From: mckinney@athena.mit.edu (Ethan L Mckinney) Description: Over the Reich I've noticed several questions on r.g.b lately about the Air Force/Dauntless game system. While I don't have answers to those questions, I do have information about a new game on the same general subject. Over the Reich (OTR) is a tactical game of WWII air combat. Based loosely on JD Webster's jet-fighter games "Air Superiority", "Air Strike", and "The Speed of Heat", OTR is a detailed simulation of just about every aspect of WWII air warfare. OTR is the first game in the "Fighting Wings" series, and covers 1943 and on over Northern/Western Europe. The next game will be "Achtung, Spitfeur!" on the Battle of Britain and some other early-war battles. "Whistiling Death" will be the first Pacific War game, and will add rules for ships and anti-ship attacks. After that, modules will cover the French and the 1940 battles, the Italians and North Africa, the Soviets and Operation Barbarrosa (and possibly the Finns and the Winter War), and the night-bombing campaign over Germany by the RAF Bomber Command. Additional support will be provided in the AirPower newsletter, which already covers a wide variety of air combat games from AS/TSOH to AF/D, Richtoffen's War, and computer games. New aircraft data cards will appear regularly in AirPower. (For subscription information, email caraher@pn32.petnet.med.umich.edu) The Fighting Wings system tactical level operates on four-second turns with single aircraft and a twelve-point facing system, which allows much smoother manuvers and better firing arcs than the six-point system used in AF/D. Speeds are 50 mph per "point" of speed, with half-speeds allowed (the aircraft moves one more hex every other turn when at a half-speed). Altitude increments are 100ft. The game provides plenty of detail on each aircraft, some simply for historical information (like the brand of the engine!) Aircraft are rated for engine power, which varies with speed and altitude; turn ability, which varies in the same way; turn drag, which varies with how hard you turn; climbing and diving acceleration/deceleration; rolling maneuverability; visibility from the cockpit; weapons; load capability (bombs, rockets, etc.); armor over critical areas; and many other aspects of performance. Moreover, aircraft are not simply assessed as a "P-47 Thunderbolt" -- rather, the differences between major versions, and even production blocks, are explained! So, you get to take off in your P-47D-25, which handles with subtle differences from the -20. Now, all this detail might seem to make the game very slow. Experience shows that players who are familiar only with the general outline of the game can play a 2-on-2 air combat lasting 10-15 turns in two or two and one half hours. Of course, OTR also covers bombers and their defensive gunfire, as well as attacks on ground targets and flak defenses. Strafing rules, rocket attacks, and both dive and level bombing are all covered. Ground targets range from industrial complexes to individual tanks. Medium and heavy bomers are usually moved in groups, which makes handling them much easier than their numbers might suggest. If all this weren't enough, OTR also offers three levels of play to simulate complete missions. Play begins at the operational level as aircraft take off and make their way toward targets. Interceptors launch, flak attacks, and so on, until the enemy planes come close enough to make contact. When one side visually spots the other, play moves to the Tactical Manuver Grid, which looks a bit like a bull's-eye -- concentric rings divided into sectors. A simple system allows the interceptors to manuver into attack position while the defenders have an opportunity to spot them. Finally, when both sides have been spotted play moves to the detailed air combat system described above. An ingenious system determines whether formations have straggled, and if so, how much. (Nothing like picking on an out of position bomber) Hopefully, this has given you a taste of the flavor of OTR. There's lots of chrome to the system which makes it very colorful and really gives it the feeling of all those great WWII movies like "6 o'clock High" and "Command Decision." OTR should hit the stores by January. Anyone with an interest in WWII air combat should check it out. As a final note, a pbem campaign game of OTR has already been organized. It is set up so that new players can join, and old ones drop out, whenever they want. Play will start as soon as the game hits the stores and everyone can get a copy. Contact T.SIMO2@genie.geis.com for more information or to sign up. Ethan McKinney