18.64MB - View From The Trenches

KNIGHTS OF THE AIR
Q. Under the Combat Fire section, Rule 4b, it
states that a machinegun cannot fire again until
the plane has proceeded two Movement Points;
Rule 4h states that a pursuer who decides or is
required to move one position may fire machine-
guns (unless already fired from the same posi-
tion) before starting. What ~f he fired from the
hex just before his current one, thus not having
completed the two Movement Points? Is this a
contradiction?
A. Rule 4b predominates. A pilot cannot, under
any circumstances, fire his machineguns con-
tinuously. There must be a gap of at least one
Movement Point where no gunfire occurs
between shots.
Q. Are any Movement Points expended while
performing the diagonal portion of a side-slip?
A. Yes, though not by the usual one MP per hex
usually followed. In a side-slip, it is possible to
move&iagonally several hexes at a fractional
movement cost. See the example below: a pilot
travelline at 50 m ~h wishes to side-sli~ diaeonally
to-the right f;ve hexes. He moves frowaFd
two hexes, diagonally five hexes and ahead one
hex. Since he can't auite move ahead two hexes.
the remaining three half-seconds are lost. The
numbers indicate the number of half-seconds to
reach that point of the maneuver.
Q. There 1s nothing in the combat rules that states
how to attack a non-targeted aircraft. Is th~s your
intention?
A. Not exactly. A non-targeted aircraft can be
attacked, but only in the Final Fire Phase after
all movement for the turn has been completed.
Q. If there are still some half-seconds remain-
ing after completing a side-slip, may the re-
mainder be converted to additional Movement
Points for other maneuvers that turn?
A. No; if these remaining half-seconds are in-
sufficient to move another hex, they are lost
instead.
B-17
Q. In Note 6 of Table BL-I (Wings), if both wing
flaps and ailerons are inoperable is a Land-
Ing roll on e~ther Table G-9 or Table G-I0
modified by "-I" or by " -2"?
A. By "-2".
Q. For Table BL-3 (Hand-Held Extinguishers),
shouldn't the player roll one die on this table,
not two dice?
A. Yes, roll one die.
Q. Where can seriously wounded crewmen be
placed on the plane to be out of the way, but still
have heat and oxygen?
A. One additional man may be placed in the
pilots' compartment and in the radio room.
Q. Where can dead crewmen be placed so to be
out of the way?
A. Up to two may be placed in the waist, one
In the rad~o room, one In the pilots' compartment
and two in the bomb bay (but only if the bombs
are gone).
Q. How does the presence of an extra wounded
or dead crewman In a compartment affect further
crew casualties?
A. For simplicity's sake, whenever a crew
casualty check is called for in a compartment con-
taining an additional man, roll one die:
I-4=original occupant checks for wound;
5d=additional man checks.
Q. Are die rolls on Table M-3 by German Ace
pilots "+I "; are die rolls on this table by
German Green pilots " - I "?
A. Yes; yes.
Q. Arc d~c rollc on Tahlc .M-2 (Damage aga!n\l
Germdn F~ghter) dffrcted b) the Germdn pllol b
status (Ace or Green or by the attacking gunner's
status (Ace)?
A. No; no.
Q. What is the oval-shaped object attached to the
bottom of a B-I7 under the nose as shown In the
article "Operation Rainbow" in this issue?
A. A radio compass which aided in navigation.
L
PANZERKRIEG $18.00
Armored Warfare in the Ukraine, 1941-1944
Our second attempt to evaluate this shortest scenario and an hour off the longest,
reprlnt game finally gives a sample base making this a game that can be played to
large enough to make some judgments conclusion in an evening or Sunday afterregarding
it. These ratings are much in line noon, no small advantage in this day of comwith
those reported for PANZERKRIEG plex and lengthy wargames.
back in Vol. 22, No. 3. In the critical eyes So, if you're lwking for a relatively
of those who have played it, the game rated fast-playing game that is exciting and enjoybelow
the average RBG values (as reported able. give PANZERKRIEG a try. Certainly
In Vol. 20. No. 1) in every category, not a classic, it will undoubtably have its
However. its Overall Rating (3.34, making adherents.
it 31st on our ongoing listing) is not
abysmal, meaning that many reviewers
found something to admire in the package.
Overs'' Value: 3'34
Components: 4.02
Of some interest is how the values
changed between the first rating and this.
The ratings in four of the categories-
Map: 4.17
counters: 3.36
Overall Value. Counters. Player's Aids, and
Aids: 3.33
Excitement-fell while those in all the others Complexity: 4.73
actually rose. All, however, tend to indicate
this to he a mediocre game. However,
readers should note that the ratings for Playabiliry
and Excitement Level are quite good.
Completeness of Rules: 3.48
P1ayability: 2'85
Excitement Level: 3.02
well above the norm. Interesting to note,
too, is the fact that the ratings for Game
Length, both the Shortest and Longest,
Play Balance: 3.61
~ ~ ~ h 3.27 ~ ~ ~ i ~ i ~ ~ :
dropped. It would appear that as players be-
Game Length
came familiar with the system, they were Shortest: 1 hr., 58 mins.
able to play a game to completion in a
shorter time period. Indeed, if this evaluation
is a guide, players have trimmed a halfhour
off the average playing time of the
Longest: 3 hrs., 23 mins.
Year: 1983
Sample Base: 59
The following games are ranked by their reader-generated overall Value
rating. Further aspects of reader response to our titles are indicated
by the ratings in other categories. By breaking down a game's ratings
into these individual categories, the gamer is able to discern for him-
self where the title's strengths and weaknesses lie in the qualities he
values highly. Readers are reminded that the Game Length categories
are measured in multiples of ten minutes (thus, a rating of "18" equates
to three hours). o
WARGAME RBG !
7. COD 2.23 1.97 10 3.12 3.08 1.85 12.15 30.20 1980 224
8 TRC 2.29 2.53 4 2.52 2.12 3.11 17.44 37.74 1976 540
9. SL 2.31 2.09 8 3.48 2.87 2.45 10.17 27.90 1977 680
17. TLD 2.68 1.95 8 3.72 3.54 2.04 24.44 170.68 198
18.VlTP 2.72 2.86 2 2.89 2.22 4.52 16.96 22.36 1977 420
19. CAE 2.85 3.01 4 2.32 2.89 2.52 25.14 32.57 1976 252
36. CL 3.54 3.35 5 3.15 3.33 3.79 12.53 25.53 1975 136
37. DL 3.61 4.02 7 3.85 3.22 3.29 6.66 19.94 1981 120
38. GOA 3.66 3.37 5 3.67 3.79 2.98 18.68 60.06 1981 297
39.WAS 3.71 3.67 1 2.48 2.37 5.98 9.09 12.71 1976 396
I
. ' . . a , ,. . I
57. FR 4.79 3.49 4 3.47 3.75 4.06 16.27 26.95 1972 244
58. BL 4.73 4.16 7 3.65 3.77 5.27 20.43 41.44 1965 336
59. TAC 5.62 5.25 1 2.79 3.23 6.34 11.70 19.29 1961 285