tumbling Dice which even comes with a selection of /600tth aircraft. Both rule sets cover bombing as well a fighter v fighter combat. By the way, after a few games fighter v fighter becomes a bit boring and the addition of bombers is well worth the slight increase in complexity.

Fatman

A +1 for Axis & Allies Air Force. The models in the 'Angels 20' starter are all BoB types; 1x Spitfire 1a, 2x Hurricane 1's, 2x Me109's and a Me 110.

The rules are simple, but still give a nice game, about 3-6 turns long.

The models are not especially accurate, but with a bit of work, they repaint nicely:

You can see more on my blog here:

link

Another vote for Wings of Glory. I don' t.bother planning out moves in advance, just the current move. Works well, and is the system used in X-Wing.

Scramble/Blue Sky series rules, if you can find them.

Armaments In Miniature has an extensive line of 1/200 scale aircraft models that will work with many aircraft war games rule sets. I consider 1/200 scale the Goldilocks scale since they are large enough to see them and the detail that they offer but small enough to use with multiple aircraft models. They work with pre WW II aircraft through modern jets.

Too Fat Lardies´ Bag the Hun 2 is quite easy and loads of fun too.

I own a copy of Axis & Allies "Angels 20", and I don't like it. I'll sell you a starter set cheap if you want one. Ping me.

I use the AIM 1/200 range for all my air wargaming except WWI. Perfect scale: large enough for detailed painting yet easily manageable on a medium sized table.

Been playing Check Your 6 since 2007 at the club and we haven't found any need to modify the rules. A good game with a sensible balance between playability and accuracy.

Guys, thanks for all the help!

Jeff

Bag the Hun is my choice of rules, but if you want something a bit simpler, the "Hunters" series by Polaris Games is decent. "Hunters In The Sky" is the WWII variant – link

On sale at the moment too.

Axis and Allies angel 20 seemed like a very basic entry level game and I didn't like it at all.

Wings of Glory (War) is a very enjoyable game and the system is easily picked up.

Check Your 6 to me feels more like a true tactical flight simulator. Despite this it is not a complicated system. Planes needed to be based on hexes and a hex mat is used.

Nice tutorial on YouTube if you'd like to check it out:
YouTube link

These are mine (and free – See caveats)

link

Its plot and move- simultaneous movement

Wings of Glory!

Once again, thank you to everyone who wrote. It looks like I have some choices to explore.

I know I'm a bit late, but Wings at War has two sets, "Scramble for Britain", which covers the Battle of Britain, and "A Mighty Fortress", covering the Defence of the Reich. Pretty simple sets but great for big battles with dozens a side, plus a pretty creative points system where instead of requiring identical-valued forces, the points value is instead used to calculate a VP target, so bigger fleets need to do more to win.